Pedro M. Reyes

Future impacts of RFID on e‐supply chains in grocery retailing

Purpose – To place the research on radio frequency identification (RFID) usage in supply chains within a specific business and market context; in this case, the grocery industry.Design/methodology/approach – This paper considers RFID research within the context of the grocery industry and outlines the market drivers that affect the way the grocery industry approaches RFID and also specific areas of research on RFID that should be undertaken to better provide the grocery industry with managerial insights into this technologys application.Findings – Examining market drivers that are leading to RFID implementation in the grocery industry, this paper provides a theoretical framework for future applied research on RFID implementation. Specifically, it develops a research framework that includes research using modeling techniques, RFID implementation and the impact of RFID on daily operational issues.Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on the market drivers for RFID implementation. While it ...

Empirical evidence of RFID impacts on supply chain performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the actual benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) on supply chain performance through the empirical evidence.Design/methodology/approach – The research reviews and classifies the existing quantitative empirical evidence of RFID on supply chain performance. The evidence is classified by process (operational or managerial) and for each process by effect (automational, informational, and transformational).Findings – The empirical evidence shows that the major effects from the implementation of RFID are automational effects on operational processes followed by informational effects on managerial processes. The RFID implementation has not reached transformational level on either operational or managerial processes. RFID has an automational effect on operational processes through inventory control and efficiency improvements. An informational effect for managerial processes is observed for improved decision quality, production control and the effe...

RFID in the contemporary supply chain: multiple perspectives on its benefits and risks

Purpose – This paper aims to point to established theory bases from other disciplines that may be used to illustrate the benefits, complexities and risks accompanying the adoption of radio‐frequency identification (RFID) technology.Design/methodology/approach – Three theory streams are explored with respect to RFID adoption at two levels: the level of the tagged unit; and the level of the adopting firm. Each theory stream is evaluated specifically with respect to RFID, and research questions are proposed.Findings – A variety of theoretical disciplines bring to light tension between uncertainty that spurs RFID adoption and uncertainty that accompanies RFID adoption.Practical implications – Insights are provided for managers wrestling with: the question of whether and/or how to adopt RFID; or concerns regarding the implications of their decision to adopt RFID. In addition, the theory bases explored in this research offer guidance regarding risks that accompany RFID adoption but are not commonly considered.O...

Is RFID right for your organization or application

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to help managers determine whether RFID is appropriate for their particular organizational needs and to give them some guidelines for implementing an RFID solution.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a general review of RFID and offers instructions to managers who are in a dilemma as to whether RFID is right for their organization or application.Findings – The results of this study provide managers with procedures to follow that will enable them to minimize RFID implementation problems.Practical implications – For practicing managers, these implementation procedures have important implications. As with any technological implementation, the needs of the organization, its personnel, and customers must be at the forefront of the process.Originality/value – This paper offers managers a valuable perspective on the RFID implementation process for their organization.

Impact of RFID on manufacturing effectiveness and efficiency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology utilization in manufacturing firms on manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach – Using systems theory as a basis, a RFID utilization and outcome(s) performance model was developed from the literature. Data from a sample of 155 manufacturers were collected and the model was assessed using a structural equation methodology.Findings – Findings indicate that utilization of RFID technology leads to improved manufacturing efficiency and manufacturing effectiveness. Improvements in efficiency lead directly to improved organizational performance, and improvements in effectiveness lead directly to improved supply chain performance.Research limitations/implications – Data were collected during the growth stage of RFID technology adoption and were only collected from firms in the manufacturing sector. Results should be interpreted with these limitations in mind.Practical impl...

Logistics networks: A game theory application for solving the transshipment problem

As competition from emerging economies such as China and India puts pressure on global supply chains and as new constraints emerge, it presents opportunities for approaches such as game theory for solving the transshipment problem. In this paper we use the well-known Shapley value concept from cooperative game theory as an approach to solve the transshipment problem for maintaining stable conditions in the logistics network. A numerical example is presented to show the usefulness of this approach.

Global Supply Chain Management in the Telecommunications Industry: The Role of Information Technology in Integration of Supply Chain Entities

Abstract In just the past few years, options have been examined for determining optimal operations and logistics strategies for competing in the global market. In terms of advances in technology and globalization of markets, organizations have had to improve their internal processes just to stay competitive. However, as a result of these changes, organizations are determining that these internal improvements were not enough. Where once information technologies allowed businesses to reengineer and streamline their internal business processes - streamlining the global supply chain will require the internal information systems extended beyond a firms enterprise and include electronic connections between each of the global supply chain partners. An in-depth case study is used to illustrate a broad view of an entire supply chain to reveal full product and component life cycle that not only reveals opportunities for cost reduction but also stimulates revenue growth. It makes the point that organizations must get more involved in the management of their global supply chain network of all upstream firms that provide inputs as well as the network of all downstream firms that provide outputs of the product to the final customer.

Impact of supply chain linkages on supply chain performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of supply chain linkages on supply chain performance (SCP). It aims to define and describe linkage constructs for power, benefits, and risk reduction and develop multi‐item scales for their measurement. It also aims to assess the relationships of the linkages with SCP.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 145 manufacturing and services sector managers are surveyed. The measurement scales are assessed for reliability and validity and further assessed within a measurement model context. Study hypotheses are then tested using a multiple regression approach.Findings – Results for the combined sample indicate that power, benefits, and risk reduction linkages positively and significantly impact SCP. Power is identified as the dominant linkage for manufacturers, and risk reduction as the most important within the services sector.Practical implications – The key to effective supply chain management is the ability to establish long‐term, strategic rel...

Goal programming model for grocery shelf space allocation

Abstract The highly competitive grocery retail industry has annual sales of roughly half a trillion dollars in the US. While gross margins average about 28% of sales, net profits after taxes are only 1% industry-wide, causing retailers to continually search for operational improvements that increase profitability and improve customer service. One important decision that affects both of these goals is how to allocate shelf space to different products. This paper addresses the specific problem of how to allocate a fixed amount of shelf space to different products within a particular product category, such as pickles or jelly. A nonlinear integer goal programming formulation is proposed that considers both profitability and customer service factors. This decision support tool shows the tradeoffs between increased profitability and improved customer service, and allows the manager to make the best tradeoff for the situation. An alternate approach is also proposed.

Radio frequency identification: past, present and future business applications

Successful organisations never stand still – they always strive to improve their supply chain performance. Sometimes technology solutions allow for better supply chain management. One such technology has recently garnered great interest in supply chain circles: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Although RFID technology is not new, recent technological advances provide new capabilities for improving supply chain performance. This paper describes the history of RFID, its present use in supply chain management and future business applications.