A decision support model for identification and prioritization of key performance indicators in the logistics industry

Performance measurement of logistics companies is based upon various performance indicators. Yet, in the logistics industry, there are several vaguenesses, such as deciding on key indicators and determining interrelationships between performance indicators. In order to resolve these vaguenesses, this paper first presents the stakeholder-informed Balanced Scorecard (BSC) model, by incorporating financial (e.g. cost) and non-financial (e.g. social media) performance indicators, with a comprehensive approach as a response to the major shortcomings of the generic BSC regarding the negligence of different stakeholders. Subsequently, since the indicators are not independent of each other, a robust multi-criteria decision making technique, the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method is implemented to analyze the interrelationships. The integration of these two techniques provides a novel way to evaluate logistics performance indicators from logisticians' perspective. This is a matter that has not been addressed in the logistics industry to date, and as such remains a gap that needs to be investigated. Therefore, the proposed model identifies key performance indicators as well as various stakeholders in the logistics industry, and analyzes the interrelationships among the indicators by using the ANP. Consequently, the results show that educated employee (15.61%) is the most important indicator for the competitiveness of logistics companies.     

Effects of handle angle and work orientation on hammering: I. Wrist motion and hammering performance

This research investigated the range of wrist motion characteristics associated with the ergonomic principle of "bending the tool and not the wrist" as applied to the hammer. It is thought that bending the tool reduces angular wrist motion, which has been shown in the literature to be a risk factor in hand/wrist disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis. Hammer handles angled at 0 (straight), 20, and 40 deg were investigated in this study. For novices, hammer handles bent at 20 and 40 deg resulted in less total ulnar deviation than straight hammers. However, there was a trade-off in beginning and ending positions of the wrist in that the angled hammers reduced ulnar deviation at the impact position but increased radial deviation at the starting position of a hammer stroke. Handle angle did not significantly affect hammering performance. Wrist motion was affected minimally by hammering orientation, but hammering performance was significantly worse in the wall orientation compared with the bench orientation. This research suggests that for novice users, hammers with handles bent in the range of 20 to 40 deg could possibly decrease the incidence of hand/wrist disorders caused by hammering.     

Detection and estimation of the motion velocity vector of a inhomogeneous spatially extended object by image. I

In the paper, we study maximally plausible algorithms for detection and estimation of the motion velocity vector of image of a inhomogeneous spatially extended object for an applicative model of interaction of the useful image and background. Asymptotic expressions for characteristics of synthesized algorithms are obtained by using a method of local additive approximation of logarithm of likelihood ratio functional.     

A feedback finite element method with a posteriori error estimation: Part I. The finite element method and some basic properties of the a posteriori error estimator

This paper is the first in a series of two in which we discuss some theoretical and practical aspects of a feedback finite element method for solving systems of linear second-order elliptic partial differential equations (with particular interest in classical linear elasticity). In this first part we introduce some nonstandard finite element spaces, which, though based on the usual square bilinear elements, permit local mesh refinement. The algebraic structure of these spaces and their approximation properties are analyzed. An “equivalent estimator” for the H¹ finite element error is developed. In the second paper we shall discuss the asymptotic properties of the estimator and computational experience.