Coordination of Multiechelon Supply Chains Using the Guaranteed Service Framework

Problem definition: We use the guaranteed service (GS) framework to investigate how to coordinate a multiechelon supply chain when two self-interested parties control different parts of the supply chain. For purposes of supply chain planning, we assume that each stage in a supply chain operates with a local base-stock policy and can provide guaranteed service to its customers, as long as the customer demand falls within certain bounds. Academic/practical relevance: The GS framework for supply chain inventory optimization has been deployed successfully in multiple industrial contexts with centralized control. In this paper, we show how to apply this framework to achieve coordination in a decentralized setting in which two parties control different parts of the supply chain. Methodology: The primary methodology is the analysis of a multiechelon supply chain under the assumptions of the GS model. Results: We find that the GS framework is naturally well suited for this decentralized decision making, and we propose a specific contract structure that facilitates such relationships. This contract is incentive compatible and has several other desirable properties. Under assumptions of complete and incomplete information, a reasonable negotiation process should lead the parties to contract terms that coordinate the supply chain. The contract is simpler than contracts proposed for coordination in the stochastic service (SS) framework. We also highlight the role of markup on the holding costs and some of the difficulties that this might cause in coordinating a decentralized supply chain. Managerial implications: The value from the paper is to show that a simple contract coordinates the chain when both parties plan with a GS model and framework; hence, we provide more evidence for the utility of this model. Furthermore, the simple coordinating contract matches reasonably well with practice; we observe that the most common contract terms include a per-unit wholesale price (possibly with a minimum order quantity and/or quantity discounts), along with a service time from order placement until delivery or until ready to ship. We also observe that firms need to pay a higher price if they want better service. What may differ from practice is the contract provision of a demand bound; our contract specifies that the supplier will provide GS as long as the buyer’s order are within the agreed on demand bound. This provision is essential so that each party can apply the GS framework for planning their supply chain. Of course, contracts have many other provisions for handling exceptions. Nevertheless, our research provides some validation for the GS model and the contracting practices we observe in practice.

Consumer preferences for grocery purchasing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a quantile regression approach

PurposeThe objective is to determine if consumer preferences for grocery purchasing are impacted by the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these preferences differ by demographic and psychographic characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conduct an online discrete choice experiment (DCE) with 900 U.S. consumers to assess grocery shopping preferences under various scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. decreasing, constant and increasing cases). The attribute of interest is the purchasing method (i.e. in-store purchase, in-store pickup, curbside pickup and home delivery) with minimum order requirements, time windows and fees as secondary attributes. Heterogeneity in individual-level willingness-to-pay (WTP) estimates for the main attribute is analyzed by means of mixed logit and quantile regression techniques.FindingsThe mixed logit model reveals heterogeneity in WTP estimates for grocery purchasing methods across participants. According to estimates from quantile regressions, the heterogeneity is partly explained by the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the home delivery purchasing method is less preferred when the number of cases is decreasing. The results also show that consumer preferences for grocery shopping methods are affected more by psychographic characteristics than demographic characteristics. Consumers who comply with COVID-19 directives (e.g. wear face coverings) have stronger preferences for curbside pickup and home delivery, particularly at the tails of the WTP distributions.Originality/valueAlthough there is much data on food consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic at the aggregate level, there are few analyses of grocery shopping preferences at the individual level. The study represents a first attempt to relate individuals' demographic and psychographic characteristics to their grocery shopping preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus yielding numerous recommendations in terms of consumer segmentation.

Order Statistics of Additive Uniform Exponential Distribution

In this paper we investigated the order statistics by using Additive Uniform Exponential Distribution (AUED) proposed by Venkata Subbarao Uppu (2010).The probability density functions of rth order Statistics, lth moment of the rth order Statistic, minimum, maximum order statistics, mean of the maximum and minimum order statistics, the joint density function of two order statistics were calculated and discussed in detailed . Applications and several aspects were discussed Keywords: Additive Uniform Exponential Distribution, Moments, Minimum order statistic, Maximum order statistic, Joint density of the order Statistics, complete length of service.

Vertical Channel Conflict Coordination Strategy of e-Commerce Supply Chain under Platform Brand Empowerment

We develop a game model for a supply chain consisting of one e-commerce platform, one supplier from other channels, and one retailer. The platform has a well-known brand that can influence consumers’ purchase decisions, and it provides good-quality products with high prices, while supplier from other channels provides cheaper products but possibly with low quality, and there may even be some serious quality problems, sometimes leading to serious problems such as “free-riding” behavior by the retailer and reducing the profits of the supply chain members. First, we study the decisions of platform and retailer under centralized decision (CD) scenario, decentralized decision (DD) scenario, cost sharing contract (CS) scenario, and minimum order quantity contract (QC) scenario. Second, we found that channel conflicts have a negative impact on supply chain members under DD scenario; however, CS and QC scenarios can make the optimal empowerment level of platform the same as CD scenario and encourage retailer to order more products from platform. Finally, the improvement effect in QC and CS scenarios is affected by the substitutability of the two products, the coefficient of empowerment cost, and the reaction coefficient of product price on goodwill. Furthermore, we found that under QC scenario, only within an appropriate range can the platform and the retailer achieve a win-win situation.

Role of food based apps in india

Getting food through online food apps has gained momentum in recent times. Online tools have shown a new perspective on the food industry. Online allows consumers to choose the food of their choice anytime, anywhere. Facilities like net banking and digital wallet payments, cash on delivery and minimum order value attract the customer well. Distances between City and Village have been reduced due to the widespread use of smart phones. Companies are making their services available online according to the convenience and preference of the customer to keep pace with the changing times. Due to the present Covid-19 pandemic situation, the online food delivery system is gaining momentum. In this research, we will specifically look at the growth and significance of digital apps in food delivery systems operated by food companies in India in specific and some of the approaches they can accept for maintainable business in the coming days and challenges faced by the company.

El control de convencionalidad en el contexto de la tensión entre el margen de apreciación nacional y el "ius contitutionale commune" latinoamericano. /

En este trabajo se abordará el tenso equilibrio existente entre las fuerzas centrifugas y centrípetas del proceso de construcción del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos en Latinoamérica, a saber: las doctrinas del ius constituionale commune americanum y del margen de apreciación nacional. En tal sentido, nuestra hipótesis es que un análisis crítico de las tesis que proponen la consolidación de un derecho constitucional común latinoamericano, a través de la obra de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en el ejercicio del control de convencionalidad, arroja la conclusión de que aquel, por el momento, no es más que un ordenamiento de mínimos, y que, como consecuencia, la doctrina del margen de apreciación nacional seguirá estando vigente en esta parte del mundo. AbstractThis paper will address the tense balance between centrifugal and centripetal forces in the process of building international human rights law in Latin America, namely: the doctrines of the iusconstituionale commune americanum and the national margin of appreciation. In this sense, our hypothesis is that a critical analysis of the theses that propose the consolidation of a Latin American common constitutional right, through the work of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the exercise of conventionality control, yields the conclusion that that, for the moment, is nothing more than a minimum order, and that, as a consequence, the doctrine of the national margin of appreciation will continue to be in force in this part of the world.

FAILURES OF POLYMER PARTS OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

Since the last century, polymer materials have been widely used in industry. They are increasingly being used in the construction of agricultural machinery. Simultaneously with the spread of polymer parts, there is a need to develop technologies for repairing agricultural machinery containing such parts. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in analyzing the failures of polymer parts of agricultural machinery and equipment. (Materials and methods) The article presents a study of cases of failures of polymer parts of agricultural machinery based on data received from the enterprise LLC "Rassvet" of the Rostov region, the production cooperative "Koelginskoe" of the Chelyabinsk region for 2019 and summary information from various suppliers of spare parts of agricultural machinery. (Results and discussion) The parts of the industrial water treatment filter, turbine water meters and the sprayer housing failed at LLC "Rassvet" during the period under review. In the production cooperative "Koelginskoe" the gear of the servo drive of the grain flow and the oil seal of the hydraulic cylinder of the tractor K-744 failed, and therefore it was necessary to replace the entire unit. It is unprofitable for dealers of agricultural machinery to supply parts in a single copy due to their low cost. (Conclusions) The nomenclature of polymer parts of agricultural machines that fail is quite diverse, and cases of their failures are not rare. In some cases, the replacement of these parts is impossible due to their absence from sale, and in other cases, it turns out to be unprofitable due to long delivery times or a large minimum order batch. In this regard, agricultural producers suffer significant losses, overpaying for a whole node instead of replacing one part.