Peter R Gibson

The Strategic Importance of E-Commerce in Modern Supply Chains

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:13 PST

Considering some aspects of the motor industry as an example, this paper outlines strategic opportunities for e-commerce-enabled supply chains and, hence, greatly improved responses to customers. The authors demonstrate that there will be resulting strategic advantage for firms that become enabled to take a further step of making changes to their much wider manufacturing process philosophies. The developed knowledge associated with these changes will not be easily copied by competitors, and as such, provides the basis for a sustainable competitive advantage for those firms that are able to lead the way with the enabling technology of e-commerce in supply chains. However, leadership and change management are identified as key issues requiring further investigation.

Strategic supply chain development by integration of key global logistical process linkages

Peter Wayne Robertson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:11 PST

As manufacturing firms search relentlessly for sources of competitive advantage, a greater emphasis is developing on supply chain management as a means of achieving differentiation in a firm's strategic position. Currently, some researchers are focusing on effective 'end to end' management of key logistical process linkages within the supply chain, as a means of achieving sustainable competitive advantage that is difficult for competitors to emulate. The emphasis presented is on improved delivery performance and customer service. This involves defining optimized balances between supply chain parameters, the achievement of which should result in reduced cost, improved use of working capital, better asset utilization and optimized intra-supply-chain usage. This paper discusses the development of a model and illustrates an application in a major multinational steel producer. Progress has been made in understanding the logistical processes that are used to manage supply chain linkages and, importantly, in understanding the feed-forward and feedback linkages that are necessary to enable supply chain management to be more effective. A generic model for a tiered approach to the planning and scheduling of manufacturing supply chains is thus presented. Ideas for further work are described.

Pushing the string: what engineers need to know about innovation

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:10 PST

Knowledgement management using CSCW in Global Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures Via the Internet

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:09 PST

Disassembly sequence generation in recycling based on parts accessibility and end-of-life strategy

Jing Dong et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:05 PST

Nowadays, global sustainability is the central issue in recycling and, increasingly, in manufacturing. Recycling used products can save energy, natural resources, and landfill space, and can reduce air pollution. It can give used products new lives. The study of disassembly is needed in order to make recycling economical, and disassembly sequence generation (DSG) plays an important role. An appropriate disassembly process plan can minimize the cost spent on the disassembly processes and maximize the benefits coming from the reused components. In the current paper, a new approach using Petri net modelling to generate an optimal disassembly sequence (ODS), based on accessibility and end-of-life (EOL) strategy, is described. The different life spans of the reusable components affect the disassembly order, especially in destructive disassembly, and the influence of components with different life spans on DSG is analysed. First, AND/OR graphs are used to generate all feasible disassembly sequences, and then AND/OR graphs are transferred into Petri net graphs while accessibility values and life span values of components are taken into account to obtain the ODS. A program using Microsoft Cþþ is developed to generate the ODS. The disassembly of a C-clamp is used as a trial example.

The problems of implementation of Total Quality Management in Thai manufacturing SMEs

Panu Buranajarukorn et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:04 PST

Thai manufacturing SMEs have played a major role in developing Thai economy, social and employment. In this situation, they have been confronted by forceful overseas competitors, especially in lowcost producers such as China, India, Vietnam, etc. They need to upgrade organisational performance in order to increasing their international competitiveness. However, most of Thai manufacturing SMEs have been inadequate modern technology when compared to large enterprises. Therefore, management technique i.e. TQM has been introduced to implement in Thai manufacturing SMEs for establishing a good quality management system, developing human resources and increasing business performance. The questionnaire was used as a tool for gathering data in this research. Firstly, it presented the main problems of establishment of TQM in Thai manufacturing SMEs by following the seven criteria of TQA; Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer and Market Focus, Information and Analysis, Human Resource Focus, Process Management, and Business Results. Secondly, the SWOT analysis was used for examining the Strengths and Weaknesses and evaluating the Opportunities and Threats to Thai manufacturing SMEs. Finally, it found that Thai manufacturing SMEs lacked in cooperating with Government units. All these problems may lead Thai manufacturing SMEs to be unsuccessful implementation of TQM in their organisation, therefore they should realise their problems and business environment, and then develop all aspects of management systems in TQM and establish a strong partnership network with government.

A Program for Graduate Engineers - Business Innovation

Peter W. Childs et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:31:02 PST

Computer Supported Co-operative Work for Student Team Learning Environments

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:57 PST

Measuring Strategic Performance of 'E' enabled Supply Chains

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:55 PST

Management Skills for Professionals - Are they Required? A Case Study on the Needs of Engineering Undergraduate Students

Peter Childs et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:54 PST

This paper examines issues around graduate professional engineers and their management skills, questioning whether they are adequate for the modern engineering workplace and goes on the consider the notion that for the majority of engineers, the development of managerial skills will be essential and cannot be 'picked up on the job'. Engineers increasingly need to understand the interactions between design, quality, sustainability, product planning, and organisation, management of people, team work and finance. This paper considers the need to develop managerial skills and will discuss the development of a survey to be carried out in an Australian context. The survey will cover a range of firms and governmental bodies which employ graduate engineers. The questions will cover a wide range of non-engineering skills which could be expected of engineers within the first five years from the commencement of their careers. The two disciplines, Engineering and Management have enjoyed a rather difficult relationship for some time. Each needs the other because complex engineering tasks cannot be carried out in an increasingly challenging business environment without an integrated management focus. Engineers are finding they need to take on more complex tasks which include very significant managerial issues. Most engineering faculties have attempted to teach managerial skills in their engineering curricula. However, management education has often been viewed as secondary to technical skills and hence does not encompass the integrated range of skills needed. This has not motivated students to become interested in and committed to the management aspects of their future profession with the result that management education for engineers remains an enigma. This paper considers some of the contemporary literature on teaching management to engineers. Some ideas are discussed outlining possible research which will be carried out and reported on by the authors, aimed at documenting current shortcomings with a view to developing a more effective future strategy for engineering management education.

A novel model to measure supplier performance in the supplier selection process

Alptekin Ulutas et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:52 PST

Supplier evaluation has become a significant topic over the past decades, as companies have started to become more outsourced oriented. However, previous research on this topic has not paid adequate attention to the limitations associated with availability of accurate and reliable data relating to the performance of potential suppliers. In an attempt to address this issue, this paper proposes a novel supplier evaluation model that can handle imprecise quantitative and qualitative data. Additionally, Decision Maker’s opinions regarding both qualitative and quantitative criteria are incorporated into this model so that a more comprehensive and realistic assessment of supplier performance can be achieved. The model combines five separate methods that have specific capabilities to handle multiple limitations in the existing methods: Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy TOPSIS method are used to analyse qualitative criteria/data; Analytical Hierarchy Process and Axiomatic Design are used to analyse quantitative criteria/data, with a particular focus on handling variability in performance data; and Data Envelopment Analysis is used to integrate the results of the two approaches above so as to comparative assessment of supplier performance. This model is verified using a numerical example.

Managing Student Project Work Using an Intranet System

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:50 PST

Strategic development of service orientated architecture in supply chain networks

Leone J. Dunn et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:49 PST

relative strategic positioning and competitive advantages. The traditional 'make and sell' attitude is rapidly becoming a customer orientated 'sense and respond' philosophy. Further, the needs for avoidance of waste, cost efficiency and service to the customer have the potential to become the major competitive focus especially in industries where there is little differentiation in product design and technology. This paper examines the strategic opportunities for participants in the pipeline construction industry to adopt state of the art industry philosophies. It is postulated that competitors are relying on functional hierarchy and command and control governance where operations rely on a chain of commitments, linked by process designs that are poorly connected and difficult to reconfigure. A new model is proposed where organizations can utilize strategic design for action, consisting of dynamic modular capabilities that are driven by context and coordination. Traditional supply chains involve an enormously complex and often adversarial web of contractors and suppliers where numerous reasons for error and departure from the plan are created. The model proposed here utilizes ideas of complexity absorption, described by Ashmos et al, (2000) rather than the traditional complexity reduction found in Tayloristic organizations that typify many industries, where predictable stability becomes the goal and change is considered to be a too radical departure from the norm. The model described here is built on the premise that complexity dealt with by absorption creates an organization that is strategically superior because it becomes a complex adaptive system that is unique. Complexity absorption is differentiated by varied information exchange mechanisms, the emergence of multiple interpretations due to conflicting goals and structural flexibility that can make sense of interactions. The paper contrasts tradition views of supply chain processes with a proposed view consisting of design, plan deliver and maintain, centred on integrated access to all processes. A proposed Pipeline Construction Portal and Service Oriented Architecture is illustrated. The model is internet-based and has three main constituents of Web Services, Portal and Client Services. Strategic implications for internet technology in this application are discussed where it is hypothesized that internet technology has now become a very powerful strategic tool because much improved usability has allowed a viable proposition for firms to build a strategic position by unique internet applications of the type described in this paper.

Graduate business education in Asia - the ethical challenges for Australian universities

Peter R. Gibson — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:47 PST

Analysing manufacturing strategy in the Thai food processing industry

Peter R. Gibson — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:46 PST

A decision support system for concrete bridge maintenance

Maria Rashidi et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:44 PST

The maintenance of bridges as a key element in transportation infrastructure has become a major concern for asset managers and society due to increasing traffic volumes, deterioration of existing bridges and well-publicised bridge failures. A pivotal responsibility for asset managers in charge of bridge remediation is to identify the risks and assess the consequences of remediation programs to ensure that the decisions are transparent and lead to the lowest predicted losses in recognized constraint areas. The ranking of bridge remediation treatments can be quantitatively assessed using a weighted constraint approach to structure the otherwise ill-structured phases of problem definition, conceptualization and embodiment [1]. This Decision Support System helps asset managers in making the best decision with regards to financial limitations and other dominant constraints imposed upon the problem at hand. The risk management framework in this paper deals with the development of a quantitative intelligent decision support system for bridge maintenance which has the ability to provide a source for consistent decisions through selecting appropriate remediation treatments based upon cost, service life, product durability/sustainability, client preferences, legal and environmental constraints. Model verification and validation through industry case studies is ongoing.

Supply chain integration and collaboration for performance improvement: an agency theory approach

Abud Natour et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:41 PST

Proposal of a Methodology for Bridge Condition Assessment

Maria Rashidi et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:40 PST

Due to the substantial role of bridges in transportation networks and in accordance with the limited funding for bridge management, remediation strategies have to be prioritised. A conservative bridge assessment will result in unnecessary actions, such as costly bridge strengthening or repairs. On the other hand, any bridge maintenance negligence and delayed actions may lead to heavy future costs or degraded assets. The accuracy of decisions developed by any manager or bridge engineer relies on the accuracy of the bridge condition assessment which emanates from visual inspection. Many bridge rating systems are based on a very subjective procedure and are associated with uncertainty and personal bias. The developing condition rating method described herein is an important step in adding more holism and objectivity to the current approaches. Structural importance and material vulnerability are the two main factors that should be considered in the evaluation of element structural index and the causal factor as the representative of age, environment, road class and inspection is implemented as a coefficient to the overall structural index. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been applied to evaluate the priority vector of the causal parameters.

Student experiences in the direct applicability of their engineering education to professional practice

Mathew McCrohon et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:38 PST

This paper describes on-going work investigating the experiences and perceptions of under-graduate engineering students with aspirations to work in construction engineering in site and project management roles. Construction companies employ many graduate Civil Engineers from Australian universities in a range of construction engineering roles. However, it appears that graduating engineers may have few ideas of the workings of engineering industry, professional roles they will be expected to play and the career options available to them. There is also some evidence to suggest that employers also find this lack 'work readiness' in new recruits perplexing. In the transition to professional practice, employers and new graduates have found a need for a very steep leaning curve to equip newly graduating engineers with the necessary work skills to adapt their engineering degree education to the 'real world'. This paper describes some on going research into the issue and outlines and examines some of the issues that are routinely faced by newly graduating engineers in their transition to professional practice. The paper also discusses proposed course enhancements based on the concept of the Construction Supply Chain as a means of providing exposure to the skills, culture and practices of the construction industry.

International graduate engineering education: ethical challenges for universities

Peter R. Gibson et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:37 PST

Strategic design of service orientated web-based supply chain infrastructure

Leone J. Dunn et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:35 PST

The traditional 'make and sell' attitude of industrial manufacturing organisations has now almost entirely given way to customer orientated 'sense and respond' service philosophies to the extent where this has become a major competitive key success factor in a global manufacturing industry. In order to become service orientated, manufacturing industry is increasingly dependent on efficient and effective supply relationships. This trend is compounded by needs for waste avoidance, minimal inventory, cost efficiency and appropriate service to the customer. This paper considers the strategic opportunities for large engineering project firms that have identified a need to establish advantages over their competitors by designing and implementing novel service orientated supply chain strategies, using internet technology. Rather than relying on functional hierarchy and command and control governance where a chain of commitments are poorly connected and difficult to reconfigure, this paper proposes more flexible strategic process designs around a 'state of the art' service based architecture. Complexity reduction is traditionally a philosophy widely used by industrial engineers that thus far has been also applied in attempts to enable efficient supply chain relationships between different manufacturing supply partners. However, in this work, those traditional industrial engineering ideas are challenged. When a supply chain is simplified, it is inevitable that it will not offer optimum performance, especially in terms of customer service because the complex nature of customer requirements is not reflected in its entirety. The architecture developed by the authors and demonstrated here explores ideas of complexity absorption. The architecture is built on the premise that necessary complexity absorption creates an organisation that is strategically superior because it becomes a complex adaptive system that is unique to a group of organisations that constitute a supply chain or supply network. A case study will be presented based on a major industrial gas pipeline procuring organisation that illustrates an application consisting of Manufacturing Portal and Service Orientated Architecture. This model is internet-based, has three main constituents of Web Services, Portal and Client Services and is described in detail in this paper. The authors conclude by discussing the unique competitive advantages that are achievable by designing unique, responsive and adaptive supply chain architecture in this way.

Application of agency theory to collaborative supply chains

Lena Plambeck et al. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:30:34 PST

This paper describes some supply chain theory using a case study based on a large coal export supply network in Australia, namely the Hunter Valley Coal Chain. This involves the supply of coal by road and rail from some 30 mines scattered around the Hunter Valley to the Port of Newcastle for loading onto very large bulk carrying ships. Due to severe constraints on the capacity of the infrastructure involved, highly competitive adversarial and destructive relationships have evolved between the supply chain players. As a result, the supply chain is characterised by high inventory levels, delays and queues which perhaps could be lessened if the players would work together instead of competing for capacity so intensely through destructive political and economic relationships. This paper proposes Agency Theory and other organisational theories as the means of achieving more collaborative relationships between supply chain players and hence much greater supply efficiencies to the collective good of the all of the supply chain players.