Search results for "Operations"
showing 10 items of 1692 documents
Strategic sharing of a costly network
2012
We study minimum cost spanning tree problems for a set of users connected to a source. Prim’s algorithm provides a way of finding the minimum cost tree mm. This has led to several definitions in the literature, regarding how to distribute the cost. These rules propose different cost allocations, which can be understood as compensations and/or payments between players, with respect to the status quo point: each user pays for the connection she uses to be linked to the source. In this paper we analyze the rationale behind a distribution of the minimum cost by defining an a priori transfer structure. Our first result states the existence of a transfer structure such that no user is willing to …
Current research issues in production economics
2020
This Special Issue includes a selection of papers originally presented and discussed at the Twentieth International Working Seminar on Pro- duction and Operations Management, Innsbruck, February 19–23, 2018, and subsequently extended and improved. Production and Operations Management was established in the1970s as an academic discipline focusing on scientific topics treating the interface between engineering, management, and economics with a special emphasis on financial consequences of decisions in the produc- tion domain. The subject is interdisciplinary in nature and it therefore contains a wide range of topics. The Working Seminar included sessions such as supply chain management, innov…
Designing multi-attribute auctions for engineering services procurement in new product development in the automotive context
2010
Abstract In recent years, use of multi-attribute auctions has been consolidating as a powerful mechanism in procurement settings where multiple drivers affect the transaction outcome. This paper provides a project management approach for multi-attribute auction design for standardized engineering services procurement in the context of new product development in automotive industry. Two variables are taken into account in the bidding process: price and duration of the given engineering activity. From a theoretical viewpoint, we fully determine optimal suppliers’ bidding strategies and expected outcomes, i.e. score/utility, price and duration, for the buyer under both first score sealed bid a…
Directional distance functions and environmental regulation
2005
Abstract In this paper we use directional technology distance functions to evaluate the impact of environmental regulations on firms’ performance. Following Fare et al. [Fare, R., Grosskopf, S., Lovell, C.A.K., Pasurka, C., 1989. Multilateral productivity comparisons when some outputs are undesirable: a nonparametric approach. The Review of Economics and Statistics 71, 90–98.], we construct an index that measures opportunity costs for individual firms arising from regulations that prevent free disposal of wastes. The methodology is applied to a sample of Spanish producers of ceramic pavements. We assume that firms maximise desirable output simultaneously reducing inputs, with no change in t…
Open innovation: A real option to restore value to the biopharmaceutical R&D
2014
Abstract The pharmaceutical landscape has changed, and new business models, based on alliances, are increasingly being adopted in this industry. Biotechnology advances have pushed this development, and pooling complementary resources coming from incumbents and newcomers is a key skill to succeed: these are the premises for a quick spread of the open innovation (OI) paradigm in this industry. RD to achieve this goal the authors propose a closed-form model that is easy to implement, to evaluate the OI initiative for selecting an optimal RD i.e. licensing-in or not) and the self-financing policy. The proposed model can be easily implemented into a spreadsheet, and the inputs needed to run it a…
Measurement of ERP-project success: findings from Germany and Austria
2016
The implementations of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have increased rapidly world-wide over the last two decades. ERP projects are long lasting and complex activities, influencing main internal and external operations of organizations. As companies spend an immense investment on these projects, in the beginning managers are focusing on most common success factors to reach the main goal of a proper implementation. For evaluating ERP projects in retrospective, an applicable measurement of the whole implementation and its economic effects is essential. This research paper evaluates the most prominent ERP project success models mentioned in scientific literature and gives an overvi…
Risk assessment and profit sharing in business networks
2011
Abstract Nowadays network is the preferred governance form to conduct economic transactions. Network solution allows to reach flexibility maintaining cost and quality level. Since network concept refers to a great variety of organizational hybrids it is possible to choose the one that fits better market requirements. The new trends in inter-organization relationships push towards network solutions: companies are interested in relationships with partners and customers to overcome resource dependence, to enter too risky market or simply differentiate their business portfolio. The proposed research focuses on the network concept aiming at highlighting threats and opportunities to investigate t…
Operation management in reconfigurable manufacturing systems: Reconfiguration for error handling
2006
Abstract Reconfigurable manufacturing systems offer quick adjustment of production capacity and functionality in response to unpredictable market changes as being systems designed at the outset for rapid change in system configuration, its machines and controls. During the production process, out-of-ordinary events occur dynamically and unpredictably both at the system (machine breakdowns, change in job's priorities, etc.) and at the cell level (tool failures, robot collisions, etc.). Such exceptions interrupt the production process by causing errors in the schedule plan (system level) or in the task plan (cell level). Error handling is the policy meant for reacting to errors caused by the …
Market-driven product and service design: Bridging the gap between customer needs, quality management, and customer satisfaction
2000
Bridging the gap between a firm's internal quality improvements and external measures of customer needs and satisfaction is an important yet complex translation process. The process has traditionally been studied within two very different domains. An external focus on customers has been the domain of marketers. Manufacturing and engineering-based approaches to quality management and improvement have traditionally taken a more internal, process improvement focus. Both areas have recognized the need to broaden thier focus and bridge the gap between internal quality and external customers needs and satisfaction. This paper offers a framework to integrate these two domains. A case study is pres…
Family firm prerequisites for international business operations: a production and marketing capabilities approach
2014
The purpose of this study is to compare SME family firms’ and non-family firms’ organisational prerequisites for international business operations. The main focus lies in the production and marketing capabilities needed for conducting international business. A quantitative study was conducted in Finland. A random sampling was done by utilising the database of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). A sample of 2,000 firms was gathered from the target population, EK database, which consisted of 16,000 firms. The answer rate for the study was 28%. All together, 555 firms answered the mail survey. Three hundred thirty three respondents were coming from family firms and 222 replies repres…