eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Artificial neural pseudo-network for production control purposes
Marek Fertsch
1
Poznań University of Technology, Poznań, Poland
Background: Experience from the implementation of the industry 4.0 concept has proved that the key success factor is the use of techniques and methods of artificial intelligence. One of these techniques is artificial neural networks. The development of artificial neural networks has been taking placefor a long time and has led to a number of important applications of this technique in industrial practice. Along with the development of practical applications, a wide theoretical base has also been created regarding the concepts, tools and principles of using this technique.
Methods: This paper contains an attempt to use the theoretical basis of artificial neural networks to build a specialized tool. This tool is called a pseudo-network. It is based not on the whole of the theory of artificial neural networks but only on the targeted elements selected for it. The selection criterion is the use of an artificial neural pseudo-network to control production.
Results: The paper presents the assumptions of an artificial neural pseudo - network, the architecture of the developed solution and initial experience of using it.
Conclusions: These initial results proved the assumptions made by an author. The architecture of the pseudo-network has been developed. Work to build a system demonstrator representing the artificial neural pseudo - network have been initiated and is still in progress.
A part of this study was presented as oral presentation at the „8th International Logistics Scientific Conference WSL FORUM 2019” in Poznan (Poland), 18th-19th of November 2019.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no1/16_1_1_20.pdf
artificial intelligence
neural networks
production control
industry 4.0
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
The impact of concentrated leverage and ownership on firm performance: A case in Pakistan
Marriam Rao
1
Ambreen Khursheed
1
Faisal Mustafa
1
UCP Business School, Lahore, Pakistan
. Background: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of concentrated leverage and ownership (high levels of control and power) on firm performance in the case of Pakistan’s logistics sector separately in the presenc
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no2/16_1_2_20.pdf
growth opportunities
leverage
ownership concentration
firm value
underinvestment
overinvestment
Pakistan
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Analysis of the length of order-picking paths determined using the S–shape method
Adam Redmer
1
Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
Background: Order-picking is a fundamental warehousing activity that accounts for in excess of 60% of total warehousing costs. Movements of pickers consume as much as half of the picking time. Thus determining picking paths is crucial. The most frequently used method is the S-shape one.
Material and methods: The average picking path length for 240 variants of the storage area (depot location, storage strategy), inventory (ABC-storage class sizes, probability of retrieving) and customer order (number of lines – 5, 10, 15) parameters was calculated. 100 simulations were carried out each time. MS Excel spreadsheet, along with macros (VBA) were used.
Results: The comparison were made of path lengths for a single block warehouse with 320 storage locations, Within-Aisle/Random storage strategies and low-level picking. Depot locations in the corner of a warehouse and in the middle of a front aisle were considered. The path lengths significantly varied with the variants that were analyzed. The shortest paths were observed for the Within-Aisle strategy, corner located depot, order sizes 5 or 10 and sizes of ABC-storage classes equal to 5/35/60% or 10/35/55% of all 320 storage locations under a retrieving probability of 90/5/5%.
Conclusions: Better and worse picking variants exist, influencing significantly the length of picking paths determined using the S-shape method. In general, the depot location is less important, even though the best variant assumed a corner location, while a location in the middle of a front aisle gives shorter paths on average. A much more important factor is the storage strategy. Lack of the strategy (randomness) substantially extends path lengths (by 50% on average).
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no3/16_1_3_20.pdf
warehousing
order picking
S-shape method
picking paths length
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
The role of clan in the hybrid and alternative modes of supply chain governance
Artur Świerczek
1
University of Economics in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Background: Recent studies in the domain of supply chain management underline the significance of the contractual and relational aspects of governance, at the same time ignoring the relevance of classical hierarchy. To respond to this challenge, our study posits that the market and hierarchy are both embedded in the wider social context, and as such they can only apply to some degree of relational aspects, referred in this research to as clan. Concomitantly, clan rarely acts as a sole mode of supply chain governance; quite the contrary, it can be either a hybrid (anchored between market and hierarchy) or an alternative (neither market nor hierarchy) mode of governance. By returning to the classical roots of governance of market and hierarchy as two bipolar modes, the goal of the paper is to compare diverse modes of supply chain governance (with the emphasis on the hybrid and alternative modes) in terms of the strength of clan.
Methods: The study involves two stages of multivariate statistical analysis. In the first step, the variables indicating certain modes of market and hierarchy of upstream and downstream dyads were narrowed down to the main underlying multi-item constructs through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax Rotation. In the second step of the analysis, the factor scores obtained through the PCA for market and hierarchical governance were used in cluster analysis.
Results: The study reveals that the hybrid modes of governance (especially relational governance) anchored between bipolar modes of market and hierarchy demonstrate a higher portion of clan in comparison to hierarchy as the sole mode of governance in triadic supply chains. At the same time, triadic supply chains run by both market and hybrid governance do not differ from each other, as they indicate similar and significantly higher mean ranks for clan. The study reveals that the alternative (neither market nor hierarchical) modes of governance do not indicate higher portion of clan as compared to market and hierarchy as two sole modes of governance in triadic supply chains.
Conclusions: The study shows that as the mode of governance clan takes a leading role in the hybrid modes of governance as compared to the alternative mechanisms. This may suggest that either the hybrid modes are much stronger enhanced by social dimensions encapsulated in clan than the alternative modes or the essence of clan in the hybrid modes is not the same as the essence of clan in the alternative modes of governance. Consequently, we conclude that the silver bullet for solving this problem may reside within the nature of clan, which is significantly different in both modes of governance.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no4/16_1_4_20.pdf
market governance
relational governance
hierarchy
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Delineating the influence of boardroom gender diversity on corporate social responsibility, financial performance, and reputation
Aiman Ajaz
1
Zhou Shenbei
1
Muddassar Sarfraz
1
Hohai University, Jiangsu, PR China
Background: The current study reveals the effectiveness of gender diversity in the boardroom and considers its impact on a firm’s corporate social responsibility, financial performance and reputation, which leads towards business sustainability. The study is based on stakeholder theory assumptions which state that female directors play a vital role in board diversification.
Methodology: 100 index firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange were chosen as a sample size. The firm’s financial performance was measured by using three proxies in order to get robust results. Panel data of 6 years from 2010 to 2015 was applied for data analysis. The data was analyzed by applying the Fixed-Random OLS regression, which revealed that gender diversity in the boardroom has no significant relationship with corporate social responsibility (CSR), financial performance, and the reputation of a firm.
Results: Study results revealed that HODI mitigates corporate social responsibility activity. According to the Fixed-Random Regression results, PW has no significant impact on shareholder return. Sales and ROA have a significant positive relationship with SHR.
Conclusions: There is a negative relationship between boardroom gender diversity and a firm’s financial performance. Females in boardrooms either cause negative effects or have no impact on the firm’s financial performance. Similarly, there is no significant relationship between the presence of women in boardrooms and a firm’s reputation.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no5/16_1_5_20.pdf
gender diversity corporate social responsibility
firm performance
firm reputation
pakistan
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Capital budget decision-making in logistics
Jan Vlachý
1
Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Background: Capital budgeting decisions in the logistics industry often combine three distinct characteristics. Firstly, they relate to capital assets – such as vehicles or equipment – being periodically replaced with different useful lives and efficiency features, and secondly, their performance is subject to particular operating and market risks. Lastly, externalities, such as regulatory interventions and technological evolution, also contribute to innovation – and thus also uncertainty – becoming a significant factor in logistics. Accordingly, this paper develops a valuation model which takes these characteristics into account and facilitates a robust decision-making process.
Methods: In order to properly capture the specifics of the problem, the proposed model is based on an application of the Life Cycle Cost budgeting method benchmarked to an appropriate functional unit, combined with the Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analyses of relevant risk factors.
Results: A realistic case study was developed, providing the necessary input parameters for the method's application. It was thus demonstrated that it provides useful and coherent resources for the decision-making process, including the tools needed to test various assumptions and determine project risks.
Conclusions:
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no6/16_1_6_20.pdf
capital budgeting
life cycle costing
Monte Carlo simulation
logistics management
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Does being central in formal network improve trust projection? A social network analysis of supply network structure
Lokhman Hakim Osman
1
Abdullah Sanusi Othman
1
Mohd Rizal Palil
1
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Background: This research attempts to extend the understanding and application of embeddedeness theory beyond the general network structure. Previous research on network analysis largely focused on the context of the decentralized network structure and how it impacts on the performance of the network member. However, each member of a supply network is embedded in a centralized network structure. The focal firm often plays the commanding role in such structure. Thus, the supply network is a centralized network because of the existence of the focal firm. The existence of the focal firm may influence the impact of firm performance, particularly on the generation of relational capital. Hence, the objective of this research is to determine how formality derives from the centralization of the supply network and influences trust projection in the supply network structure so that it is possible to organize supply network resources to their optimum capacity.
Methods: Basing on the previously applied approach of Social Network Analysis from the sociology research field, we adopted the Social Network Analysis methodology to collect data on supply network connectivity or relations. Using an Exponential Random Graph Model [ERGM], we developed a random search algorithm for network relational capital optimization. Exponential Random Graph Modeling [ERGM] is a statistical method for modeling the generative processes that create social networks. In ERGM, the log-odds of a tie between members of a dyad of nodes or actors in the network are essentially modeled using an exponential form analogous to logistic regressions.
Results: The findings of this study indicate that centrality negatively influences trust projection in the supply network. Hence, a firm embedded in upstream supply network benefits differently in terms of relational capital through the different degree of embeddedness. The firm's resources should be re-aligned to match the benefits of the different network structural positions.
Conclusion: The results of the statistical network analysis reveal interesting findings in terms of prominent structural forms and the impact of involvement or embeddedness in the formal of a supply network. What this means is that the more embedded a firm is in the upstream supply network based on the formal contract tie, the less the likelihood that it will be perceived as trustworthy by other network members. Consequently, this tells us that firms’ embbededness in a centralized network structure which is based on a formal contract ties have a negative impact on the firms’ level of trust percepti
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no7/16_1_7_20.pdf
network analysis
information sharing
social capital resources
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Supply chain management maturity: An All-Encompassing literature review on models, dimensions and approaches
Mohsen Cheshmberah
1
Safoura Beheshtikia
2
Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Background: In recent years, organizational maturity has disseminated its concepts to various management domains, for instance, Supply Chain Management (SCM). The present paper is an attempt to review the developments in the realm of SCM over the past two decades. In the domain of SCM maturity, different models, dimensions (areas) and approaches are advanced for maturity measurements.
Methods: Research studies conducted and presented in the literature, including papers on conference proceedings, articles in journals and technical reports, are reviewed; the review covers a time span from the early 1990s to the present time (2019). Also provided in this review are the previous models, dimensions (areas/ elements), and approaches for measuring SCM maturity techniques. Additionally, research gaps are identified, analysed and discussed.
Results: After reviewing, the research studies in the field and the dimensions found in the works are placed into different categories. The current study aims to present a review of the literature, ultimately providing help to researchers in realizing gaps and opportunities in the field of SCM maturity. There are also different approaches to supply chain maturity models. For example, one approach may solely focus on integration while another might concentrate on SC visibility and traceability. In more recent research studies, more attention is paid to such specific areas of supply chain as flexibility and sustainability. The results of the present paper point to gaps, which indicate that more research works are required. In addition, it is assumed that the materials presented here may help establish more comprehensive SCM maturity models.
Conclusions: It is seen that supply chain management is rapidly shifting toward e-SCM, and some other technologies like blockchain. Also, supply chain sustainability comes to the fore as a significant approach. It should be reminded that other strategic features of supply chains like leanness, agility, resilience, sustainability, integration, green and reverse logistics etc., also play their own role in the field. Combining these strategic features can be an effective idea for developing more comprehensive models for SCM maturity. To sum up, the results of the present survey indicate that the published works need more adequacy and treatment research, and that more research is called for to bridge the gaps in the realm of SCM maturity.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no8/16_1_8_20.pdf
organizational maturity
supply chain management (SCM)
SCM maturity
maturity model
literature review
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Efficiency of sales logistics in own and partner networks
Łukasz Brzeziński
1
Piotr Cyplik
2
Poznań School of Logistics, Poznań, Poland
Poznan University of Technology, Poznań, Poland
Background: Sales plays an important and simultaneously specific role in an organization's logistics system. It can be pointed out that it is the connective tissue between the supply and distribution subsystems of a business entity. Sales logistics encompasses all the activities whose core tenet is to provide the customer with the ordered product within the required time, at a satisfactory cost and quality. Additionally, it should be pointed out that sales networks in the telecommunications industry are actively involved especially in distribution. There are three types of sales networks in telecommunications companies. These are own sales networks, partner sales networks - also called external or dealerships, and mixed networks - where both previously enumerated solutions work simultaneously. The conditions for the proper functioning of own and partner sales networks differ significantly in terms of both the formal-legal side and remuneration. The purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of using sales network partners on the effectiveness of sales logistics.
Methods: The comparative analysis dealt with four entities constituting the telecommunications industry in Poland, considering such parameters as: number of employees, average number of activations per employee, average cost per one employee, average income per one employee, sales profitability, The analysis period covered the years in which the surveyed entities used own and partner sales networks in parallel (1999-2016).
Results: When comparing the functioning of own and partner sales networks based on the studied parameters, it should be noted that the latter is characterized by a much higher number of employees (by 73.19%). Besides, the profitability of sales in the partner network is much higher than in the case of own network - by 141.69 percentage points.
Conclusions: Partner sales networks are characterized by a higher average sales value and profitability than own networks. At the same time, there are a larger number of employees employed in partner sales networks. It should be noted that in respect of market penetration and income generation by organizations, this solution is more advantageous. The added value of the research is determining the level of sales logistics effectiveness of own and partner sales networks in terms of the telecommunications industry.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no9/16_1_9_20.pdf
sales logistics
comparative analysis of sales networks
telecommunications industry
sales effectiveness of own and partner networks
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Using robotic process automation (RPA) to enhance item master data maintenance process
Andreas M. Radke
1
Minh Trang Dang
2
Albert Tan
3
mSE Solutions Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Vinsmart, Vietnam
Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation, Malaysia
Background: Manufacturing companies nowadays have to cope with ever-increasing speed and complexity to manage their global supply chain. Information flow manage the supply chain needs to be more accurate and real-time than ever before. Item master data management is no exception as well. This research demonstrates the potential benefits of applying robotic process automation (RPA) technology in master data management based on two companies in the manufacturing industry.
Methods: The method approached by the research was a qualitative method, utilizing interpretation of data extracted from literature and semi-constructed interviews.
Results: The article proposes a framework for RPA implementation in the master data managing process. Automation with software robots can greatly benefit the organization, namely: lower processing time, reduce human errors, lower operations cost, improved compliance level and higher data accuracy.
Conclusions: With the objective to examine the benefits of RPA in master data management, the researchers have investigated 2 companies in the manufacturing industry to understand how they have benefited from RPA for item master data management processes. The result showed that RPA is affirmed to bring about many benefits for the organizations through structured automation. The researchers have proposed a framework for implementing RPA to capture item master data based on the change management model and the framework is separated in 3 phases involving important tasks in each phase. Future researches might use this study as a stepping stone for further studies in cognitive RPA, utilizing cognitive technology in combination with RPA technology with the mean to achieve a higher level of automation.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no10/16_1_10_20.pdf
Robotic process automation (RPA)
master data management
manufacturing industry
business process improvement
productivity improvement
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Green supply chain performance and environmental sustainability: A panel study
Syed Abdul Rehman Khan
1
Yu Zhang
2
Solomon Nathaniel
3
Singhua University, Beijing, China
Chang’an University, Xi’an, China
University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria
Background: The objective of this research is to identify the relationship between green logistics operations, national economic and environmental indicators in a panel of 42 selected global ranked logistics countries over the period from 2007 to 2018. The study aims to expand the domain of green logistics from the micro/firm level to the macro level.
Methods: This research paper has used a summary OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) method to test hypotheses. From 2007 to 2018, data panels for 42 countries were downloaded from the World Bank website.
Results: The findings of this study indicate that in selected panel countries, the green logistics business has a positive and statistically significant relationship with foreign direct investment inflows, renewable energy consumption, and energy demand. On the other hand, there is a significant negative correlation between CO2 emissions and green logistics. In addition, foreign direct investment and renewable energy are the driving factors of the green logistics business and also promote environmental sustainability.
Conclusions: This research paper provides insights into the relationship between green logistics operations and economic and environmental sustainability. In addition, the scope of this research paper is much broader than previously published research papers, in which researchers discovered the relationship between green logistics and corporate performance. However, this research paper focuses on the macro level to understand the link between green logistics and national size indicators.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no11/16_1_11_20.pdf
Green Supply chain management; Environmental sustainability; CO2 emissions; Green logistics operations; Renewable energy sources
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
The nexus between supplier quality management and organization’s competitive advantage: An empirical evidence
Khairul Anuar Mohd. Ali
1
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Background: Due to the increasing demand on product quality and operation efficiency, supplier quality management has become increasingly important in supporting organizations to achieve the desired excellence. With the rapid globalization happening in these few decades, the business world is experiencing a higher complexity phase. However, there are only a limited number of studies that has been conducted on supplier quality management (SQM) and organization’s competitive advantage (OCA) in the context of multinational corporations (MNC). The purpose of this study is to identify critical elements in supplier quality management as well as testing the significance of supplier quality management in affecting organization’s competitive advantage.
Methods: This study employed self-administered questionnaire that has been distributed to 355 responden
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no12/16_1_12_20.pdf
Quality management
Supplier
Operation
Efficiency
Competitive advantage
eng
Poznan School of Logistics
Logforum
1734459X
2020-03-30
16
1
article
Recovery alternatives decision by using fuzzy based preference selection index method
Emre Bilgin Sari
1
Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
Background: The electrical and electronics sector has become one of the rapidly developing and growing sectors, as a result of technological and economic developments. Rapid changes in consumer demands and needs have increased the use of electrical and electronic equipment and shortened product life cycle, resulting in an increase in equipment waste. Therefore, recovery alternatives for electrical and electronic equipment waste should be considered subject. The aim of this study is to evaluate the recovery alternatives of electrical and electronic wastes and to determine the best.
Methods: Multi-criteria decision-making techniques used to select the best among multiple alternatives have many application areas. The selection of recovery alternatives based on criteria includes some fuzzy topics. For this reason, the fuzzy logic approach was used to evaluate the answers of the decision makers and the fuzzy numbers obtained were analyzed by PSI method and criterion weights were determined and alternatives were listed.
Results: According to results of analysis, social responsibility and environmental awareness criteria have the highest values for selecting recovery alternatives. In addition, remanufacturing, regeneration and recycling take the first place among the alternatives.
Conclusions: Recovery of electrical and electronics waste is an important subject in current conditions. Alternative methods vary from reuse to incineration, but correct choice of recovery techniques rely on multi criteria and decision should be made adhering to them.
http://www.logforum.net/vol16/issue1/no13/16_1_13_20.pdf
recovery
multi-criteria decision-making
fuzzy
preference selection index