Supply chain performance evaluation using fuzzy network data envelopment analysis: a case study in automotive industry

Supply chain performance evaluation problems are evaluated using data envelopment analysis. This paper proposes a fuzzy network epsilon-based data envelopment analysis for supply chain performance evaluation. In the common data envelopment analysis models which are used for evaluation of decision-maker units efficiency, there are several inputs and outputs. One of the bugs of such models is that the intermediate products and linking activities are overlooked. Considering these intermediate activities and products, the current study evaluates the performance of decision-maker units in an automotive supply chain. There are ten decision-maker units in the supply chain in which there are three suppliers, two manufacturers, two distributors, and four customers. Moreover, the overall efficiency of input-oriented (input-based) model and input-oriented divisional efficiency are calculated. In order to improve the efficiencies, the projections onto the frontiers are obtained by using the outputs of the solved model and Lingo software. In order to show the applicability of the proposed model, it is applied on automotive industry, as a case study, to evaluate supply chain performance. Then, the overall efficiencies of DMUs and each sections (divisions) of DMUs were calculated separately. Therefore, every organization can apply this evaluation method for improving the performance of alternative factors.

     

A stochastic aggregate production planning model in a green supply chain: Considering flexible lead times,nonlinear purchase and shortage cost functions

In this paper we develop a stochastic programming approach to solve a multi-period multi-product multi-site aggregate production planning problem in a green supply chain for a medium-term planning horizon under the assumption of demand uncertainty. The proposed model has the following features: (i) the majority of supply chain cost parameters are considered; (ii) quantity discounts to encourage the producer to order more from the suppliers in one period, instead of splitting the order into periodical small quantities, are considered; (iii) the interrelationship between lead time and transportation cost is considered, as well as that between lead time and greenhouse gas emission level; (iv) demand uncertainty is assumed to follow a pre-specified distribution function; (v) shortages are penalized by a general multiple breakpoint function, to persuade producers to reduce backorders as much as possible; (vi) some indicators of a green supply chain, such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste management are also incorporated into the model. The proposed model is first a nonlinear mixed integer programming which is converted into a linear one by applying some theoretical and numerical techniques. Due to the convexity of the model, the local solution obtained from linear programming solvers is also the global solution. Finally, a numerical example is presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed model.     

Multiobjective vendor allocation in multiechelon inventory systems: a spreadsheet model

The vendor selection problem (VSP) is a critical element of the numerous managerial decisions in the consideration of both outsourcing and integrated supply chain management. Many papers in the literature have dealt with VSPs from a multicriteria perspective, but few have looked into the implications of such decisions in a multiechelon supply chain with the explicit consideration of multiple time-phased demands. A new integrated supply chain model is proposed for a multiechelon supply chain. This model takes into account the usual cost objective and other important criteria in a multiechelon supply chain ranging from the most upstream suppliers' quality to end customers' satisfaction level through a large-scale multiobjective linear programme (MOLP). Furthermore, various Pareto optimal solutions can be graphically presented to facilitate decision making and negotiations with existing and potential suppliers.     

Supply chain performance assessment and supplier and component importance identification in a general competitive multitiered supply chain network model

In this paper, we develop a multitiered competitive supply chain network game theory model, which includes the supplier tier. The firms are differentiated by brands and can produce their own components, as reflected by their capacities, and/or obtain components from one or more suppliers, who also are capacitated. The firms compete in a Cournot–Nash fashion, whereas the suppliers compete a la Bertrand since firms are sensitive to prices. All decision-makers seek to maximize their profits with consumers reflecting their preferences through the demand price functions associated with the demand markets for the firms’ products. We construct supply chain network performance measures for the full supply chain and the individual firm levels that assess the efficiency of the supply chain or firm, respectively, and also allow for the identification and ranking of the importance of suppliers as well as the components of suppliers with respect to the full supply chain or individual firm. The framework is illustrated through a series of numerical supply chain network examples.     

基于关联网络DEA的供应链协调程度评价

本文给出了一种供应链网络协调程度的评价方法。研究思路是:首先,关联网络DEA能求出供应链网络上各个决策单元的DEA效率。其次,假设供应链网络实现了协调,那么网络上所有企业的DEA效率应该都为1。因此可以用供应链网络的实际DEA效率与协调状态(即所有决策单元DEA效率均为1)的差距,来评价供应链网络的协调程度。基于这一思路,本文研究了一个由3个供应商、2个制造商和3个零售商组成的供应链网络的协调评价问题,构建了基于关联网络DEA的类方差协调评价模型,实现了对供应链效率和协调性的同时测量,并通过数值算例验证了方法的实用性和有效性。     

Profit oriented supply chain network optimization

This paper proposes a novel mixed integer linear programming model to solve a supply chain network design problem. The proposed model deals with major issues for supply chains; product quality and cost. These issues are usually solved separately, but in this paper, we investigate effects of product quality on supply chain design and transportation flow. A trade-off between raw material quality, its purchasing and reprocessing costs was considered. Assuming decision maker (DM) wishes to work with a supplier which serves a low quality raw material; this raw material should be in need of reprocessing. To avoid the reprocessing costs, a supplier which serves a high quality raw material should be chosen but at this time the DM has to face a high purchasing cost. A supply chain network which consists of multiple suppliers, manufacturers, distribution centers and retailers is tried to be designed to accomplish aforementioned above trade-offs. The paper examines and discusses the relationship between product quality and supply chain design and offers several managerial insights.     

Application of machine learning techniques for supply chain demand forecasting

Full collaboration in supply chains is an ideal that the participant firms should try to achieve. However, a number of factors hamper real progress in this direction. Therefore, there is a need for forecasting demand by the participants in the absence of full information about other participants’ demand. In this paper we investigate the applicability of advanced machine learning techniques, including neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and support vector machines, to forecasting distorted demand at the end of a supply chain (bullwhip effect). We compare these methods with other, more traditional ones, including naïve forecasting, trend, moving average, and linear regression. We use two data sets for our experiments: one obtained from the simulated supply chain, and another one from actual Canadian Foundries orders. Our findings suggest that while recurrent neural networks and support vector machines show the best performance, their forecasting accuracy was not statistically significantly better than that of the regression model.     

Application of fuzzy optimization to a supply chain network design: A case study of an edible vegetable oils manufacturer

This study applies fuzzy sets to integrate the supply chain network of an edible vegetable oils manufacturer. The proposed fuzzy multi-objective linear programming model attempts to simultaneously minimize the total transportation costs. The first part of the total transportation costs is between suppliers and silos; and rest one is between manufacturer and warehouses. The approach incorporates all operating realities and actual flow patterns at production/distribution network with reference to demands of warehouses, capacities of tin and pet packaging lines. The model has been formulated as a multi objective linear programming model where data are modeled by triangular fuzzy numbers. Finally, the developed fuzzy model is applied for the case study, compiled the results and discussed.     

Managing raw material in supply chains

In this paper, we explore how firms can manage their raw material sourcing better by developing appropriate sourcing relationships with their raw material suppliers. We detail three empirical case studies of firms explaining their different raw material sourcing strategies: (a) firms can adopt a hands-off approach to raw material management, (b) firms can supply raw material directly to their suppliers, and this may be beneficial for some agents in the supply chain, and (c) firms can bring their component suppliers together, and the resulting cooperation between suppliers can be beneficial for supply chain. We then analytically model the three raw material scenarios encountered in our empirical work, examine the resulting profits along the supply chain, and extend the results to a competitive buyer scenario. Overall, our results show that active management of raw material sourcing can add value to supply chains.     

Optimizing inventory decisions in a two-level supply chain with order quantity constraints

A fundamental assumption in traditional inventory models is that all of the ordered items are of perfect quality. A two-level supply chain is considered consists of one retailer and a collection of suppliers that operate within a finite planning horizon, including multiple periods, and a model is formulated that simultaneously determines both supplier selection and inventory allocation problems in the supply chain. It is supposed that the ordered products dependent on the suppliers include a certain percentage of imperfect quality products and have different prices. In this paper, we study the impact of the retailer’s financial constraint. On the other hand, suppliers have restricted capacities and set minimum order quantity (MOQ) policy for the retailer’s order amount happened in each period. So, the problem is modeled as a mixed integer nonlinear programming. The purpose of this model is to maximize the total profit. The nutrients, fishery and fruitage industries give good examples for the proposed model. A numerical example is presented to indicate the efficiency of the proposed model. Considering the complexity of the model, a genetic algorithm (GA) is presented to solve the model. We demonstrate analytically that the proposed genetic algorithm is suitable in the feasible situations.     

基于ANP-RBF神经网络的化工行业绿色供应商选择

基于绿色供应链理念,提出了化工行业绿色供应商选择的特色指标,构建了化工行业绿色供应商选择的ANP-RBF神经网络模型。通过ANP确定各指标权重,再结合RBF神经网络,从训练数据中提取隐含的知识和规律,能够方便地用于新供应商的选择。该模型求解算法为增量算法,具有很好的可扩展性,从而增加了评价的动态性。算例验证结果表明,将ANP-RBF神经网络模型用于化工行业绿色供应商的选择具有较强的实用性。     

Supply chain network design: partner selection and production/distribution planning using a systematic model

In this paper, a novel multi-phase mathematical approach is presented for the design of a complex supply chain network. From the point of network design, customer demands, and for maximum overall utility, the important issues are to find suitable and quality companies, and to decide upon an appropriate production/distribution strategy. The proposed approach is based on the genetic algorithm (GA), the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) to satisfy simultaneously the preferences of the suppliers and the customers at each level in the network. A case study with a good quality solution is provided to confirm the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Finally, to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach, a comparative numerical experiment is performed by using the proposed approach and the common single-phase genetic algorithm (SGA). Empirical analysis results demonstrate that the proposed approach can outperform the SGA in partner selection and production/distribution planning for network design.     

Development of a new approach for deterministic supply chain network design

This paper proposes a mixed integer linear programming model and solution algorithm for solving supply chain network design problems in deterministic, multi-commodity, single-period contexts. The strategic level of supply chain planning and tactical level planning of supply chain are aggregated to propose an integrated model. The model integrates location and capacity choices for suppliers, plants and warehouses selection, product range assignment and production flows. The open-or-close decisions for the facilities are binary decision variables and the production and transportation flow decisions are continuous decision variables. Consequently, this problem is a binary mixed integer linear programming problem. In this paper, a modified version of Benders’ decomposition is proposed to solve the model. The most difficulty associated with the Benders’ decomposition is the solution of master problem, as in many real-life problems the model will be NP-hard and very time consuming. In the proposed procedure, the master problem will be developed using the surrogate constraints. We show that the main constraints of the master problem can be replaced by the strongest surrogate constraint. The generated problem with the strongest surrogate constraint is a valid relaxation of the main problem. Furthermore, a near-optimal initial solution is generated for a reduction in the number of iterations.     

Solving regression problem with complementary neural networks and an adjusted averaging technique

This research deals with complementary neural networks (CMTNN) for the regression problem. Complementary neural networks consist of a pair of neural networks called truth neural network and falsity neural network, which are trained to predict truth and falsity outputs, respectively. In this paper, a novel adjusted averaging technique is proposed in order to enhance the result obtained from the basic CMTNN. We test our proposed technique based on the classical benchmark problems including housing, concrete compressive strength, and computer hardware data sets from the UCI machine learning repository. We also realize our technique to the porosity prediction problem based on well log data set obtained from practical field data in the oil and gas industry. We found that our proposed technique provides better performance when compared to the traditional CMTNN, backpropagation neural network, and support vector regression with linear, polynomial, and radial basis function kernels.     

An analytical method for cost analysis in multi-stage supply chains: A stochastic network model approach

This paper studies the cost distribution characteristics in multi-stage supply chain networks. Based on the graphical evaluation and review technique, we propose a novel stochastic network mathematical model for cost distribution analysis in multi-stage supply chain networks. Further, to investigate the effects of cost components, including the procurement costs, inventory costs, shortage costs, production costs and transportation costs of supply chain members, on the total supply chain operation cost, we propose the concept of cost sensitivity and provide corresponding algorithms based on the proposed stochastic network model. Then the model is extended to analyze the cost performance of supply chain robustness under different order compensation ability scenarios and the corresponding algorithms are developed. Simulation experiment shows the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed model, and also promotes a better understanding of the model approach and its managerial implications in cost management of supply chains.     

Supply chain dynamic configuration as a result of new product development

This study considers supply chain network configuration in an innovative environment while the new product development (NPD) will affect the supply chain configuration (SCC). The time of new product introduction has a significant effect on the market performance while it has an effect on the supply chain configuration. Supplier integration into the new product introduction is the key parameter for successfully new product introduction, which may contribute to supply chain reconfiguration. Consequently By considering the new product development concept, we may face with dynamic supply chain configuration during a planning horizontal time. In this study, a new model is presented to consider the dynamic configuration of a supply chain by developing new products. In the proposed model, the dynamic configuration of a supply chain and the new product launching time is optimized simultaneously. The proposed model considers production, sales and transportation planning for the entire supply chain in order to achieve an integrative and efficient supply as well. Then some numerical analyses have been done to show the applicability of the proposed model. The results show that the new product development has a significant effect on the configuration of supply chain.     

基于径向基函数神经网络的流程企业供应链预测仿真

本文在比较预测方法的基础上，采用径向基函数（RBF）神经网络技术建立流程企业供应链预测模型，进行了实例预测仿真，并将预测结果与BP网络的预测结果进行了比较。结果表明，RBF网络误差小于BP网络，其中平方根RBF网络的预测仿真误差最小，而BP网络的误差最大。     

Robust bi-level optimization of relief logistics operations

In this paper, a robust bi-level optimization model is developed for a supply–distribution relief network under uncertainty in demand and supply parameters. It optimizes the relief operating costs as well as considering a penalty term for unsatisfied victims’ demands. Moreover, the proposed framework optimizes the relief commodity flow in a relief chain along with the supply risk minimization by identifying the suppliers with a lower risk. This paper proposes an integrated optimization method in which the supply risk value for each supplier is obtained via the TOPSIS method. Next, these values are utilized in a robust bi-level model to select appropriate suppliers and allocate orders. Finally, the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed model are demonstrated by a case of flood disaster.     

考虑直销的多期供应链网络均衡模型

研究了直销供应链网络动态均衡模型,分别对制造商、零售商和需求市场的决策者的多期独立决策行为及其相互作用进行了分析,利用变分不等式构建了各层均衡模型以及系统均衡模型,得到了系统达到均衡的条件,给出了具体算例并进行了求解.构建的供应链网络动态均衡模型具有更好的适用性及普遍性,为供应链的各层成员保持供应链的稳定和长期均衡提供决策依据和决策方法.     

产品需求预测的演化神经网络算法MLPES

在需求拉动型的供应链中，需求成为供应链的起点和动力源泉。由于制造商在供应链中的特殊地位，制造商成为供应链由需求驱动变为预测驱动的断耦点，以制造商为核心进行准确的需求预测可以在一定程度上减少需求不确定性的影响。本文在多层感知器的框架上，提出了基于演化策略的神经网络预测方法MLPES，改进了在多层感知器中普遍采用的BP算法，并设计了学习算法的流程，通过反复测试确定了模型的参数，最后对预测结果进行了分析。