Reuben F. Burch

Managing congestion in a multi-modal transportation network under biomass supply uncertainty

This research presents a two-stage stochastic programming model that is used to design and manage a biomass co-firing supply chain network under feedstock supply uncertainty. The model we propose extends current models by taking congestion effects into account. A non-linear cost term is added in the objective function representing the congestion factor which increases exponentially as flow of biomass approaches the capacity of multi-modal facility. We first linearize the model and then use a nested decomposition algorithm to obtain a feasible solution in a reasonable amount of time. The nested decomposition algorithm that we propose combine constraint Generation algorithm with a sample average approximation and Progressive Hedging (PH) algorithm. We apply some heuristics such as rolling horizon algorithm and variable fixing technique to enhance the performance of the PH algorithm. We develop a case study using data from the states of Mississippi and Alabama and use those regions to test and validate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can solve large-scale problems with a larger number of scenarios and time periods to a near optimal solution in a reasonable amount of time. Results obtained from the experiments reveal that the delivery cost increases and less hubs with higher capacity are selected if we take congestion cost into account.

Global corporation rollout of ruggedised handheld devices: a Lean Six Sigma case study

Lean Six Sigma is an approach that focuses on improving quality of finished products and continuous improvement during the creation of these products by reducing variation and eliminating non-value-add work within an organisation. Combining the principles and tools from Lean and Six Sigma into a single ideology is not a new concept as the application of this strategy has been documented throughout many industries in numerous case studies over the years. However, literature has not provided cases of Lean Six Sigma application to the selection and application of handheld technology in the services industry. This paper presents a case study where Lean Six Sigma tools were implemented in a global, service-based, logistics organisation. The application of these Lean and Six Sigma tools and principles were used to identify areas of improvement in the quality and timeliness of selecting and implementing a new ruggedised handheld device for field workers.

Using simulation to teach lean methodologies and the benefits for Millennials

Lean manufacturing is no longer just a practice for industrial manufacturing. In an effort to generate more revenue with less resources, companies of all product and service types are turning to Lean methodologies. In its simplest form, Lean is described as identifying value-added tasks versus the non-value-added tasks through the eyes of the end customer. Teaching the newest workforce has changed given the visual learning preferences of the youngest demographic in the workplace – the digital natives who grew up immersed in technology. In an effort to teach Lean to all employees, in particular the youngest cohort, training has taken on forms that mimic the modern technology of today’s commercially popular pastimes: video games. Video games are essentially simulations of one or more real-life components applied via an interactive, responsive environment. Using simulations to teach Lean methodologies allows for instant feedback on components that are applicable to specific companies. Simulation-based training has been researched and attempted in the past. This study will focus on those efforts and their successes and will interpolate how the benefits of simulation training for Lean differs from all employees in the workplace versus employees born between 1979 and 2000.

Evaluating change in user error when using ruggedized handheld devices

The increasing number of handheld mobile devices used today and the increasing dependency on them in the workplace makes understanding how users interact with these devices critical. This study seeks to understand how user error changes based on user age as well as input content type on ruggedized handheld devices. Participants completed data entry tasks of word and character input on two different devices, a physical keypad and touchscreen device. The number of errors and types of error, corrected and permanent were collected for each participant. Based on results on the study, touchscreen devices proved to be the optimal ruggedized handheld device to minimize user error.

Global differences in industrial handheld device preference

One of the major concerns in managing a global organisation is the potential difficulty that could arise due to different cultural preferences for technologies. This study provides evidence that cultural difference can influence ruggedised handheld device design preference. Field workers from different world regions of a worldwide service company responded to a survey expressing their choices on four potential handheld devices, five available features, and on the most influencing feature. The region of the world from which the workers were domiciled was impactful and showed significant influence on device selection as well as on all of the feature preferences.