Hugo Tsugunobu Yoshida Yoshizaki

Literature review of humanitarian logistics research: trends and challenges

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review of humanitarian logistics (HL) that aims to identify trends and suggest some directions for future research. Design/methodology/approach – This conceptual paper develops a research framework for literature review through qualitative and quantitative content analysis. First, previous literature reviews in HL are updated and detailed. Then, seven classification criteria are added to earlier ones in order to advance the literature analysis. Findings – The conclusions identify some literature gaps and research opportunities. The main conclusions are the need for more studies into the disaster recovery phase and the need for closer relationships between academia and humanitarian organizations to increase the number of applied research. Research limitations/implications – The literature is limited to academic peer-reviewed journals because of their academic relevance, accessibility, and ease of searching. Practical implications – Help potenti...

Scatter search for a real-life heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with time windows and split deliveries in Brazil

In this paper, we consider a real-life heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with time windows and split deliveries that occurs in a major Brazilian retail group. A single depot attends 519 stores of the group distributed in 11 Brazilian states. To find good solutions to this problem, we propose heuristics as initial solutions and a scatter search (SS) approach. Next, the produced solutions are compared with the routes actually covered by the company. Our results show that the total distribution cost can be reduced significantly when such methods are used. Experimental testing with benchmark instances is used to assess the merit of our proposed procedure.

Collaboration intensity in the Brazilian supermarket retail chain

Purpose – This paper seeks to identify collaboration elements and evaluate their intensity in the Brazilian supermarket retail chain, especially the manufacturer‐retailer channel.Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire was elaborated and applied to 125 representatives from suppliers of large supermarket chains. Statistical methods including multivariate analysis were employed. Variables were grouped and composed into five indicators (joint actions, information sharing, interpersonal integration, gains and cost sharing, and strategic integration) to assess the degree of collaboration.Findings – The analyses showed that the interviewees considered interpersonal integration to be of greater importance to collaboration intensity than the other integration factors, such as gain or cost sharing or even strategic integration.Research limitations/implications – The research was conducted solely from the point of view of the industries that supply the large retail networks. The interviews were not...

Heuristic methods for the fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem with time windows and split deliveries

This paper proposes a scatter-search (SS) approach to solve the Fleet Size and Mixed Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Split Deliveries (FSMVRPTWSD). In the Vehicle Routing Problem with Split Deliveries (VRPSD), each customer can be served by more than one vehicle, as opposed to the classical VRP in which each customer is served only once. In the FSMVRPTW, the customers must be serviced within their time windows with minimal costs using a heterogeneous fleet. Experimental testing and benchmark examples are used to assess the merit of our proposed procedure. The results show that the proposed heuristics are competitive with the best results found in the literature.

A framework for locating logistic facilities with multi-criteria decision analysis

Locating logistic facilities, such as plants and distribution centres, in an optimal way, is a crucial decision for manufacturers, particularly those that are operating in large developing countries which are experiencing a process of fast economic change. Traditionally, such decisions have been supported by optimising network models, which search for the configuration with the minimum total cost. In practice, other intangible factors, which add or reduce value to a potential configuration, are also important in the location choice. We suggest in this paper an alternative way to analyse such problems, which combines the value from the topology of a network (such as total cost or resilience) with the value of its discrete nodes (such as specific benefits of a particular location). In this framework, the focus is on optimising the overall logistic value of the network. We conclude the paper by discussing how evolutionary multi-objective methods could be used for such analyses.

Estilos de aprendizagem Felder-Silverman e o aprendizado com jogos de empresa

The problem this study dealt with was the difference in learning observed among students of a Production Control and Planning (PCP) course. The objective was to describe and to analyze the learning differences according to Learning Styles (LS). Assimilation and comprehension (test scores) and the LS of 356 students in 16 graduate classes - MBAs and Extension Courses - from five years were examined. A business game brought the experiences to life, where greater learning was observed among students with a reflective (active-reflective) or visual (visual-verbal) style. By not exploring reflection, the game may have restricted the experience learning cycle, especially among the active ones. Two guidelines for the educational design are suggested for educators: when standardizing the designone should seek to balance activities in order to meet different LS. When the design is personalized, one should insert activities which are complementary to the learner’s preferences, thus enabling a balanced experience between action and reflection.

Um estudo exploratório sobre colaboração logística em um grande varejo supermercadista

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo discutir os elementos de colaboracao logistica importantes para a construcao de um melhor relacionamento entre o varejista e seus fornecedores. Esses elementos foram identificados a partir da literatura e observados em um estudo de caso em uma grande rede de varejo supermercadista. As teorias relacionadas a pesquisa sao referentes a natureza da colaboracao, ao desempenho logistico e a economia dos custos de transacao. Dentre os elementos usualmente mais citados para o processo de colaboracao, como confianca, reciprocidade, compartilhamento de informacoes, interacao entre as areas funcionais, objetivos e metas conjuntas, e integracao interpessoal, os resultados sugerem que este ultimo elemento e o mais importante no processo de colaboracao logistica.

Um estudo sobre colaboração logística entre indústria de bens de consumo e redes de varejo supermercadista

This paper aims to ascertain the current state of collaborative logistics in the Brazilian supermarket retail chain through two quantitative studies: one concerning collaboration elements and logistics performance, and the other quantitative study focusing on collaboration elements and transaction costs. All of these elements are identified among the partners. The methodology consists of a qualitative analysis (using participative observations) and a quantitative analysis consisting of 125 representatives from 87 suppliers who evaluated Brazils four largest retailers. From statistical tests and regression analysis, the results confirmed that some collaborative elements positively influence the logistics performance of the firms, mainly when it concerns a differentiated logistic performance (urgent deliveries and deliveries in periods of high demand). Interpersonal integration contributes most to a higher intensity of collaboration, followed by strategic integration and tactical integration. Moreover, the increase in strategic collaboration and joint actions (tactical integration elements) contributes to the reduction in uncertainties between the participants and these joint actions also help to increase investment in specific assets.Este artigo visa conhecer o estado de colaboracao em logistica entre industrias fornecedoras e redes de supermercados do Brasil, por meio do estudo da relacao entre os elementos de colaboracao e os elementos de desempenho logistico e de custos de transacao identificados na relacao de parceria. A metodologia e composta por uma analise qualitativa (por meio de observacao participativa) e quantitativa, composta por uma amostra de 125 representantes dos fornecedores de 87 fabricantes de bens de consumo. Foram avaliadas as quatro maiores redes supermercadistas atuantes no pais. Por meio de testes estatisticos e modelos de regressao, os resultados mostraram que alguns elementos de colaboracao influenciam positivamente o desempenho logistico dos fornecedores, principalmente tratando-se de desempenho logistico diferenciado (entregas urgentes e em periodos de demanda alta). A integracao interpessoal e a que mais contribui para a maior intensidade de colaboracao, seguida da integracao estrategica e integracao tatica. A maior intensidade de integracao estrategica e de acoes conjuntas (relacionadas aos elementos de integracao tatica) contribui para a diminuicao de incertezas entre os participantes e essas acoes conjuntas contribuem para o aumento do investimento em ativos especificos.

Proposta de um programa de treinamento de desastres naturais considerando o perfil das vítimas

En pasadas decadas los desastres han incrementado en numero e intensidad. Organizaciones humanitarias han buscado metodos para la prevencion y preparacion ante desastres. Esto requiere el estudio de anteriores desastres, tal que las decisiones puedan enfocarse en las principales vulnerabilidades. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo impulsar las politicas de prevencion y preparacion a traves de programas de capacitacion orientados a la preparacion ante desastres en Brasil, considerando el perfil de las poblaciones afectadas. Se conducen estudios sobre vulnerabilidad y metodos de capacitacion en prevencion de desastres naturales, y se realiza un analisis estadistico sobre las victimas de desastres naturales en cuatro estados brasileros. Finalmente, se discuten metodos de capacitacion de acuerdo a las vulnerabilidades identificadas en el estudio. Se concluye que los programas y metodos de capacitacion deben ser mas efectivos y orientados a Brasil. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a la mitigacion y prevencion de desastres en los estados analizados.

Minimizing Total Tardiness: A Case Study in an Autoparts Factory

The application of heuristic procedures for solving a real scheduling problem that arises in an autoparts factory is reported in this paper. Due to the characteristics of the environment, the measure of performance considered is the minimization of the total tardiness of the jobs. The original problem is reduced to the single machine scheduling problem, and the dispatching rules EDD (earliest due date), SPT (shortest processing time), and the PSK algorithm are used to obtain approximate solutions. Computational tests and a comparison with the usual schedule are presented.