基于存货促销的供应链协调问题的研究

讨论了零售阶段需求依赖于货架展示量的供应链的协调问题,特别地,由于货架空间的稀缺,零售商的存货持有成本假设为非线性的成本函数。在一个零售商的情况下,给出了决策变量及供应链利润分配的显式解。当存在两个相同的零售商竞争时,给定市场份额按比例分配原则．证明此时存在唯一对称的Nash均衡解,供应商可以用相同的合同协调供应链。最后通过数值算例说明所得结果。     

Supply chain coordination under trade credit and retailer effort

In this paper, we study the role of trade credit in coordinating a Capital Constrained Supply Chain in the presence of retailer Effort (CCSCE), essentially because of the impact of its related default risks on the relationship between the chain’s members. We consider a CCSCE consisting of a supplier and a retailer where the retailer may exert costly promotional efforts to increase the market demand but has limited capital and no access to bank financing due to low credit rating. Conversely, the supplier has adequate funds to offer trade credit to the retailer without borrowing from external channels. We then examine whether the existing coordination contracts can still coordinate the CCSCE under trade credit. Our result shows that these contracts can achieve coordination of the supply chain when the interest rate of trade credit is competitively priced. Nevertheless, this position cannot always be reached. That’s why we propose a generalised contract based on risk compensation to coordinate the CCSCE. Using our proposed coordinating contract, the supplier perfectly coordinates the retailer’s decisions for the largest joint profit, and arbitrarily allocates the maximised joint profit among supply chain members. Finally, the numerical study allows to verify this finding. From managerial insights, our results provide the supply chain managers with novel insights on how to combine trade credit with the existing coordination contracts in order to improve the profitability of the entire supply chain as well as the individual member.     

考虑零售商过度自信的供应链决策与协调

将过度自信引入到供应链中,通过构建由一个供应商和一个过度自信的零售商组成的二级供应链模型,分析了过度自信的零售商与供应商的决策。结果表明,零售商过度自信能够实现供应链协调,但供应商的回购契约会破坏这种协调;当零售商接收到市场不利信息时供应商的回购契约失效,当零售商接收到市场有利信息时供应商利润随过度自信程度增加而减少。进一步在模型中引入收益共享契约,使得订购量和供应商的利润均增加,并实现了供应链协调。最后,通过数值算例验证并阐明了相关结论。     

Trust-embedded coordination in supply chain information sharing

This paper studies supply chain coordination with trust-embedded cost-sharing contract. In a two-tier supply chain, a retailer (she) and a supplier (he) make their private demand forecasting individually. The retailer places soft-orders, which are costless, non-verifiable and cancellable before shipping, to the supplier. After that, the supplier relies on the retailer’s ordering information to update his demand evaluation and prepare his capacity. How much the supplier relies on the retailer’s ordering information is specified by trust, which is a kind of psychological feeling and affected by multiple factors. When the supplier does not fully trust the retailer, he tends to prepare a conservative capacity to avoid over-production. To coordinate the supply chain, a two-stage coordination process is proposed. At the first stage, the supplier and retailer negotiate a cost-sharing rule to bind soft-orders. At the second stage, the retailer places a soft-order and decides whether or not to bind it referring to the cost-sharing rule. After that, the supplier determines his optimal production capacity. We show that the retailer and supplier value trust differently in the experimental studies. We also find that there is a threshold of negotiation power for the supply chain partners which means the supplier’s/retailer’s expected profit drops down if his/her negotiation power exceeds certain thresholds. The experimental studies also show that the proposed the two-stage coordination is effective.     

资金约束下基于零售商竞争的融资模式对比研究

以单供应商与多个零售商的供应链为研究背景,供应商是供应链上的核心企业,而零售商面临着资金约束,与供应商签订收益共享契约。供应商为中小企业提供两种融资方式：保兑仓融资和延迟支付融资。本文研究两种融资对供应链绩效以及供应链各方的影响,构建单供应商和多零售商的Stackelberg博弈模型,发现保兑仓融资模式能增加零售商的订货量,这两种融资模式在分散型供应链下,供应商都可以设置合适的收益分配系数和批发价格实现在集中型供应链下的协调,并能够保证供应商利润最大化。     

Analysis of retailers’ coalition stability for supply chain based on LCS and stable set

To attain the general form of stable coalition structure, this paper addressed the problem of retailers’ coalition stability in a two-stage supply chain consisting of one supplier and multiple retailers. A profit gain function was established via introducing market gain coefficient and coalition cost coefficient for different coalition structures. Based on the function, the profit of each retailer in all kinds of coalition structures was analysed, and the general feature of a stable coalition structure was attained by the largest consistent set method and the stable set method. Furthermore, some insights were obtained. For example, stable coalition structures are equidistributed or approximate equidistributed; with supplier’s cost increasing, the size of the retailers’ coalition increases. Finally, the above conclusions are verified by numerical simulation. The results of this paper provide a reference for retailers’ coalition in a supply chain, such as automobile or Information Technology supply chain.     

The value of buyback contract under price competition

We investigate the value of buyback contract by analysing a supply chain with one manufacturer and two competing retailers. Three scenarios, depending on whether buyback contracts are offered to neither, one, or both of the retailers, are considered. We first study the case when the manufacturer can only determine his buyback price. We show how the demand uncertainty, the competition level and the handling cost of buyback contract influence the profits of the manufacturer, the two retailers and the whole supply chain. Interestingly, contrary to the conventional wisdom that the buyback contract may intensify competition between the retailers, we show that offering the buyback contract to two competing retailers can benefit every channel member even if the competition level is high. Next, we study the return contract, a special type of buyback contract, and show the effect of competition level and industry outlook on supply chain parties' choices on return contract. We extend Padmanabhan and Png [1997. “Manufacturer's Returns Policies And Retail Competition.” Marketing Science 16 (1): 81–94] to the case with an asymmetric contract structure, i.e. one return contract and one whole-sale contract. We show that an asymmetric contract structure may better off both the retailers and the whole supply chain.     

多个损失厌恶零售商共存的一对多供应链 回购契约及其协调机理

为实现供应链的整体运作绩效最大,本文以一个风险中性的供应商和多个损失厌恶的零售商组成的两阶段供应链为研究对象,基于前景理论对损失厌恶的界定,采用考虑零售商损失厌恶系数的供应链回购契约模型。论证得出,多个存在竞争关系的损失厌恶零售商存在唯一的纳什均衡总订购量使其期望效用最大;在零售商的损失厌恶程度较大或者数量较少的情况下,通过供应链回购契约的协调,存在唯一的回购价格使得供应链的整体运作绩效最大,实现供应链协调。     

Coordinating a three-layer supply chain with uncertain demand and random yield

The paper considers a three-layer supply chain involving one raw-material supplier, one manufacturer and one retailer. The market demand is assumed to be stochastic and productions at the raw-material supplier and manufacturer are subject to random yield. The centralised model is studied as the benchmark case. The decentralised model is solved and Nash equilibrium solutions are obtained. It is shown that buyback contract fails to coordinate such a supply chain. However, a composite contract framed combining buyback, and sales rebate and penalty contracts is shown to coordinate the supply chain. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the developed models.     

考虑公平关切的鲜活农产品供应链订货决策

考虑零售商的公平关切行为特征,研究鲜活农产品供应链最优订货决策问题。引入公平关切度和参考依赖因子,构建基于零售商公平关切的鲜活农产品供应链订货决策模型。理论分析与数值算例表明：分散式决策中,零售商考虑公平关切时的订购量少于其无公平关切时的订购量,批发价随着公平关切程度的上升而下降;批发价契约下考虑公平关切的鲜活农产品供应链无法实现协调,但订购量、供应链成员的利润均随着公平关切程度的上升而减少。     

Optimal process mean and quality improvement in a supply chain model with two-part trade credit based on Taguchi loss function

The two-part trade credit policy is developed to accelerate cash inflow that can avoid bad debt risk in the earlier economic order quantity (EOQ) models allowing only one period of time for delay in payment. Taguchi loss function has proved to be a more realistic function for fitting the actual quality loss cost in economic product quantity (EPQ) model. To minimise quality loss, optimal process mean setting shifts process mean to balance the cost outside the specification limits, quality improvement applies investment to reduce process variation. Supply chain integration has been proved that it can be used to minimise the entire cost more effectively than independent EOQ or EPQ models. This paper improves the earlier studies by incorporating the above research topics that have not been simultaneously discussed before, develops a supply chain model based on the Taguchi loss function, which combines the trade strategy from the retailer’s perspective and the quality adjustments from the supplier’s perspective to maximise total supply chain profit. We find that the trade credit terms definitely affect suppliers and retailers’ optimal decisions, and numerical examples can provide decision references for supply chain managers to set a trade credit policy and control quality.     

Consumer search,transshipment, and bargaining power in a supply chain

We study a decentralised supply chain with one manufacturer and two symmetric retailers who could transship their excess inventory between each other. Without transshipment, the retailer’s unsatisfied customers search and buy the product at the other retailer with some probability. With transshipment, the retailer can transship the other retailer’s excess inventory to fulfil its own unmet demand. However, a transshipment price is often charged by one retailer for transshipping goods to another. We show the retailer’s profit is unimodal in the transshipment price, and the manufacturer’s profit increases in the customer search probability. Although the retailer’s preference over transshipment depends on the magnitude of search probability and transshipment price, the retailer may always prefer the transshipment no matter their magnitude. We then study the effect of bargaining power over the transshipment decision (whether to transship between retailers and at what transshipment price). Our analysis suggests that the manufacturer always prefers to control the transshipment price rather than to control whether to transship, while the retailer can prefer both. We also find that increasing bargaining power always benefits the manufacturer but could hurt the retailer. We finally check the robustness of our results by investigating the case with asymmetric retailers     

A study on capacity allocation scheme with seasonal demand

This paper studies a game-theoretical capacity allocation problem in a two-echelon supply chain comprised of one supplier and N retailers. With demand fluctuating seasonally and significantly, supply is sufficient in low-demand periods but is insufficient in high-demand periods, especially when the supplier’s capacity decreases in high-demand periods. Retailers compete for the supplier’s capacity in high-demand periods, but do not want to absorb the supplier’s redundant capacity in low-demand periods. A turn-and-earn allocation scheme is proposed to encourage retailers to increase their order quantity in low-demand periods. Under the turn-and-earn allocation scheme, in high-demand periods, the supplier is willing to offer a guaranteed portion of supply capacity for the primary retailer. The remaining capacity in high-demand periods is allocated based on orders retailers placed in low-demand periods. In response, the retailers will decide how much they should order in low-demand periods. Then, a competitive game based on Nash equilibrium among the supplier and her retailers is analysed. In order to solve the problem of unreasonable distribution of interest caused by competition, a contract is designed to make it possible for subsidy to be transferred from the supplier to the retailers. Usually, the supplier and her primary retailer can both be better off under turn-and-earn allocation compared with fixed allocation, and the system efficiency in Nash solution is close to it in optimal solution. A numerical study is also conducted to discuss the parties’ sensitivity to different demand level and guaranteed allocation portion of capacity.     

Contract negotiation and risk preferences in dual-channel supply chain coordination

This study employs profit-sharing contracts to coordinate dual-channel supply chains and examines the selection of profit-sharing parameters and the allocation of extra system profit gained from coordination. We characterise the Pareto-optimal contracts for the two- and three-stage dual-channel supply chains, by developing and maximising system utility function related to risk preferences and negotiating power. Under the optimal profit-sharing parameter in a two-stage supply chain, both members are reluctant to cooperate; however, in a three-stage supply chain, under the optimal two profit-sharing parameters selected by optimising the system utility function, the retailer is always reluctant to cooperate, but the distributor or the supplier may have incentives to deviate from cooperation. In this case, the distributor and the supplier will negotiate again as in a two-stage supply chain so that all three members can benefit from coordination with profit-sharing contracts. Besides acting independently, the distributor, in the process of contract negotiation, may choose to form an alliance with the upstream supplier or the downstream retailer, which means the relationship among the three members involving profit allocation after coordination is quite different from that for a two-stage supply chain and is not necessarily interest-contrary. In the contract negotiation, in any kind of scenario, risk aversion and negotiation power have a significant impact on the selection of optimal profit-sharing parameters and the allocation of extra system profit. One member’s risk aversion or its negotiation power may be advantageous to the other. Mathematical examples are illustrated to clarify the contract negotiation process.     

两个零售商环境下数量柔性契约研究

在综合国内外研究成果的基础上,借鉴以单个供应商和单个零售商组成的两级供应链的研究,形成以单个供应商与两个零售商的两阶段供应链为基本研究对象,通过数字解析方法和量本利分析方法对供应链契约中常用的数量柔性契约进行分析。证明了这种灵活订货模型可以协调供应商和零售商之间的决策行为,使得供应链的整体利润达到最优,为多零售商的复杂供应链的研究提供参考。     

A pricing/ordering model for a dyadic supply chain with buyback guarantee financing and fairness concerns

The paper investigates pricing/ordering issues in a dyadic supply chain, in which a core supplier sells products through a budget-constrained retailer. The retailer faces stochastic demand and is fairness-concerned as well. If needed, the retailer can get financing support from bank by means of buyback guarantee financing (BGF) mode, which is often used in China. By introducing Nash bargaining solution as the fairness reference point, we formulate the retailer’s fairness-concerned utility function and develop a two-echelon pricing/ordering game model. We then study the combined impacts of fairness concerns and BGF on two members’ equilibrium strategies and supply chain performance. We also discuss the corresponding issues under no budget constraint, no financing service and bank financing. Our results show that: (1) two members’ equilibrium strategies are significantly influenced by the retailer’s fairness-concerned behaviour and initial budget; (2) as compared to no budget constraint, BGF can bring the whole supply chain more performance, which means that BGF can yield value-added; (3) When the retailer takes the risk of uncertain market solely, the retailer’s fairness concerns are beneficial for supply chain to improve the performance.     

随机需求条件下基于期权交易的供应链协调模型

〖HT5”H〗摘要： 〖HTSS〗期权契约作为一种供应链契约能使供应链达到协调。论文从基本的零售商订货模型出发,引入可交易的看涨期权,通过比较零售商的最优订货量和期权购买量,以及供应链整体的最优订货量和期权购买量,发现引入期权交易时,供应链达到最优订货时的利润总是大于零售商达到最优订货时的利润。并得出供应商可以通过调整期权契约参数来促使零售商主动将其最优订货量调节到协调时的供应链总体订货量水平的结论。     

损失厌恶供应链应对突变风险的收益共享契约

研究一个风险中性的供应商和具有损失厌恶特性的零售商组成的二阶供应链,在供应链遭遇突变风险的情况下,收益共享契约能否协调该供应链的问题。利用损失厌恶模型对零售商的损失厌恶程度进行了刻画,分别讨论了突变风险发生后分散和集中控制的情况下供应链的整体利润。研究发现,收益共享契约能够协调该供应链,并且零售商的损失厌恶程度越强,契约参数的上下限越大。通过数值算例的方法对上述结论进行了验证,且发现当突变风险导致需求发生变动时,零售商的效用和供应商的利润呈反方向变化。     

谎报行为下生鲜农产品供应链协调研究

目的研究存在生产商谎报生鲜农产品鲜活度信息的情况下,生鲜农产品供应链的协调问题。方法由单一生产商和单一零售商构成生鲜农产品供应链,其中产品的鲜活度信息为生产商私有信息;基于单周期报童模型,构建供应链各方的利润函数;应用Stackelberg博弈的基本思想,分析供应链上的定价订货决策,并引入收益共享契约进行供应链协调,同时用Matlab软件做数值仿真,以验证结论的有效性。结果生产商的谎报行为会损害供应链系统各方的利润,且谎报因子越低(谎报度越高)对供应链利润的影响越大。引入的收益共享比例在一定范围内时,收益共享契约可以有效地协调生鲜农产品供应链。结论收益共享契约不仅可以有效地协调生鲜供应链,也可以抑制生产商的谎报行为,实现帕累托改进,提高供应链的稳定性。     

Analysis of order timing tradeoffs in multi-retailer supply systems

We analyse the implications of order timing decisions in multi-retailer supply systems in a single period, newsvendor setting. Specifically, we investigate a supply chain with multiple retailers and a single supplier where one of the retailers is considered a preferred or primary customer of the supplier. In the base model (delayed commitment), customers order after observing demand and the supplier rations its production quantity to retailers according to a generalised uniform allocation rule. In the early-commitment model, the primary retailer commits to an order quantity prior to the selling season and receives her order in full. We compare the expected supplier and retailer profits under each of these strategies and specify conditions under which a particular commitment scheme benefits the supplier, the primary retailer, and the entire system. Our findings indicate that the supplier prefers early commitment under mild conditions, whereas the primary retailer's preference depends on the tradeoff between the supply risk and demand risk. We also compare our findings with a single-retailer system, and observe that both the supplier and the primary retailer benefit from the existence of additional customers under delayed-commitment in many contexts.