Fuzzy System Dynamics

2014 ◽  
pp. 234-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mutingi ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Real World ◽  
Fuzzy System ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
World Picture ◽  
Dynamic Simulation Model ◽  
Demand Information ◽  
The Right

In the presence of fuzzy or linguistic and dynamic variables, dynamic modeling of real-world systems is a challenge to many decision makers. In such environments with fuzzy time-dependent variables, the right decisions and the impacts of possible actions are not precisely known. The presence of linguistic variables in a dynamic environment is a serious cause for concern to most practicing decision makers. For instance, in a demand-driven supply chain, demand information is inherently imprecise, leading to unwanted fluctuations throughout the supply chain. This chapter integrates, from a systems perspective, fuzzy logic and system dynamics paradigms to model a typical supply chain in a fuzzy environment. Based on a set of performance indices defined to evaluate supply chain behavior, results from comparative simulation experiments show the utility of the fuzzy system dynamics paradigm: (1) the approach provides a real-world picture of a fuzzy dynamic supply chain, (2) expert opinion can be captured into a dynamic simulation model with ease, (3) the fuzzy dynamic policies yield better supply chain performance, and (4) “what-if analysis” show the robustness of the fuzzy dynamic policies even in turbulent demand situations. Managerial insights and practical evaluations are provided.

Fuzzy System Dynamics

2015 ◽  
pp. 1617-1641
Author(s):  
Michael Mutingi ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Real World ◽  
Fuzzy System ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
World Picture ◽  
Dynamic Simulation Model ◽  
Demand Information ◽  
The Right

In the presence of fuzzy or linguistic and dynamic variables, dynamic modeling of real-world systems is a challenge to many decision makers. In such environments with fuzzy time-dependent variables, the right decisions and the impacts of possible actions are not precisely known. The presence of linguistic variables in a dynamic environment is a serious cause for concern to most practicing decision makers. For instance, in a demand-driven supply chain, demand information is inherently imprecise, leading to unwanted fluctuations throughout the supply chain. This chapter integrates, from a systems perspective, fuzzy logic and system dynamics paradigms to model a typical supply chain in a fuzzy environment. Based on a set of performance indices defined to evaluate supply chain behavior, results from comparative simulation experiments show the utility of the fuzzy system dynamics paradigm: (1) the approach provides a real-world picture of a fuzzy dynamic supply chain, (2) expert opinion can be captured into a dynamic simulation model with ease, (3) the fuzzy dynamic policies yield better supply chain performance, and (4) “what-if analysis” show the robustness of the fuzzy dynamic policies even in turbulent demand situations. Managerial insights and practical evaluations are provided.

Fuzzy System Dynamics of Manpower Systems

2014 ◽  
pp. 913-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mutingi ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Fuzzy System ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Manpower Planning ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Market Growth ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Numerical Precision ◽  
And Training

Manpower recruitment and training in uncertain and turbulent environments is a challenge to decision makers in large organizations. In the absence of numerical precision on market growth and the ensuing manpower demand, designing manpower planning policies is vital. Often times, companies incur losses due to overstaffing and/or understaffing. For instance, organizations lose business when critical human resources leave. As a result, it is essential to develop robust effective dynamic recruitment and training policies, especially in a fuzzy and dynamic environment. In this chapter, a fuzzy systems dynamics modeling approach is developed to simulate and evaluate alternative dynamic policies relating skills recruitment, skills training, and available skills from a systems thinking perspective. Fuzzy system dynamics is implemented based on fuzzy logic and system dynamics concepts in order to arrive at robust strategies for manpower decision makers. It is anticipated that fuzzy system dynamics can help organizations to design effective manpower recruitment strategies in a dynamic and uncertain environment.

Fuzzy System Dynamics of Manpower Systems

2015 ◽  
pp. 1642-1659
Author(s):  
Michael Mutingi ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Fuzzy System ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Manpower Planning ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Market Growth ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Numerical Precision ◽  
And Training

Manpower recruitment and training in uncertain and turbulent environments is a challenge to decision makers in large organizations. In the absence of numerical precision on market growth and the ensuing manpower demand, designing manpower planning policies is vital. Often times, companies incur losses due to overstaffing and/or understaffing. For instance, organizations lose business when critical human resources leave. As a result, it is essential to develop robust effective dynamic recruitment and training policies, especially in a fuzzy and dynamic environment. In this chapter, a fuzzy systems dynamics modeling approach is developed to simulate and evaluate alternative dynamic policies relating skills recruitment, skills training, and available skills from a systems thinking perspective. Fuzzy system dynamics is implemented based on fuzzy logic and system dynamics concepts in order to arrive at robust strategies for manpower decision makers. It is anticipated that fuzzy system dynamics can help organizations to design effective manpower recruitment strategies in a dynamic and uncertain environment.

scholarly journals Optimizing a Reverse Supply Chain Network for Electronic Waste under Risk and Uncertain Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1946
Author(s):  
Linh Thi Truc Doan ◽  
Yousef Amer ◽  
Sang-Heon Lee ◽  
Phan Nguyen Ky Phuc ◽  
Tham Thi Tran
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Reverse Supply Chain ◽  
Satisfactory Solution ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Objective Value ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Minimizing the impact of electronic waste (e-waste) on the environment through designing an effective reverse supply chain (RSC) is attracting the attention of both industry and academia. To obtain this goal, this study strives to develop an e-waste RSC model where the input parameters are fuzzy and risk factors are considered. The problem is then solved through crisp transformation and decision-makers are given the right to choose solutions based on their satisfaction. The result shows that the proposed model provides a practical and satisfactory solution to compromise between the level of satisfaction of constraints and the objective value. This solution includes strategic and operational decisions such as the optimal locations of facilities (i.e., disassembly, repairing, recycling facilities) and the flow quantities in the RSC.

Assessing the feasibility of blockchain technology in industries: evidence from Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Erol ◽  
Ilker Murat Ar ◽  
Ali Ihsan Ozdemir ◽  
Iskender Peker ◽  
Ali Asgary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Fuzzy Ahp ◽  
Fuzzy Topsis ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Consulting Firms ◽  
Utmost Care ◽  
The Right ◽  
Agriculture And Food

PurposeThe objective of this study is to assess quantitatively how feasible blockchain is for various industries, such as logistics and supply chain, health, energy, finance, automotive, pharmaceutical and agriculture and food using a comprehensive list of indicators.Design/methodology/approachA decision aid was applied to the problem of identifying the feasibility of blockchain in Turkish industries. To this end, first, a set of indicators was identified. Then, the fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS were utilized to assess the feasibility comparatively using the data gathered from a group of experts. Finally, a scenario analysis was conducted to ensure the consistency of our evaluation.FindingsThe findings of this study suggest that comparatively, logistics and supply chain, finance and health industries are the most feasible industries for blockchain. This study further suggests that blockchain is the least feasible for the automotive industry compared to the rest of the identified industries.Research limitations/implicationsIt is cumbersome to find out the respondents who have sufficient knowledge of both blockchain and the identified industries. Even if we took the utmost care in identifying the right respondents, we limited our search to the biggest industrial hubs of Turkey.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research may help various decision-makers employed in governments, conglomerates, software and consulting firms and national research institutions make more informed decisions and allocate their resources more effectively.Originality/valueTo this date, the current studies have solely investigated possible research opportunities in blockchain and demonstrated several blockchain applications in stand-alone cases. To the best of our knowledge, however, no single study exists that evaluates the feasibility of blockchain comparatively and holistically among a group of industries using various indicators.

scholarly journals Control Theory Concepts Applied to Retail Supply Chain: A System Dynamics Modeling Environment Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Janamanchi ◽  
James R. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Objective Function ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Modeling Methodology ◽  
Performance Functional ◽  
Environment Study ◽  
The Right

Control theory concepts have been long used to successfully manage and optimize complex systems. Using system dynamics (SD) modeling methodology, which is continuous deterministic simulation modeling methodology, we apply control theory concepts to develop a suitable performance functional (or objective function) that optimizes the performance of a retail supply chain. The focus is to develop insights for inventory management to prevent stock-outs and unfilled orders and to fill customer orders at the lowest possible cost to supply chain partners under different scenarios, in a two-player supplier-retailer supply chain. Moderate levels of inventory, defining appropriate performance functional, appear to be crucial in choosing the right policies for managing retail supply chain systems. The study also demonstrated how multiple objectives can be combined in a single performance functional (or objective function) by carefully assigning suitable weights to the components of objectives based on their priority and the existence of possible trade off opportunities.

scholarly journals Adoption of automatic identification systems by grocery retailersin the Johannesburg area

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Darlington ◽  
Boris Urban
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Data Capture ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Automatic Identification ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Right

Retailers not only need the right data capture technology to meet the requirements of their applications, they must also decide on what the optimum technology is from the different symbologies that have been developed over the years. Automatic identification systems (AIS) are a priority to decision makers as they attempt to obtain the best blend of equipment to ensure greater loss prevention and higher reliability in data capture. However there is a risk of having too simplistic a view of adopting AIS, since no one solution is applicable across an industry or business model. This problem is addressed through an exploratory, descriptive study, where the nature and value of AIS adoption by grocery retailers in the Johannesburg area is interrogated. Mixed empirical results indicate that, as retailers adopt AIS in order to improve their supply chain management systems, different types of applications are associated with various constraints and opportunities. Overall this study is in line with previous research that supports the notion that supply chain decisions are of a strategic nature even though efficient management of information is a day-to-day business operational decision.

People versus Policies: Decision-makers have divergent preferences for decisions about individuals and equivalent policies that affect individuals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mauricio Munguia Gomez ◽  
Emma Levine
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
College Admissions ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Preference Reversal ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Admissions Officers ◽  
New Type ◽  
Selection Policies

Across nine main studies (N = 7,024) and nine supplemental studies (N = 3,279), we find that people make systematically different choices when choosing between individuals and choosing between equivalent policies that affect individuals. In college admissions and workplace hiring contexts, we randomly assigned participants to select one of two individuals or choose one of two selection policies. People were significantly more likely to choose a policy that would favor a disadvantaged candidate over a candidate with objectively higher achievements than they were to favor a specific disadvantaged candidate over a specific candidate with objectively higher achievements. We document these divergent choices among admissions officers, working professionals, and lay people, using both within-subject and between-subject designs, and across a range of stimuli and decision contexts. We find evidence that these choices diverge because thinking about policies causes people to rely more on their values and less on the objective attributes of the options presented, which overall, leads more people to favor disadvantaged candidates in selection contexts. This research documents a new type of preference reversal in important, real-world decision contexts, and has practical and theoretical implications for understanding why our choices so frequently violate our espoused policies.

Foundations of Blockchain Technology for Industrial and Societal Applications

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivika Narang ◽  
Praphul Chandra ◽  
Shweta Jain ◽  
Narahari Y
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Data Structure ◽  
Real World ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Distributed Consensus ◽  
Wave Technology ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Original Application

The blockchain concept forms the backbone of a new wave technology that promises to be deployed extensively in a wide variety of industrial and societal applications. In this article, we present the scientific foundations and technical strengths of this technology. Our emphasis is on blockchains that go beyond the original application to digital currencies such as bitcoin. We focus on the blockchain data structure and its characteristics; distributed consensus and mining; and different types of blockchain architectures. We conclude with a section on applications in industrial and societal settings, elaborating upon a few applications such as land registry ledger, tamper-proof academic transcripts, crowdfunding, and a supply chain B2B platform. We discuss what we believe are the important challenges in deploying the blockchain technology successfully in real-world settings.

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