Catherine Decouttere

Sustainable R&D portfolio assessment

Research and development portfolio management is traditionally technologically and financially dominated, with little or no attention to the sustainable focus, which represents the triple bottom line: not only financial (and technical) issues but also human and environmental values. This is mainly due to the lack of quantified and reliable data on the human aspects of product/service development: usability, ecology, ethics, product experience, perceived quality and the like. Even if these data are available, consistent decision support tools are not ready available. Based on the findings from an industry review, a DEA model has been developed that permits to support strategic R&D portfolio management. The usability of this approach is underscored with real life examples from two different industries: consumables and materials manufacturing (polymers).

A multi-criteria approach to robust outsourcing decision-making in stochastic manufacturing systems

Robust DEA-based approach for multi-criteria decision-making developed.Partial views of DEA envelope curves provide instructive decision support.Enhanced aggregate planning approach for stochastic environments developed.Demand variability drives outsourcing volumes and reduces internal batch sizes.Higher setup variability increases insourcing volumes and average batch sizes. Manufacturing outsourcing is a key industry trend towards greater operations effectiveness and is related to the discussion of strategic core competencies. We study the issue of contract manufacturing at the strategic-tactical level aiming for robust decisions to accommodate stochastic manufacturing environments and immanent uncertainty of planning parameters. The topic is approached from a multi-criteria decision-making perspective, since service, cost, quality, and more long-term value-related aspects need to be considered to arrive at well-balanced decisions. Our contribution is twofold: first, we develop a scenario-based non-parametric ranking approach to determine beneficial outsourcing options at the strategic level. The ranking method uses both model-based Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which are obtained from a tactical planning model, and non-model-based KPIs that are derived in an independent assessment from multiple stakeholders. Second, we provide an enhanced aggregate planning approach at the tactical level in order to evaluate the performance implications of the strategic outsourcing decisions which in turn serve as the model-based KPIs for the ranking method. A queuing network-based approach is incorporated in the aggregate planning model to anticipate the stochastic behavior of manufacturing systems. An industry-derived case example with distinct outsourcing options is used to highlight the benefits of the approach and to investigate tactical trade-offs when coordinating internal and external manufacturing decisions.

A Broader View on Health Care System Design and Modelling

Many rigorous models have been developed to support health care system design. However, embedding these models in a broader stakeholder based framework, will substantially enhance the societal and human impact. Moreover, the acceptance of the proposed health care system (re)design suggestions will be more evident. Building on the model of an NMR scanning department, we propose an integrated health care design approach to support the modelling, the stakeholder analysis, the generation of alternative scenario’s and the final design choice.

The sustainable reconciliation between technological, financial and people aspects in R&D portfolio assessment

The multi-attribute assessment of an R&D portfolio is key for a companys long term survival. As sustainability is entering the stage both on the technological and financial as well as the people oriented aspects, a consistent approach is mandatory. Five models help to underpin a balanced evaluation in the light of a B2C company producing kitchen ware.

Performance measurement of a Rotavirus vaccine supply chain design by the integration of production capacity into the guaranteed service approach

Previous research has integrated multi-echelon inventory management into the design of a responsive supply chain by the use of the guaranteed service approach. We build further upon this work by integrating the production capacity and product flow to minimize the supply chains inventories. The production capacity is modeled with a queuing network to handle the variability of the batch production processes as well as the demand variability. We test and validate our model with adapted instances from literature and apply it to the rotavirus vaccine supply chain. This vaccine supply chain is seen as complex on the manufacturing side as well as on the distribution side. For our industrial application we show how this work is embedded in a scenario approach and the contribution of our model to evaluate a single scenario according to multiple performance indicators. For this paper, our scenarios consist of different lead time reduction programmes and varying demand levels. We demonstrate how to extract the best performing scenario.

The vaccine supply chain multathlon: the reconciliation of technology, economy and access to medicines

Many rigorous models have been developed to support the design of humanitarian supply chains. Supply chains supportive of Access to Medicines (ATM), like vaccine supply chains impose considerable additional challenges on this design process. We embed these models in a broader stakeholder based framework. This will substantially enhance the societal and human impact of the ATM supply chain service delivery. This broader base of stakeholders will deliver a balanced set of Key Performance Indicators, against which the new design options or scenarios will be evaluated. These scenarios will be the outcome of an iterative design and modelling process moderated by a group of key stakeholders. Subsequently, a multi-criteria ranking method will reveal a shortlist of championing scenarios. Finally, a group decision process will decide on the final supply chain design choice. Moreover, the acceptance and buy-in of the (re)designed supply chain will be much more evident for all stakeholders involved. The main purpose of this paper is to present a general framework for ATM supply chain design which constitutes a stakeholder’s framework encapsulating a rigorous modelling approach. We build upon our own experience within a vaccine supply chain.

A Framework for Production System Design: Insights from Industrial Experience

In this paper we want to share our findings from our industrial experience in the field of system design, more precisely in production system design. We start by the observation that many rigorous designs of production systems are not facing the implementation success they suggest. We indicate three basic reasons for this: limited stakeholder involvement, lack of out-of-the-box thinking and the dominance of financial and technical evaluation criteria. Based on these findings, we suggest a five step approach: the stakeholder analysis, the definition of key performance indicators, the scenario generation, the scenario ranking and the scenario implementation.