A distributed architecture for reconfigurable control of continuous process operations

This paper considers a new distributed approach to reconfigurable control of continuous process operations such as in chemical plants. The research is set on a premise that emerging business pressures of product customization and industrial globalization will lead to increased need for reconfigurability in process plants. The ability of processes to support dynamic and smooth reorganization of process schemes in tandem with the changing requirements of supply chains will become important in future. Conventional control approaches based on hierarchical architectures are limited in dealing with such emerging requirements due to their inflexible structures and operating rules. Instead, more distributed approaches are required which can support increased level of reconfigurability in control systems, especially at the lower levels in hierarchy where the visibility to disturbances remains high. In this paper, one such distributed approach is considered based on the concepts of holonic manufacturing and supply chain management. The proposed approach distributes the functionality of process control into several reconfigurable process elements. These elements, while having a stand-alone capability for making their own control decisions, are also able to reconfigure themselves into alternative process schemes which evolve with the changing requirements of production. An analogy between process plants and so-called dynamic supply networks or virtual enterprises is used in this paper to define the composition of reconfigurable process elements and their operations. The proposed approach is shown to offer improved process control system reconfigurability and a control architecture which is compatible with the supply chain management needs at the next higher level. The purpose of this paper is qualitative and motivational. It is aimed to propose a new research direction in the field of reconfigurable process control.     

A strategic model for supply chain design with logical constraints: formulation and solution

This paper proposes a strategic production–distribution model for supply chain design with consideration of bills of materials (BOM). Logical constraints are used to represent BOM and the associated relationships among the main entities of a supply chain such as suppliers, producers, and distribution centers. We show how these relationships are formulated as logical constraints in a mixed integer programming (MIP) model, thus capturing the role of BOM in the selection of suppliers in the strategic design of a supply chain. A test problem is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the formulation and solution strategy. The results and their managerial implications are discussed.Scope and purposeSupply chain design is to provide an optimal platform for efficient and effective supply chain management. The problem is often an important and strategic operations management problem in supply chain management. This paper shows how the mixed integer programming modeling techniques can be applied to supply chain design problem, where some complicated relations, such as bills of materials, are involved. We discuss how to solve such a complicated model efficiently.     

RFID together with multi-agent systems to control global value chains

Nowadays, the cooperative intelligent transport systems are part of a largest system. Transportations are modal operations integrated in logistics and, logistics is the main process of the supply chain management. The supply chain strategic management as a simultaneous local and global value chain is a collaborative/cooperative organization of stakeholders, many times in co-opetition, to perform a service to the customers respecting the time, place, price and quality levels. The transportation, like other logistics operations must add value, which is achieved in this case through compression lead times and order fulfillments. The complex supplier's network and the distribution channels must be efficient and the integral visibility (monitoring and tracing) of supply chain is a significant source of competitive advantage. Nowadays, the competition is not discussed between companies but among supply chains. This paper aims to evidence the current and emerging manufacturing and logistics system challenges as a new field of opportunities for the automation and control systems research community. Furthermore, the paper forecasts the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies integrated into an information and communication technologies (ICT) framework based on distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) supported by a multi-agent system (MAS), as the most value advantage of supply chain management (SCM) in a cooperative intelligent logistics systems. Logistical platforms (production or distribution) as nodes of added value of supplying and distribution networks are proposed as critical points of the visibility of the inventory, where these technological needs are more evident.     

A multi-stage joint economic lot size model with lead time penalty costs

This paper studies the case of a multi-stage supply chain where equal- and unequal-sized batches are transported between the stages and where penalty costs are imposed for long lead times. Unlike earlier works, this paper does not restrict the number of stages to a given value, but rather analyses a general case of the model. First, an analytical model of the supply chain is developed and the properties of the model are discussed. Secondly, a simulation study is conducted to analyse the behaviour of the model. The results of our analysis indicate that the performance of upstream stages of the supply chain is more critical to the performance of the supply chain than the performance of downstream stages. Furthermore, our findings show that a supply chain stage may improve its position significantly by coordinating its behaviour with its direct neighbours in the supply chain.     

基于HCPN的BTO供应链的动态构建与仿真

采用层次着色Petri网（HCPN）对企业从接到用户订单、编制供应链计划,直到选定上游供应商的BTO供应链网络的动态构建过程进行建模和仿真分析,其结果可以评价企业的供应链战略联盟响应用户个性化需求的能力。为企业管理者动态构建BTO供应链网络和评估供应链战略联盟响应用户个性化需求的能力提供了一种有效的实用方法,从而有助于改进整个供应链的绩效。     

An investigation on the impact of product modularity level on supply chain performance metrics: an industrial case study

The benefit of integrating product design decisions and supply chain design decisions has been recognized by researchers. Such integration can facilitate better communication between design teams and operations groups. Consequently, potential supply chain risks can be highlighted and addressed before the launch of a new product. Modularization is one of the most critical elements for both product design and supply chain design decisions as it impacts the assembly sequence and hence the selection of component and module suppliers. However, the impact of modularity level on supply chain performance is still unclear, and thus is the focus of this study. The proposed analytical method incorporates both product design and supply chain design functions, and hence, enables simultaneous consideration of these decisions. The supply chain performances of all two-module and three-module design concepts are fully investigated in an effort to explore the impact of modularity level on supply chain performance. Results show that increased modularity is advantageous for the time-based performance of a supply chain network, whereas decreased modularity yields superiority in terms of cost performance.     

基于多尺度Retinex算法的遥感图像增强

大多数的遥感图像存在视觉对比度低、分辨率低的缺点．因而在对遥感图像分析之前,通常都需要通过遥感图像增强技术对图像进行增强处理。当前的图像增强方法有很多种,文中引入了一种新颖的图像增强方法,即多尺度Rednex（MSR）算法。这种增强技术尤其对能见度差、分辨率低的图像有很好的效果,因此适合于对遥感图像的增强处理。此外,还引入了几种常用的经典图像增强方法,如直方图均衡法等。为了证实所引入的MSR算法对遥感图像的增强效果优于其他的增强方法,在实验中,将经典的图像增强方法和MSR算法分别应用于增强一幅典型的遥感图像并对比增强后的增强效果。实验结果表明MSR算法在对遥感图像的增强中可以取得满意的效果并且优于其他的图像增强方法。     

基于战略顾客行为的不同权力结构下供应链绩效

通过比较制造商主导、纳什均衡、零售商主导的博弈均衡, 分析战略顾客行为对供应链成员企业最优决策和绩效的影响. 结论表明: 供应链成员企业若正视战略顾客存在, 制定合理的决策, 则能达到互利共赢的局面; 供应链绩效的优劣情况取决于顾客战略行为程度的大小, 且高比例的战略顾客会持续恶化零售商主导的供应链绩效; 顾客会倾向于价格更低廉的零售商主导的市场结构.

     

A Knowledge-based Customization System for Supply Chain Integration

Hostile environmental pressure on supply chain management increases emphasis on supply chain agility, integration, and visibility to respond rapidly, effectively and efficiently to changes in the marketplace. There is a need for new methods and tools to visualize the supply chain topologies which captures and recognizes the complexity of the supply chain network. This paper presents a Knowledge-based Customization System for Supply Chain Integration (KCSSI) which is developed based on three core technologies: visualization of topologies, network analysis, and knowledge-based system so as to obtain quantified actionable information and formulating strategies for supply chain configuration leading the long term success. The performance of the system is verified by a series of controlled simulation experiments conducted in a selected reference site. It is verified that the KCSSI improves supply chain visibility by recognizing the structure clustering and interconnection of the supply chain network, quantifying and exploiting holistic supply chain performance to provide measurable insights for the customization of the supply chain configuration leading to long term success.     

Fault-tolerant placement of phasor measurement units based on control reconfigurability

This paper formulates and solves the problem of placing additional phasor measurement units (PMUs) into a power grid, with focus on enhancing the tolerance to loss of a specified number of PMUs anywhere in the grid under a placement constraint based on a previously defined concept called control reconfigurability. Control reconfigurability imposes a requirement on the minimum Hankel singular value for all anticipated fault scenarios. This requirement causes the placement of PMUs to benefit the use of analytic redundancy in the controlled dynamic grid with respect to anticipated PMU outages, thus enhances the grid resilience. The same principle is applicable to placing additional control devices into the grid. A simple power network model is used to explain the fault-tolerant PMU placement method, and the particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to minimize the number of additional PMUs placed without violating the required control reconfigurability. The results of placing PMUs for the IEEE 118-bus system are presented.     

A contingency model for creating value from RFID supply chain network projects in logistics and manufacturing environments

In the growing literature on RFID and other network technologies, the importance of organizational transformation at the supply chain level has been recognized. However, the literature lacks conceptual model development and salient mechanisms for achieving the level of organizational transformation required for stakeholders to realize the full business benefits from RFID projects. Furthermore, the RFID adoption, use, and impact studies to date largely focus on a single firm setting and on the retail sector. Therefore, this study intends to fill this knowledge gap in the literature, and develops a contingency model for creating value from RFID supply chain projects in logistics and manufacturing environments. For our model development, we draw upon extant diverse literatures, particularly the framework for IT-enabled business transformation, and leadership and organizational learning. The framework postulates a positive relationship between the level of organizational transformation effected by the use of information technology (IT) and the level of business benefits realized from IT. The contingency model draws on the framework, and explicates five contingency factors influencing value creation from RFID supply chain projects: environmental upheaval; leadership; second-order organizational learning; resources commitment; and organizational transformation. Using the contingency model as a conceptual guide, we also perform an analysis of longitudinal real-world case data from a Canadian third-party logistics service firm's seven-layer supply chain RFID projects. The case study analysis provides evidence for the imperative of the contingency factors identified in the model for creating value from the RFID projects. Furthermore, it also reveals the differential costs for the focal firm and the up-stream manufacturing as a key barrier to realizing the full RFID benefits at the supply chain level.     

集群环境下基于竞合机制的多agent供应链管理系统架构*

设计了一个基于竞合协调机制的MAS架构,以协调集群环境下供应链整体绩效与成员企业利益之间的关系,实现了多agent供应链管理系统与现有组织之间较好的匹配,并使用仿真技术对系统的商业价值进行评估.这有助于基于多agent系统和竞合机制效益的理论表达,也对企业实施基于多agent的系统起到了支持作用.     

集成供应链管理的多目标规划研究

目前,供应链管理已经成为学术研究的一个热点问题,也是企业战略管理的一项重要内容。为此首先使用多目标规划的方法描述了供应链及其成员的运作性能、供应链的协调运作、供应链成员的利润等,建立了由一个制造商和一个供应商构成的多产品、多阶段集成供应链管理绩效决策模型;其次通过应用算例的研究验证了模型的有效性和可行性;最后,针对各种参数的变化,对模型进行了灵敏度分析,并与分散供应链管理绩效决策模型进行了对照研究,为优化供应链绩效、拓展市场需求、开发原材料供应渠道提供了决策参考。     

Effect of change management capability in real-time environment: an information orientation perspective in supply chain management

Supply chain management (SCM) is an important strategic tool that requires careful planning and management. While the availability of real-time information is a critical aspect of an SCM system, it possesses a potential to disrupt supply chain participants. Thus, the success of an SCM system hinges on how well participants deal with changes taking place in a real-time environment. This study adopts the concept of the real-time enterprise to understand the role of change management on SCM performance based on the concept of the information orientation. The study empirically validated the role of change management on SCM performance.     

Measuring supply chain resilience using a deterministic modeling approach

To achieve a competitive edge in an uncertain business environment where change is imperative, one of the significant challenges for an organization is to mitigate risk by creating resilient supply chains. This research proposes a model using graph theory which holistically considers all the major enablers of resilience and their interrelationships for analysis using an Interpretive Structural Modeling approach. The uniqueness of this model lies in its ability to quantify resilience by a single numerical index. The quantification of resilience will help organizations assess the effectiveness of various risk mitigation strategies. This will provide tools for managers to compare different supply chains while offering a deeper knowledge of how supply chain characteristics increase or decrease resilience and consequently affect supply chain risk exposure. Thus, the research supports organizations in measuring and analyzing supply chain resilience and facilitates supply chain decision-making. The proposed method could simplify the dynamic nature of environment for managing disruptions in a supply chain. This novel approach for determining the supply chain resilience index (SCRI) advocates the consideration of resilience aspects in supply chain design, thus giving a competitive advantage to achieve market share even during a disruption.     

基于软件代理技术的供应链协同管理

供应链是由供应商、制造商和销售商等企业部门为了进行物质材料获取、产品加工并将产品送达到最终用户的功能网络。供应链管理通过协调各种策略，控制管理供应链上各种工作流来优化供应链的运作.而优化的操作需要一种协同管理的方法。文中研究将供应链设计为由一系列智能软件代理组成的一个虚拟整体，每一个代理负责供应链上的某一项或某几项活动，代理间交互通讯完成供需活动。     

A comparative study of supply chain models under the traditional centralized and coordinating policies with incentive schemes

Recently, great attention has been paid to the supply chain concept. While there is much research material on buyer and supplier performance assessment and management, a relationship perspective can bring an added dimension, especially to the performance of close, mutual relationships. The paper examines the problem of how to establish an incentive scheme to furnish reliable and truthful information in supply chains. The study investigates a relationship performance definition that incorporates the financial dimension. It focuses on a dyadic relationship in a chain including one manufacturer and one retailer, in which stochastic demand and lead-time are considered. The aim of the study is to find proper coordinating mechanisms based on exchanging financial incentives that can improve the overall performance of the whole chain as well as each member in the chain. Using numerical means, the study shows that the functional coordinating policy with incentive schemes can improve the overall channel profitability beyond the traditional centralized policy. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is conducted with respect to the bonus cost parameter, and suggestions are made for further research.     

A framework for measuring the performance of service supply chain management

Despite the increasing attention to the service supply chain management by both practitioners and academics, the performance measurement of service supply chains still remains unexplored. Most service firms realize that, in order to evolve an efficient and effective service supply chain, service supply chain management needs to be assessed for its performance. A literature review was conducted on performance measurement issues of service supply chains. This paper develops a framework of service supply chain performance measurement. Based on the strategic, tactical and operational level performance in a service supply chain, measures and metrics are discussed. The emphasis is on performance measures dealing with service supply chain processes such as demand management, customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, capacity and resource management, service performance, information and technology management and service supply chain finance. And to prioritize service supply chain performance measurement indicators to improve service supply chain performance, a methodology based on the extent fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is stressed. The developed framework of service supply chain performance measurement is applied to the hotel supply chain. The results of this study are useful both to practitioners in the service supply chain and to researchers carrying out further studies in the field.     

Does RFID improve firms’ financial performance? an empirical analysis

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is viewed as a technology that improves supply chain efficiency by enhancing inventory efficiency, optimizing logistics, and coordinating the flow of materials. Although RFID has gained great attention in many business applications, the financial gain that accrues over time from RFID adoption is not well understood. We examine the effects of RFID on firm profits while adjusting for self-selection of adoption choice. We find that firms self-select into a certain adoption mode on the basis of their organizational characteristics. Our results also show that RFID confers significant benefits for firms that have adopted RFID. Interestingly, improved inventory ratio and sales efficiency begin to play a greater role in shaping higher profitability over time for firms that have adopted RFID possibly due to time-consuming processes for them to reap the benefits from RFID. However, we find that the values of RFID that accrue to firms are not universal across firm. That is, our results suggest that RFID confers a significant value for certain firms while it does not for other firms with unobservable disadvantages. In sum, our study sheds new light on what drives firms to adopt RFID and on which firms achieve higher financial performance in a post-adoption period as a result of RFID adoption.     

Understanding value creation in closed loop supply chains – Past findings and future directions

The topic of value creation through the recovery of returned products in closed loop supply chains is scattered across various bodies of literature. We undertake a systematic literature review of 144 articles in relevant green, reverse and closed loop supply chain literature to synchronize existing knowledge on value creation. Value manifestations of four types of value, namely economic, environmental, information and customer value, are identified. Value adding concepts from the forward- and reverse supply chain may leverage the process of value creation. They are classified into six subclasses, namely partnerships and collaboration, product design characteristics, service concepts, IT solutions, supply chain processes and organizational characteristics. We present a conceptual framework on a strategic level. In this way companies can create competitive advantages by closing the loop. The results of the literature analysis suggest avenues for future research on the operational and strategic level.