Mathematical model for warehouse design and product allocation

The two primary functions of a warehouse include (1) temporary storage and protection of goods and (2) providing value added services such as fulfilment of individual customer orders, packaging of goods, after sales services, repairs, testing, inspection and assembly. To perform the above functions, the warehouse is divided into several functional areas such as reserve storage area, forward (order collation) area and cross-docking. The paper presents a mathematical model and a heuristic algorithm that jointly determine product allocation to the functional areas in the warehouse as well as the size of each area using data readily available to a warehouse manager.     

Interconnected logistic networks and protocols: simulation-based efficiency assessment

Logistic networks intensely use means of transportation and storage facilities to deliver goods. However, these logistic networks are still poorly interconnected and this fragmentation is responsible for a lack of consolidation and thus efficiency. To cope with the seeming contradiction of just-in-time deliveries and challenging emissions targets, a major improvement in supply networks is sought here. This new organisation is based on the universal interconnection of logistics services, namely a Physical Internet where goods travel in modular containers for the sake of interconnection in open networks. If from a logical point of view, merging container flows should improve efficiency, no demonstration of its potential has been carried out prior to the here reported research. To reach this potentiality assessment goal, we model the asynchronous shipment and creation of containers within an interconnected network of services, find the best path routing for each container and minimise the use of transportations means. To carry out the demonstration and assess the associated stakes, we use a set of actual flows from the fast-moving consumer goods sector in France. Various transportation protocols and scenarios are tested, revealing encouraging results for efficiency indicators such as CO₂ emissions, cost, lead time, delivery travel time, and so forth. As this is a first work in the field of flows transportation, the simulation model and experiment exposes many further research avenues.     

定位服务设计

目的梳理服务设计的学科缘起及相关研究成果,从商业语境和设计原则两个维度界定不同的服务设计理念。方法通过比较管理、经济和设计不同领域对服务作为管理手段、商品、设计对象的不同解读,理清服务设计的不同研究视角;通过回顾国内外服务设计的研究成果,分析服务设计研究和实践的困惑与瓶颈;结合案例,分析服务的不同商业定位和解读不同的服务设计原则,定位不同的服务设计理念。结论当服务以产品的附加价值出现,并基于效率原则进行设计时,服务设计往往是针对相对稳定目标的服务加工;基于同样的原则,但以服务作为核心主体时,服务设计的主要内容常常是服务流程的再造;当服务设计的目标是创造意义,即便以产品附加价值出现,服务也将为产品增加功能属性之外的新的内容,重塑产品意义;当以意义创造为目的,全面创新服务体系时,服务设计是理念、商业模式和范式的转变。     

基于区块链的二维码包装广告监管和防伪溯源系统

针对广告监管和假冒伪劣商品识别两个问题,设计一个基于区块链的二维码包装广告监管和防伪溯源系统。介绍了3个关键技术:二维码、区块链和Python Django Web框架;对系统体系框架的顶层用户、中间层系统服务和底层区块链网络的需求进行分析,再依据需求分析设计了3个子系统即二维码子系统、广告监管子系统和防伪溯源子系统,最后利用Django框架,使用Python技术与MySQL,采用B/S架构,开发Web应用系统。本应用系统能对商品生产、流通、推广、销售的全过程进行灵活、细粒度的控制访问,提升了商品与服务的品质。     

居民闲置物品交易平台建设策略与设计应用

目的 通过分析现有居民闲置物品交易平台的不足,调研目前居民对闲置物品处理过程中存在的问题,提出一种有效处理居民闲置物品的交易平台设计方案。方法 立足于经济共享与利益共存的背景下,借鉴服务设计的创新思维与方法,以居民、企业和其他相关组织为研究对象,缔造利益相关共同体。基于调查及数据分析,对居民的闲置资源进行评估与定位,提出建设居民闲置物品交易平台的策略,并且对如何处理居民的闲置物品提出有效的处理方法。结论 顺应共享经济的发展需求,推行“有价值的社会资源循环再利用”的理念,通过总结有效的居民闲置物品交易平台建设策略,设计出提供便捷服务的居民闲置物品交易平台,解决居民的多种生活需求的同时,促进社区居民闲置物品的资源整合,并使其达到有效的循环利用,为社会的生态性发展贡献一份力量。     

Robust optimisation approach to the design of service networks for reverse logistics

In this paper we discuss a typical service network of a company providing repair and refurbishment services for its products. To optimise the network we propose a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that minimises the total cost subject to flow balance and logical constraints. The solution of the model determines which facilities are to be used in the network and the associated flows. The model is validated against data obtained from a computer manufacturer and real-life sources. The optimal network configuration depends on several factors such as the number of products returned, percent of faulty products and warranty fraction of modules, which are uncertain in nature. We also address the issue of identifying these uncertain parameters, and their levels to be considered. A min-max robust optimisation model is then developed and solved to address these uncertainties.     

建立包装物流运输企业的信息交流网络系统

针对顾客需要的多样化和个性化，要求包装物流运输企业提供高水平的包装物流服务的现实情况，论述了货物跟踪系统和车辆运行管理系统，其成果对建立包装物流运输企业的信息交流网络系统具有普遍指导意义和实际应用价值。     

Service network design for freight transportation: a review

Freight transportation is a highly competitive market, where logistics service providers (LSP) or carriers have to offer their customers highly reliable and high-quality services at low prices. To meet this challenge, LSPs have to standardize and consolidate. They consolidate their freight in a network of hubs and terminals and build up regular services. The design of such services requires decisions about the frequency, mode, and route of the service, and the corresponding schedule and routing of the freight. In some cases, they also need to make decisions about the assignment of crew and vehicles as well as the repositioning of empty containers and vehicles. Recent publications show that realistic instances of such planning problems are difficult to solve. Nevertheless, some of these real-life problems are modeled and solved using mathematical programming techniques. In this paper, we review different problem formulations published in literature. We further analyze and compare the specific solution frameworks. Based on this we give recommendations for future research.     

析网购商品包装设计的新诉求

分析了当前网络购物形势及网购商品包装设计的现状,针对网络消费群体对商品本身的消费心理分析及对包装设计的需求分析,并结合物流对网购商品包装设计的要求,进而从丰富网购商品包装设计的视觉元素,忌过度包装、提倡绿色包装,适于网购的功能性包装设计及彰显人文关怀的包装设计4个方面来论述网购商品包装设计的新诉求。     

The design of Make-to-Order supply networks under uncertainties using simulation and optimisation

This paper addresses the problem of designing Make-to-Order (MTO) driven supply networks as is faced by producers of industrial goods. A major challenge in MTO network design is to estimate the operational performance of candidate networks. In particular, the stochastic and dynamic nature of order arrivals and fulfilment processes as well as the need to design a network that enables a timely delivery of ordered products complicate the decision-making. In this paper, a solution approach is presented where simulation is used for assessing the operational performance of candidate networks. The proposed simulation model captures multiple sources of uncertainties and incorporates fundamental control policies for reflecting the autonomous decision-making processes of operational planners. A Variable Neighbourhood Search (VNS) method is presented to guide the search for good network designs. Experiments are conducted on a set of multi-stage networks, where complex products are manufactured in MTO fashion and delivered to customers within a promised order lead time. The results show that our approach effectively produces supply networks that are able to cope with challenges arising from a strong customer orientation.     

Innovative vendor-managed inventory strategy exploiting interconnected logistics services in the Physical Internet

Traditional supply chain networks are often designed in the interests of a company. Once the network has been defined, the storage and distribution of goods are usually fixed and restricted within the network. This is assumed to be an inherent limit of current inventory control research. Instead of specialised hierarchical storage networks, this paper proposes an innovative vendor-managed inventory strategy exploiting the Physical Internet (PI), which is an open, universal, interconnected logistics system. In such a system, facilities and means of transport are shared and can be allocated according to demands of users. As a result, the PI allows users to stock anywhere in the network and also provides open multisourcing options for orders with on-demand warehousing services within the PI. Inventory decisions can be made dynamically by each player to minimise networkwide inventory levels. A non-linear, simulation-based optimisation model was developed for the vendors’ inventory decision-making when confronted with stochastic demands. A metaheuristic using simulated annealing was applied to solve the problem, and then, the optimised inventory decisions were validated using simulation. The results suggest that the proposed PI inventory model can reduce the total logistics cost while maintaining a comparable or better level of end customers’ services.     

Designing a supply chain network for deteriorating inventory under preservation effort and trade credits

When designing a perishable goods supply chain network under trade credit arrangements, distribution companies must contend with deteriorating inventory and product preservation efforts to maximise profits. Key decisions include locating distribution centres (DCs), assigning retail stores to DCs, joint replenishment cycle time and investing in preservation technology. This paper addresses these factors from the position that as preservation effort increases, preservation technology cost increases and deterioration rate decreases. An algorithm based on piecewise nonlinear optimisation is provided for solving supply chain network design problems efficiently. In contrast to other studies that have used the approximation approach, the proposed approach solves the original problem accurately and efficiently. Numerical studies are conducted to demonstrate the solutions procedures and determine the effects of the parameters on decisions and profits. The results of this study and the proposed modelling approach are useful references for managerial decisions in designing a supply chain network the context of trade credit and inventory deterioration.     

The influence of human capital investment on the exports of services and goods: An analysis of the top 25 services outsourcing countries

Abstract and Key Results

A methodology for the strategic design of reverse logistics networks and its application in the Turkish white goods industry

In this study, a multi-objective model for the reverse logistics network design (RLND) problem and a novel methodology are proposed. The proposed methodology is comprised of two stages: the centralised return centre (CRC) evaluation stage and the reverse logistics network design (RLND) stage. In the first stage an integrated ANP and fuzzy-TOPSIS methodology is utilised. In the second stage, using the CRC weights obtained in the first stage, the RLND model is solved via genetic algorithms (GAs). The proposed methodology is applied to a case from the Turkish white goods industry. The results are discussed and analysed.     

Performance measurement in supply chains: new network analysis and entropic indexes

Industrial organisations must supply a variety of products and services, meet the needs of fragmented customer expectations, and cope with the consequences of the globalisation of world markets, all of which are producing significant levels of complexity. This study develops a new quantitative measurement of complexity for a supply network based on network analysis, which is often used to study natural ecosystems, focusing in particular on the concept of entropy of information. The research reports advances in both theory on the supply network analysis problem and on its application to industrial contexts. Eight indexes based on entropy are presented. These measures provide a meaningful analysis of the level of complexity in the whole supply network mapping the exchanges of goods between the different actors in the network. The impact of possible modifications of the structure can simply be evaluated using these tools, providing a simple evaluation of the different scenarios. The proposed method takes a holistic point of view to tackle the problem of supply network optimisation. A real world application of the developed new methodology is presented.     

关于政府采购工程服务统计分类体系的初步思考

政府采购数据采集系统的建立和完善是我国政府采购制度的重要组成部分。政府采购客体包括货物、服务和工程三大部分,工程是政府采购的主要支出部分。近年来,我国各项工程建设进入快速发展期,政府采购工程服务额度增长较快,据统计,2009年我国政府采购规模为7413.2亿元,其中,工程类采购规模为3858.4亿元,占政府采购总规模的52.1%,因此,需不断完善政府采购工程服务统计口径,以满足日益增长的政府采购活动的要求。本文以加入GPA谈判为背景,拟从我国与政府采购相关的工程服务分类体系建设与实践活动出发,分析国际、国外与政府采购有关的典型工程服务统计分类体系的基本依据以及与我国政府采购工程管理实践的差异,提出构建一个立体的政府采购工程服务统计分类体系的基本思路。     

A manufacturing network design model based on processor and worker capabilities

This paper presents an optimization methodology to design networks of manufacturing facilities producing several products under deterministic demand. The bill of materials and the operations for each product are taken into account through the use of a product-state graph. Starting from the current state of the manufacturing network, the approach considers a multi-period planning horizon. For each period it specifies the facilities to open within the set of current and potential facilities, the mission for each of the centres in the selected facilities, the equipment to be used for producing the goods, and the structure of the network. Taking human resource competencies into account, the approach selects the type of workers to use for executing the manufacturing tasks. The transfer of resources between plants is also considered. A multi-period mixed integer linear programming model is formulated, a solution method based on the addition of specialized cuts is proposed and computational results are presented.     

Viability of intertwined supply networks: extending the supply chain resilience angles towards survivability. A position paper motivated by COVID-19 outbreak

An intertwined supply network (ISN) is an entirety of interconnected supply chains (SC) which, in their integrity secure the provision of society and markets with goods and services. The ISNs are open systems with structural dynamics since the firms may exhibit multiple behaviours by changing the buyer-supplier roles in interconnected or even competing SCs. From the positions of resilience, the ISNs as a whole provide services to society (e.g. food service, mobility service or communication service) which are required to ensure a long-term survival. The analysis of survivability at the level of ISN requires a consideration at a large scale as resilience of individual SCs. The recent example of coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak clearly shows the necessity of this new perspective. Our study introduces a new angle in SC resilience research when a resistance to extraordinary disruptions needs to be considered at the scale of viability. We elaborate on the integrity of the ISN and viability. The contribution of our position study lies in a conceptualisation of a novel decision-making environment of ISN viability. We illustrate the viability formation through a dynamic game-theoretic modelling of a biological system that resembles the ISN. We discuss some future research areas.     

基于Kano模型的红色乡村旅游服务设计研究

目的 通过Kano模型结合服务设计相关方法,分析红色乡村旅游服务痛点与游客需求类型,并对各个需求进行重要程度排序,为改善红色乡村旅游服务质量与游客体验提供参考。方法 利用用户旅程图、桌面调研、问卷、亲和图的方式收集游客需求再进行分类整理,设计并发放Kano问卷,分析统计各项需求的属性类别,并通过Better-Worse四象限散点图计算各个需求的敏感度。结果 在交通方面,游客对市区往返景区的固定班车、停车位充足的停车场有强烈需求,同时希望能够获得通往景区的交通信息;在景区信息方面,游客最希望能够了解景区项目信息,并进行线上购票;在基础设施、服务方面,游客对控制游客数量、路线规划、基础设施和专业导游有强烈需求,其次希望景区周边有民宿旅馆,以及提供物品寄送回家服务;在游览内容方面,游客最希望感受到红色文化精神内涵、品尝到当地特色美食,同时对民俗文化特色、文创纪念品、创意性的讲解、展览等有较大期待。结论 Kano模型能够科学有效地分析红色乡村旅游的游客需求类型和各个需求的重要程度,并指导红色乡村旅游的服务设计与规划,从而提升其服务系统质量。     

商品陈设设计与品牌形象应用研究

以商品销售活动中的商品陈设设计为主要内容,分析了商品销售活动中陈设设计的内涵和意义。分析了销售模型在商品销售设计中的作用,以及陈设设计中的商品陈设和关联陈设。论述了商品陈设设计在影响品牌形象传达方面的因素,提出了商品陈列设计对品牌形象传达的重要作用,它将是品牌形象识别和推广过程中必不可少的重要组成部分。