Synchronization in supply chains: implications for design and management

Supply chain management literature calls for coordination between the different members of the chain. Materials should be moved from one supplier to the next according to a just-in-time schedule. In this paper, we show that for many supply chain configurations, complete synchronization will result in some members of the chain being ‘losers’ in terms of cost. We develop an algorithm for optimal synchronization of supply chains and provide some guidelines for incentive alignment along the supply chain. In developing the model, we use the economic delivery and scheduling problem model and analyze supply chains dealing with single and multiple components. For single-component supply chains, we derive a closed-form expression for the optimal synchronized cycle time. For multi-component supply chains, we develop an algorithm for finding the optimal synchronized cycle time. We test the performance of the algorithm and show that it provides optimal solutions for a wide range of problems. We illustrate the models with numerical examples.     

Structure and electronic properties of hydrogenated amorphous GaP

Hydrogenated amorphous GaP films have been prepared by reactive rf sputtering. Infrared spectroscopy, optical transmission and reflection, photothermal deflection spectroscopy and dc conductivity have been studied to investigate the local bonding configurations, the optical absorption edges and the temperature dependence of the conductivity as a function of hydrogen content. The results are discussed and compared with the effects of hydrogenation on amorphous Si.     

Exterior problem for the two-dimensional compressible Euler equation

In this paper we show the existence of a solution, on any time intervals, in suitable Sobolev spaces for the 2D compressible Euler equation in the exterior domain, when the Mach number is sufficiently small. We shall extend results obtained in [8] in the case of an infinity velocity different from zero.

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Sunto In questo lavoro proviamo l'esistenza di una soluzione, su ogni intervallo temporale, in opportuni spazi di Sobolev per le equazioni di Eulero 2D comprimibili in un dominio esterno, quando il numero di Mach è sufficientemente piccolo. Estenderemo i risultati ottenuti in [8] al caso di velocità all'infinito diversa da zero.

     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.     

Mean Busy Period of Infinite Multilinear Queues with a Doubly Stochastic Input Flow

The mean busy period of an infinite multilinear queue with a doubly stochastic flow of incoming queries having two intensities and exponential server is calculated.     

Cesàro means of double Walsh-Fourier series

We investigate approximation properties of Cesàro (C; −α, −β)-means of double Walsh-Fourier series with α, β ∈ (0, 1). As an application, we obtain a sufficient condition for the convergence of the means σ _n,m ^/−α,−β (f; x, y) to f(x,y) in the L ^p -metric, p ∈ [1, ∞]. We also show that this sufficient condition cannot be improved.     

A Branch & Cut algorithm for a four-index assignment problem

In this paper, we examine the orthogonal Latin squares (OLS) problem from an integer programming perspective. The OLS problem has a long history and its significance arises from both theoretical aspects and practical applications. The problem is formulated as a four-index assignment problem whose solutions correspond to OLS. This relationship is exploited by various routines (preliminary variable fixing, branching, etc) of the Branch & Cut algorithm we present. Clique, odd-hole and antiweb inequalities implement the ‘Cut’ component of the algorithm. For each cut type a polynomial-time separation algorithm is implemented. Extensive computational analysis examines multiple aspects concerning the design of our algorithm. The results illustrate clearly the improvement achieved over simple Branch & Bound.     

Parallel discrete event simulation algorithm for manufacturing supply chains

Parallel discrete event simulation (PDES) is concerned with the distributed execution of large-scale system models on multiple processors. It is an enabler in the implementation of the virtual enterprise concept, integrating semi-autonomous models of production cells, factories, or units of a supply chain. The key issue in PDES is to maintain causality relationships between system events, while maximizing parallelism in their execution. Events can be executed conservatively only when it is safe to do so, sacrificing the extent to which potential parallelism of the system can be exploited. Alternatively, they can be processed optimistically without guarantee of correctness, but incurring the overhead of a rollback to an earlier saved state when causality error is detected. The paper proposes a modified optimistic scheme for distributed simulation of constituent models of a supply chain in manufacturing, which exploits the inherent operating characteristics of its domain.     

Structure and reflective properties of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline thin film prepared by laser induced arc method

Al-Cu-Fe thin films were prepared by laser induced arc (laser-arc) method from a single source—Al₆₃Cu₂₅Fe₁₂ alloy, which was proved to consist of quasicrystalline phase together with approximant phase. The composition of the deposited films meets the requirement for formation of icosahedral symmetry phase. Quasicrystalline phase was obtained after annealing the amorphous as-deposit film samples. The optical properties of the samples were investigated. Thin film samples of Al, Cu and Fe deposited under the same condition were employed for comparison. The results showed specific reflective properties of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal thin film in some wavelength range. The optical conductivity of the films exhibited a negative peak, centered about 440 nm in range of 190 to 800 nm. The Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal thin films could absorb almost all the ray in the wavelength range from 420nm to 450 nm. The ratio of absorption was greater than 99%.