Design and Development of Intelligent Logistics Tracking System Based on Computer Algorithm

With the development of social economy, the logistics industry continues to flourish. This article attempts to build an intelligent logistics tracking system based on computer technology, focuses on the intelligent inventory decision support system, introduces the detection algorithm based on the integrity of goods packaging and the detection algorithm of goods behavior and posture based on the three-dimensional acceleration sensor, and conducts its work flow. The detailed design is finally carried out in the actual cabin environment to verify the experiment and evaluate the performance of the system.

Inventory decision-making biases: a review and suggestions for future research

PurposeThe paper provides a comprehensive overview of the biases in inventory decisions, under the umbrella of behavioural operations, considering research findings that used experimental methods. Research in this field has gained traction but, to the best of our knowledge, review articles that summarize these research findings are scarce. Hence, there is a need to synthesize the anomalies and biases reported in inventory decision-making literature to gain a more integrated understanding.Design/methodology/approachThis study reviews themes relevant to inventory and behavioural operations management from the articles published in recognized top-tier journals during the period between 2000 and 2020 with an aim to build a classification framework. Further, using a systematic review procedure, the relevant research studies are divided into sub-sections and appropriate search strategies are adopted to pleat more information on inventory ordering biases.FindingsThis study presents a classification framework by highlighting the factors influencing the biases in inventory decisions and describes the effects of utility preferences on the decision-making behaviour. It highlights the inventory ordering pattern under unconventional settings and also for different supply chain settings. This systematic review helps in identifying the research gap and in giving directions for future researchers.Originality/valueThe study presents a systematic review and detailed analysis of the research in inventory decision making through a behavioural lens. The study shows a clear direction of progress over the years, and implies new directions for looking beyond placing orders and for moving towards a more integrated approach while making supply chain decisions. It will be useful for researchers and practitioners working on newsvendor decisions, supply chain contracts, behavioural economics, behavioural operations management, bounded rationality theory and experimental economics.

A Multi Logistics Network Optimization Model of Power System based on Stochastic Demand and Inventory Decision

According to the disposal demand for packets and all kinds of constraints in the current condition, this paper discusses a modeling method of extended double-layer capacitated arc routing problems with Capacitated Arc Routing Problem (CARP) optimization model based on express logistics. The model is described in detail, and the solution of the model is discussed. The paper analyses and discusses the solution to complexity of the model, and proposes a better solution to the double-layer CARP optimization model. According to the scheme, the paper chooses a sort of improved ant colony algorithm to solve the model. And the results show that the scheme is beneficial to controlling the cost of logistics links, to minimizing purchase cost, transportation cost and delivery time. The scheme plays a very imperative role in enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises

INVENTORY DECISION IN VUCA WORLD USING ECONOMIC LOGIC QUANTITY

If ever the concept “VUCA” (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) seemed appropriate to use, it is now. National and global companies experience the highest level of instability due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is the classic example of a highly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. In this world, decision-makers have to face more challenges appealing to the VUCA Prime leadership approach: vision against volatility, understanding against uncertainty, clarity against complexity, and agility against ambiguity. Some of the ways through which managers can overcome the VUCA characteristics include: providing a shared vision as a criterion for all decisions to be made, identifying the reason for the decision problems and sharing the idea with the followers, going through the entire decision process, following steps in proper order, and developing quick solutions. In an inventory decision taken in a VUCA context, the above ways are possible if using fuzzy inventory methods dealing with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This paper aims to adapt a traditional inventory method, Economic Production Quantity (EPQ), to the challenges of the VUCA world, through the fuzzy logic system (FLS). To achieve the best solution for the decision problem in the shortest time possible, the managers can employ a conversion by using the computing platform MATLAB. There are some advantages of this conversion for these two methods, EPQ and FLS. Firstly, the transformation of EPQ in ELQ (Economic Logic Quantity) allows managers to formulate the decision problem, even if they cannot identify and measure precisely the EPQ parameters. Secondly, using FLS to solve ELQ provides the possibility to simulate more alternatives and generate the solution in the shortest amount of time. Thirdly, it allows the decision-makers to evaluate the impact of the solution provided by each simulation on the company’s performance. Using these methods has the following primary limit: the problem formulation step depends on the managers’ understanding ability and managing a large volume of information. Therefore, there may be a risk of obtaining a relevant solution for a decision problem if the decision-makers do not understand the cause of the problem or do not know how to organize and manage a large volume of information. This limit could be overcome by using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), but this is the topic of further research.

Managing Self-Replicating Innovative Goods

Inspired by self-replicating three-dimensional printers and innovative agricultural and husbandry goods, we study optimal production and sales policies for a manufacturer of self-replicating innovative goods with a focus on the unique “keep-or-sell” trade-off—namely, whether a newly produced unit should be sold to satisfy demand and stimulate future demand or added to inventory to increase production capacity. We adopt the continuous-time optimal control framework and marry a self-replication model on the production side to the canonical innovation-diffusion model on the demand side. By analyzing the model, we identify a condition that differentiates Strong and Weak Replicability regimes, wherein production and sales, respectively, take priority over the other and fully characterize their distinct optimal policies. These insights prove robust and helpful in several extensions, including backlogged demand, liquidity constraints, stochastic innovation diffusion, launch inventory decision, and exogenous demand. We also find that social marketing strategies are particularly well suited for self-replicating innovative goods under Strong Replication. This paper was accepted by Victor Martínez de Albéniz, operations management.

Transfer of Risk in Supply Chain Management with Joint Pricing and Inventory Decision Considering Shortages

This study is the first to consider a distribution-free approach in a newsvendor model with a transfer of risk and back-ordering. Previously, in many articles, discrete demand is considered. In this model, we consider a newsvendor selling a single seasonal item with price-dependent stochastic demand. Competition in markets has forced the retailer and manufacturer to coordinate in decentralized supply chain management. A coordination contract is made between a retailer and manufacturer to overcome the randomness of demand for a short-life-cycle product. The retailer pays an additional amount per product to transfer the risk of unsold items. The manufacturer bears the cost of unsold products from the retailer. Shortages are allowed with back-ordering costs during the season. The distribution-free model is developed and solved with only available demand data of mean and standard deviation. Stackelberg’s game approach is used to calculate the optimal ordering quality and price. This model aims to maximize expected profit by optimizing unit selling price and ordered quantity through coordination. To illustrate that the model is robust, numerical experiment and sensitivity analyses are conducted for both decentralized and centralized supply chain management. For applicability of the model in the real-world business scenario, managerial insights are provided with sensitivity analysis.

Pricing and inventory decisions in a manufacturer-Stackelberg supply chain with deteriorating items

Purpose Integrated decision of pricing and inventory control for a deteriorating product is known as a good practice in revenue management discipline. The purpose of this paper is to formulate the problem of joint pricing and inventory decision in a manufacturer–retailer supply chain with deteriorating items and backlogging. Furthermore, the other purpose is to develop an efficient algorithm to obtain the equilibrium solution. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a manufacturer–retailer supply chain of a deteriorating product is considered. The retailer aims to maximize his profit, for which he jointly determines the retail price and replenishment cycle. In addition, the manufacturer should decide on the wholesale price to maximize her profit. Considering the problem as a manufacturer-Stackelberg game, the equilibrium solution is formulated and analyzed for both the manufacturer and the retailer. Moreover, two different procedures are developed to obtain the equilibrium solution. The first procedure is an exact procedure for the Taylor-approximated model and the second is a simulated annealing (SA)-embedded algorithm for the actual model. Findings It is found that Taylor-approximated procedure is more accurate than SA-embedded procedure. However, the latter is more time-efficient. Moreover, it is observed that the obtained solution is highly sensitive to demand parameters, while it is not the case for the cost parameters. Originality/value The paper models a real industrial problem, and its results could be used in analyzing any manufacturer–retailer supply chain with deteriorating items. Among others, the fruit and vegetable supply chains are more likely to have a similar setting, and this study’s results are applicable for such chains in food industry.

A non-instantaneous inventory model of agricultural products considering deteriorating impacts and pricing policies

Purpose External factors such as improper handling, extreme weather and insect attacks affect product quality. It is most obvious in fruit products which have a high deterioration rate. Moreover, decaying fruits will increase the deteriorating of other good ones. The purpose of this study is to derive the optimal pricing and replenishment decisions for agricultural products considering the effect of external factors that induce deterioration. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the study investigates ways to reduce the product deterioration rate by separating the near defective items from the other good products and accelerating the quick sales of the near defective items at a discounted price. The objective is to maximize the total profit by optimizing the selling price and the replenishment cycles. Two scenarios are investigated. In the first scenario, the retailer offers a selling price discount for near defective products to stimulate customer demand. In the second scenario, the retailer does not offer such discounts. Findings An algorithm to solve the model is derived. Further, numerical examples are developed to compare the total profit for the two scenarios. Theoretical derivations and graphical results show the concavity of the profit function. Finally, the sensitivity analysis shows that the total profit of the discount model is higher. Originality/value This study contributes to a new pricing and inventory decision model. The research provides insights to retailers on making optimal pricing and replenishment decisions for non-instantaneous deterioration items, as well as reducing the external factors that influence higher deterioration rate through separating good products from the near defective ones which are sold at a discount to induce the sale.