S. Scott Nadler

Impact of just‐in‐time inventory systems on OEM suppliers

Purpose – To analyze the impact of the adoption of just‐in‐time (JIT) production systems by different equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the inventory profiles of their suppliers.Design/methodology/approach – The research is designed to examine five financial measures of inventory management performance over the years 1994‐2004. Three specific industry sectors where OEMs have adopted and implemented JIT principles are studied. These sectors include the automotive, electronics, and aircraft industries. A one factor analysis of variance is employed to the five hypotheses and Tukeys post‐hoc test is used to interpret statistical pairwise differences between level means.Findings – Overall, the research finds that OEM suppliers in the automotive, electronics, and aircraft sectors have shown mixed results in the impact JIT implementation has had on inventory performance measures.Research limitations/implications – The research focuses on three industrial sectors over approximately a ten year time frame that may...

Technology emergence between mandate and acceptance: an exploratory examination of RFID

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on radio frequency identification (RFID) acceptance and examine three understudied drivers: a companys satisfaction with existing logistics technologies, its logistics technology readiness (technology optimism and technology innovativeness), and relationship hostage position. The proposed conceptual model also investigates the impacts of RFID acceptance and these three antecedents on the companys logistics performance.Design/methodology/approach – Survey data were collected from the members of three professional associations in the USA. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed relationships.Findings – According to the analysis results, a companys satisfaction with existing technology has negative impact on RFID acceptance, and technology readiness has positive impact on RFID acceptance. However, the relationship between a companys hostage position and RFID acceptance was found to be only partially significant. Also, the positive relatio...

An assessment of supply chain managers' trust in online auctions

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to empirically test the levels of trust supply chain managers exhibit regarding online auctions. The study seeks to test the hypotheses that supply chain managers with higher levels of trust in online auctions would exhibit more familiarity with online auctions, more positive relationships with suppliers, stronger focus on cost management, a stronger focus on revenue enhancement, and greater levels of participation.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the extant literature provided the basis for the development of an online pilot study that was e‐mailed to 100 supply chain managers. The results of the pilot study were used to develop an online survey instrument that was e‐mailed to 2,313 current members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and the Institute of Supply Management. A total of 213 usable questionnaires were returned, resulting in a 9.2 percent response rate.Findings – The data were analyzed via t‐test, MANOVA and ANOVA. Th...

Applications of Spreadsheets in Education : The Amazing Power of a Simple Tool

This e-book is devoted to the use of spreadsheets in the service of education in a broad spectrum of disciplines: science, mathematics, engineering, business, and general education. The effort is aimed at collecting the works of prominent researchers and educators that make use of spreadsheets as a means to communicate concepts with high educational value. The e-book brings some of the most recent applications of spreadsheets in education and research to the fore. To offer the reader a broad overview of the diversity of applications, carefully chosen articles from engineering (power systems and control), mathematics (calculus, differential equations, and probability), science (physics and chemistry), and education are provided. Some of these applications make use of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), a versatile computer language that further expands the functionality of spreadsheets. The material included in this e-book should inspire readers to devise their own applications and enhance their teaching and/or learning experience.

A decision model for the analysis of ergonomic investments

Costs associated with worker injuries can be high and some suggest investments in ergonomic solutions can lower those costs. However, many employers are still unsure if investing in various ergonomic solutions will generate benefits such as increased production and/or reduce workmens compensation expenses. Estimating current losses and predicting possible gains provide most of the information needed to decide upon ergonomic investment. This paper presents a model employers can use to predict cost savings from ergonomic investments given certain input factors, including current losses, cost of implementation, and success of implementation.

An examination of small motor carrier survival techniques

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare small and large motor carriers to determine whether small motor carriers serve a smaller, more concentrated customer base, have owners that are more involved in the customer relationship management process, and earn higher returns usually associated with niche market players.Design/methodology/approach – Responses from a US sample of 153 motor carrier managers are subjected to ANOVA comparing small, medium, and large motor carriers. Scale development procedures were employed and a construct measuring owner involvement in the customer relationship management process was developed.Findings – Small motor carriers have a more concentrated customer base, their owners are more involved in managing customer relationships, and they are paid higher rates per mile compared with large motor carriers.Research limitations/implications – This research was limited by its focus on the motor carrier industry and did not explicitly test a link between customer base concentr...

Application of a complex adaptive systems perspective: a post 9/11 survey of US trucking managers

Complexity theory addresses an important problem with standard business models that assume linear organisational behaviour and ignore the ambiguity that exists in complex environments. This study frames the US trucking industry as a complex adaptive system (CAS). Framing the US trucking industry in this manner offers the potential to more accurately represent the industrys complex reality and ability to adapt to disruptive events. The historical 9/11 attacks are chosen as the backdrop for qualitative in-depth interviews among trucking terminal managers. The interviews demonstrate the application of exploratory research for obtaining feedback to environmental change at different management levels. The authors propose that senior managers use feedback from terminal managers to guide the adaptive evolution of information systems and whole organisations and to reshape the firm and optimise adaptation to change. Interactions among management and operations offer potential for predicting response behaviours to unexpected environmental events and for managing future responses.

Customer relationship management in the contract pharmaceutical industry: an exploratory study for measuring success

Managing customer relationships is a very important issue in business-to-business markets. This research investigates the growing number of available resources defining Customer Relationship Management (CRM) efforts, and how they are being applied within the Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry. Exploratory study results using face-to-face and telephone questionnaires based on four criteria for rating a companys CRM efforts are presented. Data was collected from large Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturing companies in the US market. The results and conclusions are discussed relating how the Contract Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry is implementing CRM including some potential steps to take when considering a CRM initiative.

Performance outcomes and success factors of industrial vending solutions

Purpose Industrial vending solutions are unique in that they represent a very specific form of vendor-managed inventory (VMI). The purpose of this paper is to investigate performance outcomes associated with industrial vending implementation, a topic that has been largely ignored by the academic community. Design/methodology/approach A survey instrument was developed from earlier work on VMI success. Structural equation modeling is used to identify relationships between three enablers (information exchange, information quality, and relationship quality), perceived vending system implementation success, and three outcomes (cost benefits, customer service benefits, and inventory benefits). Findings Statistical outcomes demonstrate support for the benefits arising from successful vending system implementation. This study demonstrates that industrial vending implementation success is strongly tied to the amount and quality of the information shared between the relationship partners. Practical implications Successful industrial vending implementation results in improved inventory control, increased levels of customer service, and tighter cost control. This study provides supply chain managers with current findings, which should aid them in evaluating their current and proposed vending solutions. Originality/value Although VMI has been studied in the past, little work has been conducted on industrial vending as a specific form of VMI. This is the first study to explore industrial vending from the viewpoint of VMI implementation and performance. Empirically tested study results that are grounded in transaction cost theory confirm a series of performance outcomes of industrial vending from a buyer’s perspective as well as a number of enablers for successful industrial vending implementation.

Logistic Regression Approach to Predicting Truck Driver Turnover

The purpose of this study is to identify those constructs that lead to driver turnover. The theory of reasoned action (TRA), originating in the social psychology literature is the theoretical approach in this study. Interviews with drivers were conducted using the intercept method to develop a survey instrument. The survey was then administered to drivers at large truck stops. This study makes contributions on two fronts. From a managerial perspective the study results indicate that companies can use a technique such as this model as part of their driver retention efforts in order to create competitive advantage by increasing efficiency and cutting costs. The resulting logistic regression model, based on four factors, accounts for eighty eight percent of the variance and accurately predicts which drivers or driver classes are most at risk of turning over.