Mehmood Khan

A review of inventory lot sizing review papers

Purpose - – This paper aims to give a comprehensive review, summary, and discussion on inventory models that have appeared in the literature. During these past ten decades, no seminal paper reviewing the field of inventory lot sizing has even been published. This limitation has been identified in the literature by several researchers over the years, with the sheer volume of the number of published inventory lot sizing models acting as a factor which has limited a research endeavor to review the literature on inventory lot sizing models. Design/methodology/approach - – This article reviews research on inventory lot size models and provides a review of previously published literature review papers on inventory models. Based on this initial review, the literature extending current research practices on inventory modeling in supply chains and in sustainable practices is presented. Directions for expanding research in these two areas are examined in light of concerns expressed in the historical use of inventory models and in light of a new inventory research paradigm. Findings - – In our paper, we have adopted a novel strategy to overcome this limitation by focusing our review on a review of inventory lot sizing review papers. Originality/value - – By adopting the methodology of reviewing published inventory review papers, we can contribute a comprehensive review of the inventory lot sizing literature that serves to provide in one paper a consolidation of inventory research that can serve as a single source to keep researchers up to date with the research developments in inventory lot sizing models. We also identify gaps in the field which could stimulate new research agendas in the areas of supply chain management and sustainable inventory practices.

Competitive priorities and knowledge management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify attributes of knowledge management (KM) for large and small manufacturing companies in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to propose a process to evaluate the competitive priorities of these companies. Design/methodology/approach – This research is designed by composing multi criteria decision making of KM attributes in order to identify competitive priorities of large and small manufacturing companies to achieve better customer focus. To deal with this complexity of multi criteria decision-making process, Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method has been used in this research. Findings – Results show that large manufacturing companies are putting more emphasis on “Know-Why” knowledge attribute in all four competitive priorities for achieving customer focus. While, small size manufacturing companies put higher weight on “Know-What” knowledge attribute by focussing on two competitive priorities (flexibility and quality). Research limitations/implications –...

Optimal inventory cycle in a two-stage supply chain incorporating imperfect items from suppliers

In this paper, a two-level supply chain situation is considered. A manufacturer/vendor is assumed to receive raw material parts from a number of suppliers for assembling a single product. The parts obtained from the supplier are not of a perfect quality. That is, each supplier may have an approximately fixed percentage of defectives in the lots supplied. An inspection process is carried out at the vendors end to take out these imperfect parts while manufacturing the product. A different percentage of defectives from each supplier gives rise to some unused parts left with the vendor in each cycle. These parts are utilised in the next cycle. Different coordination mechanisms for controlling the supply chain inventory are studied. A cost minimisation model is given for each. A numerical example is given to compare the coordination mechanisms.

Analysis of capacity constraints on the backlog bullwhip effect in the two-tier supply chain: a Taguchi approach

This paper investigates the impact of capacity constraints and safety stock on the backlog bullwhip effect in a model of a two-tier supply chain. One of the most commonly applied methodologies to study the various aspects of the Beer Game model is the control theoretic technique. It is clear that these control theoretic models are linear and cannot deal with non-linearities, such as capacity constraints. Thereafter, simulation experiments together with Taguchi design of experiments are performed to study non-linear impacts of capacity constraints in a two-tier supply chain. This research gives supply chain operations’ managers and designers a practical way to develop a trade-off between capacity and safety stock at different echelons and to take better decisions about their capacity and safety stocks. Future work should investigate the total cost implications of capacity constraints and safety stocks in a multi-echelon supply chain.

Learning and screening errors in an EPQ inventory model for supply chains with stochastic lead time demands

This paper investigates the role of variable lead time, learning in production and screening errors in a vendor–buyer supply chain with defective items. The vendor–buyer supply chain is modelled for supplying a single item considering that the lots from vendor may contain some defective items. It is assumed that demand during lead time follows a normal distribution. Moreover, the production time at vendor’s facility is assumed to follow learning whereas buyer’s screening for defective items is prone to errors as well. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the impact of different variables in the model. The analysis shows that delay in transportation lead time forces the buyer to carry more inventories to avoid shortages. Further, Type I error has a major impact on this cost. It was found that learning in production keeps on reducing the total cost of the supply chain up to a threshold.

The Relationship Between Organizational Culture and Business Excellence: Case Study from United Arab Emirates

The relationship between organizational culture OC and corporate performance was commonly studied and reflected in the literature in the last few years. However, the relationship between OC and business excellence is rarely tackled. In this context, this research examined the relationship between four OC types and organizational excellence and the role of information communication technology ICT as a moderator. A quantitative study was conducted, and the data were collected using a survey questionnaire distributed to middle managers in one of the gold winners of a United Arab Emirates-based business excellence award. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between organizational culture components and business excellence in general. A mission culture has the most significant relationship, in contrast, the adaptability culture had no positive relationship. Also, the moderating role of ICT was proven. The results of this research can be utilized by managers to build the OC type that boost excellence within their organizations.

Algebraic modelling of a two level supply chain with defective items

M. Khan and M.Y. Jaber, Optimal inventory cycle in a two-stage supply chain incorporating imperfect items from suppliers. Int. J. Oper. Res. 10 (2011) 442–457, have addressed a two level supply chain of defective items. They compared three coordination mechanisms, i.e. cycle time; K –multiplier cycle time; and 2K –multiplier cycle time. This paper proposes a simpler algebraic solution for the K –multiplier cycle time mechanism without the use of differential calculus. The two level supply chain with defective items is illustrated with a numerical example. A sensitivity analysis is also provided.

A vendor-buyer supply chain model with stochastic lead times and screening errors

Inventory management and coordination among different echelons are some of the primary factors for the success of any supply chain. The classical economic order quantity (EOQ) model endeavours to achieve optimisation in the field of inventory management across supply chains. Most of the literature on supply chains ignores the role of quality, human factors and variability in lead-time-demand, while trying to improve its performance. The objective of this paper is to study the combined effect of defective items, inspection errors and stochastic lead time demand on the optimal cost of a two level (vendor-buyer) supply chain. A simple solution procedure along with a numerical example is presented to determine the optimal solution to this model. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to illustrate the significance of different parameters. Finally, a discussion on management insights is presented to complement the model and results.

Impact of organisational practices on knowledge sharing: an empirical study

The primary motive behind this study is to enhance understanding of the relationship between organisational practices and knowledge sharing among employees. A quantitative approach is used to examine the relationship between organisational practices and knowledge sharing among the employees in an organisation. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the impact of organisational practices on knowledge sharing by selecting an appropriate conceptual model that fits the study premise and results in better findings. The outcome of this research clarifies that organisational practices, such as collaboration, learning cultures, and management support, significantly impact knowledge sharing among employees at the workplace. This study can improve an organisations understanding of the internal culture enhancement in regard to organisational practices, collaboration, management support, and learning cultures, affect knowledge sharing among employees. Moreover, this study can help an organisation create effective strategies to develop knowledge sharing mechanisms in their organisations.

Slices: what is next?

Subject area Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. Study level/applicability This case is intended for teaching entrepreneurship and strategic management courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Case overview This is a field-researched real case about a growing food business started by local entrepreneurs in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Slices, a UAE-based organic food pioneer company is becoming popular in the UAE nowadays. The company was poised for growth as demand was exceeding all expectations. There were many challenges Slices had to face: increasing demand and brand awareness of Western Fast Food Giants; and what future skills Slices needed to develop to meet the regional and global challenges. Slices specializes in organic food, and they came up with different varieties in their menu every day. This, in turn, expanded the outlet greatly and they gained high revenues in a short period of time. Based on resource-based theory, Slices entrepreneurs have developed their business which is unique in terms of food with a flare of community service that involves offering healthy food to the customers and also a philanthropic attitude toward the poor. Slices is novel not only because they have more or better resources but also because of their distinctive competences (unique healthy food, community service and philanthropic attitude). Slices adopted a simple concept in which they sell their healthy food in a healthy atmosphere with delicious recipes that appeal to many different nationalities. But the challenges and hurdles are many which the company has to think of if they want to sustain in the long run. Faisal, Khalid, Hamad and Amina are wondering what their next step ought to be in light of the stiff competition. Do they have the dynamic capability to strategize? Do they have enough resources to expand locally and internationally? If yes, where and how? This case will enable the students to critically think in various facets and reach a decision based on the facts provided. Expected learning outcomes The case will help the students identify and evaluate the entrepreneurial strategy adopted by the company for start-up and future growth. This will also enable the students to critically think in various facets and reach a decision based on the facts provided. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.