Markus Biehl

International supply chain agility Tradeoffs between flexibility and uncertainty

Firms operating in an international environment face a host of uncertainties that make it difficult to meet deadlines reliably. To be reliable in an uncertain and changing environment, firms must be able to quickly respond to changes. The ability to do this in a useful time frame is called agility. Unfortunately, measures taken to increase agility often lead to increases in complexity, which works against agility. We propose a theoretical construct linking elements of uncertainty with aspects of agility, pointing out the two‐edged nature of the requisite capabilities. We illustrate our points with examples from five case studies.

Assessing performance and uncertainty in developing carpet reverse logistics systems

The US carpet industry is striving to reach a 40% diversion rate from landfills by 2012, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by industry and government officials in 2002. As a result, they are interested in methods of setting up a reverse logistics (RL) system which will allow them to manage the highly variable return flows. In this paper, we simulate such a carpet RL supply chain and use a designed experiment to analyze the impact of the system design factors as well as environmental factors impacting the operational performance of the RL system. First, we identify the relative importance of various network design parameters. We then show that even with the design of an efficient RL system, the use of better recycling technologies, and optimistic growth in recycling rates, the return flows cannot meet demand for nearly a decade. We conclude by discussing possible management options for the carpet industry to address this problem, including legal responses to require return flows and the use of market incentives for recycling.

Remote repair, diagnostics, and maintenance

An overview and comparison of the U.S., Japanese, and German machine tool industries.

The efficiency of joint decision making in buyer-supplier relationships

This paper examines the effectiveness of joint decision making within 87 pairs of buyer-supplier relationships in manufacturing. Joint decision making is an important attribute of a more cooperative supply chain relationship that may ultimately result in a better performance. Efficiency is modeled as a multiple criteria problem using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Inputs of five kinds of joint decision making activity are examined relative to two measures of output based on the assessment of the buying firm. Three contingent constructs (product customization and innovation, media richness of the communication between buyer and supplier, and continuity in the relationship) are then examined for their impact on the relative performance of each pair. The implications for the management of supply chain relationships and benchmarking of best practice are then discussed.

Selecting internal and external supply chain functionality: The case of ERP systems versus electronic marketplaces

Purpose – Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of the external supply chain (SC) functionality offered by business‐to‐business electronic marketplaces (EMPs) results in improved efficiencies and reduced costs in supply chains. Anecdotal evidence also suggests, however, that most of the benefits offered by EMPs could also be achieved by an increase in the firms internal SC capabilities. The firms decision is thus one of seeking SC efficiencies through internal capabilities (e.g. enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems), through participation in EMPs, or through a combination of both. Seeks to examine this issue.Design/methodology/approach – This paper conceptually examines the choice of using ERP systems versus EMPs within the context of value creation and competitiveness in an SC partnership. Then a dynamic, non‐linear model is proposed to support this decision.Findings – Three findings stand out. First, while small firms are often well served with just using EMPs, large firms are better off usin...

Exploiting the Small-Worlds of the Semantic Web to Connect Heterogeneous, Local Ontologies

Abstract In this paper, a parallel is drawn between the semantic Web search problem of software agents finding the right ontology definition to how people are able to find strangers using a surprisingly short chain of acquaintances – a result from the “six degrees of separation” experiment. The experiment relied on shared understanding of the phrase, “someone you know on a first name basis” to define an acquaintance relationship. Web searching relies on standardized use of the hyperlink relationship. Hyperlinks are constituted from universally accepted meta-data: Anchor and bookmark HTML markups. Say that heterogeneous local ontologies are all marked-up using standard meta-data. Then, the meta-data and some universally accepted semantics constitute a shared ontology, which can be used to bridge local ontologies, much as highly connected people who belonged to many cliques (small-worlds) were used disproportionately often in the search for strangers. This paper outlines the framework for approaching the semantic Web search problem using meta-data based shared ontologies inspired from small-worlds theory of sociology. This approach is exciting because it (1) enables data sharing over the semantic Web without post hoc modifications to local ontologies, and (2) uses meta-data, which in many situations are already commonly available and implemented in XML.

Electronic marketplaces versus enterprise resource planning: a comparison and decision methodology for supply chain management

This paper addresses a firms decision of whether to rely on the supply chain capabilities of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems or to make use of electronic marketplaces (EMPs). The functionalities provided by the technologies, their costs and benefits, and strategic considerations are discussed as variables relevant to this decision. The tradeoff also depends on the firms current level of capabilities and the processes that ensure its competitive advantage. Upon the analysis of these decision factors, the paper develops a decision methodology for the selection of these information technologies. The qualitative and quantitative decision models that are developed can together be used to make the decision between ERP systems and EMPs and the mix of internal and external supply chain capabilities. The qualitative model aids in the choice between an ERP system and an EMP and is based on a lifecycle approach. The quantitative model, a nonlinear mixed integer programme, can be used to mix and match di...

TOWARD ASSESSING FINANCIAL RETURNS FROM GREEN STRUCTURAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL EXPENDITURES.

Research on green operations has continued to evolve to consider a broad range of management decisions, programs and technologies that contribute to greener operations. Given that recently much att...