The approach assumes a basic knowledge of programming, equivalent to that presented in computer programming. This knowledge is needed to understand how sequences required for software are built and how the book incorporates them in subroutines to make larger routines and, finally, to make a complete system. The book provides basic information for a programmer entering the software field. It wil…
The Ward error sum of squares hierarchical clustering method has been very widely used since its first description by Ward in a 1963 publication. It has also been generalized in various ways. Two algorithms are found in the literature and software, both announcing that they implement the Ward clustering method. When applied to the same distance matrix, they produce different results. One algori…
The state of the art in airport terminal design has essentially remained unchanged since the 1970s, relying on the use of detailed simulation together with empirical and statistical formulae for sizing the terminal. Air transport has altered considerably since then, with increased use of air travel for both business and leisure, together with the increased use of 'hub' terminals in which the te…
Logistics managers are faced with greater customer volatility, higher customer service expectations and pressure to reduce costs. If these conflicting pressures are to be reconciled, increased supply chain flexibility is vital. Enhanced flexibility is achieved through two types of changes to the supply chain: structural changes, including processes, physical resources and linkages/relationships…
Unlike management in a traditional organization, supply chain management is a collaborative effort among various organizations or entities whose well being relies on dependency relationships within a value chain. As such, shared information and the ability to analyze it effectively are crucial to the effort. Supply chain management software is evolving rapidly in three major areas: supply chain…
Product configurator is a sales and production-planning tool that helps to transform customer requirements into bills-of-materials, lists of features and cost estimations. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method of how to analyse sales configuration models by using a design structure matrix (DSM) tool. By applying the DSM techniques, the sales configuration managers may sequence the …
To review the development of software applications and their functionalities/benefits in relation to supply chain management and present scenarios on future development.
Software organisations have been experiencing software development failures since the start of software development. These failures include among others abandoned and runaway projects, cost overruns, and low quality software. One of the major causes of software development failure is the inability of software organisations to learn from past mistakes. Many intervention strategies have been trie…
Purpose – Today, a second generation of computer-based innovation tools employs knowledge systems technology to automate and support key intellectual activities required for effective process design. But a central question remains as to the effectiveness of innovation through such knowledge systems. The research described in this paper is focused on testing the effectiveness of knowledge-base…
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and teaching of graduate courses providing in-depth experiential learning employing commercial supply chain management software. The benefits of teaching such courses are described, the challenges in offering such courses are identified, and some solutions to overcome the challenges are offered
The purpose of this paper is to develop a method to select the best alternative in a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) environment when the decision is taken by a group of members in an uncertain environment.
For most software companies, the pressure for process improvement arises from the direction of a recently released standard in the domain of process assessment and determination of capability (ISO 15504). In the case of ISO 9001 a valuable framework for evaluation of the degree of compliance to this standard is provided by SABS ARP 042: 1997, while ISO 15504 Part 5 offers a detailed assessmen…
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transferability of the open source principles of product development from the realm of software to the realm of physical products.
The purpose of this paper is to present a simulation-based evaluation method for the comparison of different organizational forms and software support levels in the field of supply chain management (SCM).
The design of manufacturing systems is a complex and expensive task for both SMEs and large organisations alike. Many problems relating to the design and operation of manufacturing systems are too complex to allow for mathematical treatment, and as a result there is increasing recognition of the applicability of simulation in the manufacturing environment. This has in turn resulted in a growt…
Road transport information systems (RTIS) and their underlying digitized road networks, have recently undergone a major enhancement with the extension from national to international databases. Today operators can choose among a wide range of strategic, tactical and operational RTIS allowing for the effective planning of international distribution. Discusses some modelling considerations behin…
There is little empirical research that demonstrates a link between quality management practice and better project management performance. Some evidence to this effect is presented and analysed. Reviews two studies that examined the relationship between quality management practice and performance in two areas: manufacturing, and logistics. Next, data are analysed from a survey of project manage…
The importance and utilization of information systems in the achievement of integrated service response and supply chain logistics has been shown by several recent studies. Practitioners need to have an understanding of the existance and capability of commercially available software options for integrated logistics management. For educators it is imperative that knowledge about the functionin…
Production scheduling is being focused on increasingly as a critical company activity. Consequently, it is becoming commonplace to hear of finite capacity scheduling systems being linked to existing MRP‐type systems, to provide a more detailed and flexible scheduling mechanism. But how easy is it to accomplish? Focuses on a user′s (a well‐known pharmaceutical company) journey to such a …
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is engaged in a multi‐year transformation of logistics planning and execution, known as the Future Logistics Enterprise (FLE). It is currently being defined in policy documents and an implementation plan known as the Future Logistics Architecture (FLA). The systems strategy for the FLE is still emerging, but it is anticipated that commercial standard softw…
The purpose of this paper is to explore how standardized advanced planning systems (APS) can be used for solving planning problems at tactical and strategic levels, and to identify the perceived effects of using APS.
Presents an in‐depth case study of the practical experience of applying interactive vehicle routeing and scheduling software at a major brewing company in the United Kingdom (UK). Illustrates the use of the software at all levels of transport planning and addresses strategic, tactical and operational issues; comprises a review of the software′s overall implementation and its consequences …