V.M. Rao Tummala

AN APPLICATION OF THE AHP IN VENDOR SELECTION OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

Vendor selection of a telecommunications system is an important problem to a telecommunications company as the telecommunications system is a long-term investment for the company and the success of telecommunications services is directly affected by the vendor selection decision. Furthermore, the vendor selection of a telecommunications system is a complex multi-person, multi-criteria decision problem. The group decision-making process can be improved by a systematic and logical approach to assess priorities based on the inputs of several people from different functional areas within the company. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) can be very useful in involving several decision-makers with different conflicting objectives to arrive at a consensus decision. In this paper, an AHP-based model is formulated and applied to a real case study to examine its feasibility in selecting a vendor for a telecommunications system. The use of the proposed model indicates that it can be applied to improve the group decision making in selecting a vendor that satisfies customer specifications. Also, it is found that the decision process is systematic and that using the proposed AHP model can reduce the time taken to select a vendor.

Assessing and Managing Risks Using the Supply Chain Risk Management Process (SCRMP)

Purpose: This paper proposes a comprehensive and coherent approach for managing risks in supply chains. Methodology/Approach: Building on Tummala et al.’s (1994) Risk Management Process (RMP) this paper develops a structured and ready-to-use approach for managers to assess and manage risks in supply chains. Findings: Supply chain risks can be managed more effectively when applying the Supply Chain Risk Management Process (SCRMP). The structured approach can be divided in the phases of risk identification, risk measurement and risk assessment; risk evaluation, and risk mitigation and contingency plans; and risk control and monitoring via data management systems. Specific techniques for conducting this process are suggested.Originality/value of paper: While supply chain risk management is an emerging and important topic in our dynamic and interconnected world, conceptual frameworks providing a clear meaning and normative guidance are scarce (Manuj and Mentzer, 2008). This paper presents such a framework, offering structure and decision support for managers.

Assessing supply chain management success factors: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine important operational issues related to strategic success factors that are necessary when implementing SCM plans in an organization.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was distributed to top and middle management within a large manufacturing firm, specializing in producing consumer and building products, to examine the importance and the extent to which the selected manufacturing company practiced the strategies based on these identified operational issues.Findings – Reducing cost of operations, improving inventory, lead times and customer satisfaction, increasing flexibility and cross‐functional communication, and remaining competitive appear to be the most important objectives to implement SCM strategies. The responses by the survey respondents indicate that not enough resources were allocated to implement and support SCM initiatives in their divisions. In addition, they perceived that resource allocation could be improved in the areas of bette...

An evaluation of success factors using the AHP to implement ISO 14001‐based EMS

Today’s growing concern in environment awareness forces manufacturers to strive for implementing competitive strategies in environmental management. With the introduction of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard in 1996, many manufacturing companies are facing a decision problem of whether or not to implement the ISO 14001 based EMS. The authors have studied the critical success factors to be considered by the Hong Kong manufacturers in this regard. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology is used in the study to formulate an appropriate model to evaluate success factors and develop strategies to implement ISO 14001 based EMS in Hong Kong manufacturing companies. The model is also used to evaluate the benefits/costs ratios of implementing ISO based EMS and to decide whether or not to implement it. As the results of the model indicated, the ISO 14001 based EMS should be implemented in Hong Kong by manufacturing companies to improve their environmental performance and sustain the competitive position in the global market place, regardless of the considerable costs incurred from its implementation. This is supported by a relatively larger benefits/costs ratio with respect to implementing ISO 14001 based EMS than that of the contrary. This paper reports the findings of the study.

Electronic Procurement: A Structured Literature Review and Directions for Future Research

The practice of Electronic Procurement (EP) has gained popularity over the last ten years, and so has the research on this emerging area. While first reports in the 1990s focused on general descriptions and best practices, more recent studies have dealt with specific and refined applications of this approach. Since some of the early EP technologies are maturing, while new ones are appearing constantly, a structured literature review is warranted. As such, this paper reviews 157 refereed journal articles dealing with EP, and examines them along eight key dimensions. Based on the insights gained, directions for future research are suggested.

Applying a Risk Management Process (RMP) to manage cost risk for an EHV transmission line project

Abstract Risk management processes (RMPs) are logically consistent and structured approaches to enumerating and understanding potential risk factors and assessing consequences and uncertainties associated with these identified risk factors. Based on this information, we can evaluate and choose the best course of action in order to cope up with the identified risks and to achieve the desired objectives of a given project. An RMP is applied in this paper to formulate a risk management model to evaluate the risks associated with an (EHV) transmission line project cost. This model can be applied successfully in reviewing and taking corrective actions over different project life cycle phases as shown in this paper.

A comparative study of multiattribute decision making methodologies

Three “real life” cases are considered in this paper to apply and compare the rankings obtained by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and other Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques such as Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), ELECTRE and Weighted Linear Assignment Method (WLAM). The results indicated that the AHP, SAW, and ELECTRE rankings do not differ significantly, however, the WLAM tends to exhibit more disagreement. However, because of the limited nature of this study, we do not suggest this as a general conclusion.

A Knowledge-based System for Identifying Potential Project Risks

This paper presents an integrated knowledge-based system (KBS) that assists project managers in identifying potential risk factors and the corresponding project risks. The knowledge acquired from previous experience is captured by the proposed project risk identification model which incorporates the work breakdown structure (WBS). The knowledge is then translated into rules for the KBS. A prototype was developed based on the proposed KBS to determine potential risk factors along with their risk effects and the related work packages for an extra high-voltage (EHV) transmission line construction project. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the feasibility and the applicability of this system in a real engineering project environment.

Developing supply chain management program: a competency model

Purpose – This paper aims to show the process of designing and measuring learning competencies in program development.Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes cross‐sectoral comparisons to draw on programmatic and pedagogical strategies, more commonly utilized in vocational education, and transfer the application of these strategies into curriculum development in higher education. Using a case study approach, the paper details the process of identifying and measuring learning competencies in developing specialization and graduate certificate program in supply chain management.Findings – The development of competencies used an interdisciplinary framework to infuse interaction among stakeholders – faculty, students, and practitioners. The process focused on competencies at the program level as opposed to certain course or class level. The result produced more realistic competencies addressing student learning. The competency approach presented challenges in collecting and analyzing assessment data a...

Quality management practices based on seven core elements in Hong Kong manufacturing industries

Abstract In Hong Kong, as in many countries, the ISO 9000 standards have been used extensively in setting up quality assurance management systems. The ISO 9000 assures that a company is running well as to its status quo but it lacks a focus on further improvement. Therefore, more manufacturers are continuing the pursuit of total or strategic quality management after being certified to ISO 9000 for continuous improvement of their ISO 9000 based quality systems. Tummala et al. (Int. J. Effective Org. (1995) 48), identified seven core elements of TQM (or SQM) and the corresponding principal issues that need to be focused by organizations in formulating and implementing the TQM based strategies. In order to investigate the current quality management practices towards TQM implementation in Hong Kong manufacturing industries, a survey with questions associated with the seven core elements of SQM was conducted in 1999. The paper describes the key findings of the survey.