Bojan Lalic

Analysis of a Three-Stage Supply Chain with Level Constraints

Many companies have enjoyed a significant success due to the unique ways in which they have organized their supply chains, which are one of the best ways to compete in todays marketplaces. For make-to-stock production systems the production plans and activities are based on demand forecasting. This is one of the key causes of the bullwhip effect. The bullwhip effect (BE) is the inherent increase in demand fluctuation up the supply chain. In the paper we experimented (by simulating) with a special case of a simple three-stage supply chain using seasonal and deseasonalized time series of the market demand data in order to identify, illustrate and discuss the impacts of different level constraints on the BE. The results are presented for different overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and constrained inventory policies. At higher OEE level there is less variability in production processes, but at inventory limitations the impact is more complex. (Received in December 2011, accepted in July 2012. This paper was with the authors 2 months for 2 revisions.)

COST-TIME PROFILE SIMULATION FOR JOB SHOP SCHEDULING DECISIONS

Manufacturers have to look constantly for new strategies and tools to improve processes, decrease cost and increase productivity and efficiency. Production scheduling is one of the crucial elements in manufacturing and has an impact on delivery deadlines and also on the production process in terms of its utilization. On the other hand, the value stream optimization is very important for lean manufacturing efforts. This paper is aimed to research the impact of job shop scheduling on value stream optimization and decreasing of cost-time investment. Value stream mapping represents a very efficient tool for visualization of activities within production flow focused on activity duration with the purpose to eliminate non-value added activities. Value stream costing is based on value stream and eliminates the need for overhead allocation and calculation. Cost-time profile is a powerful tool for visualization and calculation of cost accumulation during the time across the entire manufacturing flow. Software tools used in this paper are: Lekin scheduling system for constructing the schedules based on four different dispatching rules and Cost-Time Profiler software for simulating the impact of different schedules on total production cost and cost-time investment (representing the time value of money), which is proposed as a new scheduling objective function.

Developing a model to assess the success of e-learning systems: evidence from a manufacturing company in transitional economy

Abstract This paper examines the success of an e-learning system in a company from the perspective of employees by using a multimethod approach. For this purpose Moodle learning management system was used. The success of e-learning as an information system was evaluated using four constructs of the updated DeLone and McLean IS success model—system quality, use, user satisfaction and net benefits, and adding one more construct—user performance. In this research a combination of observation and survey as two different research methods was used, which allowed the new measure to be incorporated into the model. Empirical assessment was carried out by exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The research model was found to be valid and reliable. The results provide an expanded understanding of the constructs that measure the success of an e-learning system, helping to more deeply understand the key success dimensions and their interrelationships. The implications of our work were discussed. The DeLone and McLean IS success model applied equally well. However, the use of observation as a method of data collection revealed the weaknesses of the original model.

Evaluating the impact of environmental factors on the international competitiveness of Small and Medium sized Enterprises in the Western Balkans

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with an export potential face significant obstacles in gaining international competitiveness, due to the highly dynamic environment in which they operate. This study evaluates the impact of environmental factors on international competitiveness of the Western Balkans SMEs by identifying the key pairs of environmental factors and factors of international competitiveness, which facilitate an increase in international competitiveness of these firms. The paper also studies the importance of strategic planning and decision making process in the Western Balkans SMEs. Research is based on a questionnaire conducted on the representative sample of SMEs in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period September 2008 to March 2009. The findings of the research indicate which significant environmental factors have an impact on gaining the international competitiveness of the Western Balkans SMEs, therefore offering sound basis for strategic positioning and further gaining of competitive advantage.

The Effect of Industry 4.0 Concepts and E-learning on Manufacturing Firm Performance: Evidence from Transitional Economy

With the application of smart technology concepts, the fourth stage of industrialization, referred to as Industry 4.0, is believed to be approaching. This paper analyzes the extent to which smart factory concepts and e-learning have already deeply affected manufacturing industries in terms of performances in transitional economy. Empirical results indicate that manufacturing companies that have introduce both e-learning and selected smart factory technology concepts differ significantly. E-learning is mainly applied on graduates in production. Results reveal that two smart factory concepts are significantly and positively related to the firm performance when e-learning is applied.

Towards the Development of a Sequential Framework for Agile Adoption

This research demonstrates the first steps towards the creation of a generic sequential Agile adoption framework. The presented Framework is the result of a detailed analysis of academic literature and industrial reports, and a multi-case study conducted in three large enterprises in Spain and Serbia. The proposed Agile adoption framework is composed of three main sequential phases for Agile method adoption process: Preparation, Transformation and Agile organisation. Preparation, the first phase of the framework, is developed to the highest level of detail and validated in three case companies. The main contribution of the paper is the proposed framework, from which the first phase is ready to be used by practitioners, and second and third phases are useful for academic society and they can be developed and validated further in the future. Integrated list of contingency factors, and list of situational factors, may be used by practitioners independently of using the generic Framework for Agile adoption presented in the paper.

How to Increase Share of Product-Related Services in Revenue? Strategy Towards Servitization

The process of creating value by adding services to product offerings, or servitization, has flourished in recent years. Manufacturing companies increasingly produce and provide services along with or instead of their traditional physical products. The provision of product-related services in emerging economies has been neglected and can tremendously improve understanding of service growth, especially in the field of billing. The aim of this study is to examine is it worthwhile for the manufacturing companies in transition countries to offer product-related services and what strategy should they pursue to build service business model. Our analysis used the Croatian, Serbian and Slovenian dataset from the European Manufacturing Survey conducted in 2015. Empirical results revealed that in manufacturing companies in transition countries product-related services can significantly increase share of revenue. Results indicate that management in manufacturing companies should directly invoice software development and revamping, and indirectly installation, and design, as product-related service to maximize firm’s turnover and create a service business model.

Macro and Micro Innovativeness of the Western Balkan Countries

Innovativeness has been identified as a key success factor in todays’ increasingly competitive and complex environment. It is considered to have a key role as a driver of economic growth and essential instrument for business performance improvement of enterprises especially for emerging economies and economies in transition. Innovation readiness offers a possibility of new growth platforms both on macro level when talking about the economic growth as the biggest national issue and micro level when talking about competitiveness and business performances of enterprises. Engaging innovation potential in a way that will keep up with the pace of technological change and changing demands is indispensable in order to increase competitiveness on both levels. The Western Balkan countries are representative examples of economies in transition as they have witnessed significant changes and economic transformations since the beginning of the twenty-first century, and now they are challenged to keep the growth and improve it. Innovativeness has an influential role in responding to this challenge. The objective of this paper is to analyze cross-country differences and portray the situation in the region giving the answer to the following questions: how are Western Balkan countries ranked on world economies’ innovation capabilities scoreboards, how is their ranking changing over time, and how do they differ between themselves? In order to answer these questions, comparative cross-country analysis of innovativeness in Western Balkan countries was conducted. The findings build upon the comprehensive and comparable statistical date from public databases including studies on global innovativeness.

Project strategy: Selecting the best project structure

This paper describes a proposed methodology for research into determining if there is an appropriate organizational structure to use for a specific project type. Too often organizations use only one particular organizational structure for their projects. Unfortunately one size does not fit all. Form must fit function. Project managers must be able to choose the organizational structure which is appropriate for their project and thus position their project for success. This research will look at the organizational structure employed for various real life projects and will try to determine if distinct patterns of organizational structure are observed for specific project types and whether the organizational structures employed had an effect on project success (i.e., which organizational structures when employed with which project types led to project success and which did not). The researchers believe that choosing an appropriate organizational structure for a specific project type will position a project to be more successful thus enabling that project to create better business results and achieve the competitive advantage and value that the organization envisioned.