Seyed‐Mahmoud Aghazadeh

How to choose an effective third party logistics provider

The purpose of this article was to identify the steps that need to be taken when choosing an effective third party logistics provider. Based on the research completed, it was determined that third party logistics are beneficial to many companies. The use of third party logistics provides a competitive advantage in today’s business world. The optimal solution for a company choosing a third party logistic provider would be a five‐step process.

The future of human resource management

Human resource management must change as the business environment in which it operates changes. Outlines the key challenges facing human resources managers as they move from simply handling personnel issues to making a strategic contribution to the future directions and development of an organization. Demonstrates that human resources managers can contribute both to performance enhancement and cost reduction thus contributing directly to the productivity of the organization.

Managing workforce diversity as an essential resource for improving organizational performance

Today, human resource management is being renewed in organizations and is gradually affirming its strategic role. The need for highly qualified managers will increase as more organizations globalize their operations. The research presented in this paper highlights the need for management who are sensitive to the concerns of multicultural employees. The effects of cultural diversity on organizational behavior are complex and powerful. Within this perspective, the definition of diversity in the USA and the goals in achieving a more diverse workplace will be discussed. This paper will also examine the different facets involved in managing and developing a diverse human resource base. Organizations take into account their human resource base before hiring employees. One factor they look at is the possible advantages and disadvantages of a multicultural and diverse organization. This paper will examine ways by which managers and employees can learn about diversity, understand it, and respect it on a day‐to‐day basis when dealing with people from other diverse backgrounds.

Improving logistics operations across the food industry supply chain

This paper explores ways of improving logistics and distribution supply chains within the food retail industry. It includes the concepts of logistics and supply chain as well as the new challenges in the food industry. The paper derives that business‐to‐business and e‐commerce are the ways of the future. The paper discusses the successes and failures of the industry. Its results reveal slow progress in accomplishing the goals of leaner supply chains and easier distribution.

JIT inventory and competition in the global environment: a comparative study of American and Japanese values in auto endustry

The topic of Just in Time (JIT) Inventory is very important and relevant to all operations managers today. It has become a major factor of competitiveness in the global environment. The concept is a minimized costing system that increases efficiency, productivity and quality through economies of scale and control. Current business enterprises need this for both cost benefit and effectiveness to increase their chance of survival in the competitive market of the global environment. This paper delineates the specifics of JIT theory to a more practical level of individual components that are more easily understood and related to the Automobile Industry. This paper benefits Production and Operations Management (POM) in the respect of being another inclusive angle, written comprehension, on a very important aspect of the business world. The paper is an attempt to absorb a better understanding of peripheral concepts and restrictions guided by JIT in the auto industry.

Re-examining the training side of productivity improvement: evidence from service sector

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to review past and current research on the productivity problems and how to alleviate it by appropriate training. Design/methodology/approach - The article presents the collective results of two experiments, a grocery store chain, and a top outsourcing provider to show the higher levels of productivity can be achieved by proper training methods. Findings - The results of two experiments specify that businesses should incorporate proper training techniques in order to increase their productivity. If such an approach to generating high levels of productivity contingent on training is implemented, we expect that business should harvest the benefits. Research limitations/implications - Ideally, the experiments reported on should be extended to comprise a measure of the amount of employer-provided on-the-job training and training costs. Originality/value - This research contributes to the current training and productivity literature by emphasizing, to both human resource practitioners and policy makers, inadequate investment in workforce training is related directly to poor employee. The results have offered practical implication to organizational training.

Layout strategies for retail operations: A case study

The purpose of this study was to research retail layout of a local super market. The five concepts of retail layout were used to determine if the super market was achieving an effective layout. To accomplish this study, we applied previous studies, conducted interviews, and made use of the store for our own research. After discovering that the local supermarket needed some improvements, recommendations were made to improve the supermarket from the customers’ point of view. The other objective of our study was to determine if the supermarket utilised floor space to maximise profitability per square foot. Our findings helped to verify whether the supermarket implemented an appropriate layout.

Implementation of total quality management in the managed care industry

This paper presents an evaluation and discussion of total quality management (TQM), focusing on its origin, measure, and implementation into a specific industry (managed care). It will further show the significance of the nursing profession when looking how to successfully join the two concepts together. The results of this paper will effectively demonstrate that the implementation of TQM into managed care reveals a higher level of quality and customer satisfaction.

Human resource management: issues and challenges in the new millennium

Investigates three aspects of human resource management facing future challenges, personnel, technology and globalization. Suggests that the human resource professionals in a successful business must be able to attract and retain individuals who have the ability to manage a globally responsive business. Covers the use of technology for competitive advantage; advocates global strategies in operations management and empowerment of the individual.

A comparison of just‐in‐time inventory and the quantity discount model in retail outlets

The inventory management system of a discount retail store was examined. A just‐in‐time inventory management model and a quantity discount model were used to determine the appropriateness of each model for the retail outlet. Based on the calculations performed, it was determined that utilizing a retail just‐in‐time (JIT) policy is unrealistic. Customer demands constantly change, and shortages due to stock‐outs can cause huge losses in profits, especially when customers are lost to competitors. Additionally, the quantity discount model provides the lowest total cost for a retail outlet. Not only are the prices cheaper when inventory is bought in large quantities, but shortages or stock‐outs are rare. The optimal solution for a retail store is implementing the quantity discount method.