The Perishability of Online Grocers*

In this article we explore the profitability of different operations models used by online grocers and develop a linear demand model in a competitive setting to better understand the trade‐offs made by two competing online grocers in choices for distribution strategy (leverage or direct) and product focus (perishable or nonperishable). We find that the results derived in the duopoly setting are different from those in a monopolistic setting. Specifically, we determine that there is a threshold value for the secondary competitive effects in the demand function that determines how the prices and profitability of an online grocer will be affected by the supply chain length of its competitor. There is also a threshold value for the ratio of supply chain lengths of the two competitors that determines whether product perishability increases or decreases profits. We demonstrate that the existence of this threshold is robust when considering capacity constraints. Further, we show, assuming that supply chain length can be optimized, how the relative size of the infrastructure change cost (when compared with that of the competitor) coupled with the perishability of the product determines the profitability of an investment leading to a shorter supply chain.     

The Effectiveness of Decisional Guidance: An Empirical Evaluation

Decisional guidance is defined as how a decision support system (DSS) influences its users as they structure and execute the decision‐making process. It is assumed that decisional guidance has profound effects on decision making, but these effects are understudied and empirically unproven. This paper describes an empirical, laboratory‐experiment‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of deliberate decisional guidance and its four types. We developed and used a comprehensive model consisting of four evaluation criteria: decision quality, user satisfaction, user learning, and decision‐making efficiency. On these criteria, we compared decisional guidance versus no guidance, informative versus suggestive decisional guidance, and predefined versus dynamic decisional guidance. We found that deliberate decisional guidance was more effective on all four criteria; suggestive guidance was more effective in improving decision quality and user satisfaction, and informative guidance was more effective in user learning about the problem domain, whereas dynamic guidance was more effective than predefined guidance in improving decision quality and user learning; and both suggestive guidance and dynamic guidance reduced the decision time.     

An Alternative FMEA Method for Simple and Accurate Ranking of Failure Modes

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a methodology for prioritizing actions to mitigate the effects of failures in products and processes. Although originally used by product designers, FMEA is currently more widely used in industry in Six Sigma quality improvement efforts. Two prominent criticisms of the traditional application of FMEA are that the risk priority number (RPN) used to rank failure modes is an invalid measure according to measurement theory, and that the RPN does not weight the three decision criteria used in FMEA. Various methods have been proposed to mitigate these concerns, including many using fuzzy logic. We develop a new ranking method in this article using a data‐elicitation technique. Furthermore, we develop an efficient means of eliciting data to reduce the effort associated with the new method. Subsequently, we conduct an experimental study to evaluate that proposed method against the traditional method using RPN and against an approach using fuzzy logic.     

An isomorphism check for two-level fractional factorial designs

Two fractional factorial designs are isomorphic if one can be obtained from the other by reordering the treatment combinations, relabelling the factor levels and relabelling the factors. By defining a word-pattern matrix, we are able to create a new isomorphism check which is much faster than existing checks for certain situations. We combine this with a new, extremely fast, sufficient condition for non-isomorphism to avoid checking certain cases. We then create a faster search algorithm by combining the Bingham and Sitter [1999. Minimum aberration fractional factorial split-plot designs. Technometrics 41, 62–70] search algorithm, the isomorphism check algorithm of Clark and Dean [2001. Equivalence of fractional factorial designs. Statist. Sinica 11, 537–547] with our proposed isomorphism check. The algorithm is used to extend the known set of existing non-isomorphic 128-run two-level regular designs with resolution ?4$?4$ to situations with 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 factors, 256- and 512-run designs with resolution ?5$?5$ and ?17$?17$ factors and 1024-run even designs with resolution ?6$?6$ and ?18$?18$ factors.     

红木家具改良设计的创新方法及其应用

红木家具产品的创新设计研发工作是我国红木家具产业健康可持续发展面临的极为紧迫而务实的课题。文章分析了红木家具改良产品设计的现状,提出针对红木家具改良设计的主要创意思路和设计方法,并介绍了运用创新思维理论和创新设计方法进行操作的红木家具改良设计实际案例。     

Role of flexibility in supply chain design and modeling—Introduction to the special issue

In this introductory note, we describe the motivation behind this special issue on supply chain design and modeling. We begin by noting the potential opportunities offered by flexibility of a system in enhancing its functionalities and capabilities. After defining the nature of flexibility, we briefly describe flexibility in a supply chain, pertinent issues, and potential tools and techniques utilized for designing and modeling flexibility in it. We close out with a brief review of the articles in this issue and their relevance to the interests of decision makers.     

略论影响产品生命周期的软因素

绿色设计是20世纪80年代末开始出现的一股国际设计潮流，又称产品生命周期设计。笔者将影响产品周期长短的因素分为“硬”因素和“软”因素，“硬”因素指产品的材料、加工工艺等。文章从非典型角度——给我们以触动的史实及设计现状出发，着重分析影响产品生命周期的“软”因素，并将“软”因素归纳为设计师的道德及其设计哲学、社会的流行文化以及大众的情感需求三点，以期引起人们对绿色设计更深层次的思考并因此得到启发。     

草原站局域网网络规划设计

21世纪以来,随着计算机局域网技术的飞速发展,各行业对办公的信息化、自动化的需求日益强烈,旧的局域网已经无法满足现代化的发展需要,因此改造企事业内部局域网已经成为一种必然趋势,本文主要阐述了西域草原局域网改造规划设计方案,为西域草原生态局域网监视系统的运行和网络的施工打下坚实的理论基础。     

论服装设计师对产品主观性与情感性的把握

服装设计属于工艺美术范畴，是实用性和艺术性相结合的一种艺术形式。它是集艺术构思与艺术表达为一体的创造性活动。在这个过程中设计师的主观性对服装的情感性表达起着决定性的作用。情感性是服装设计师主观性思维的表现形式之一，只有把握好它们之间的关系才能设计、制作出精美的服装，满足人们的穿着需求。     

传统建筑细部装饰在现代设计中的运用

建筑本身就是一部史书，是了解我们人类传统文脉的最宝贵的财富。建筑装饰艺术不仅是人类发展史中艺术形态之一，也是人类社会中最普遍的艺术形式。文章通过对中国传统的建筑设计符号的探究，来探寻传统的建筑细部在现代设计中的实用性及可探究性。