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28 February 2013, Volume 16 Issue 1 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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general review

Research and Application of Industrial Engineering to Hospital Management in Taiwan Chien Chen-fu1, Zhao Li-zhong1,2, Chu Pei-chun1 2013, 16 (1):  1-8.  Abstract ( 2722 )   Save In Taiwan, there are over 20 thousand medical institutions with great diversity in development. The medical service quality has improved steadily in recent years. Since National Health Insurance was put into effect in Taiwan in 1995, there were more challenges in hospital management. In this paper, the general Taiwan hospital information is introduced while the Mainland related data is listed. Also, various researches and applications of industrial engineering technology to Taiwan hospital management are introduced. It shows that industrial engineering technology used in hospitals with limited medical resources can bring forth the best performance. The conclusion shows that hospital management performance will be improved significantly by systematical application of industrial engineering technology. References | Related Articles | Metrics

practice & application

Necessity Analysis and Human Factor Aspect in Building Emergency Shelters for Earthquake Disasters Wang Jian, Zhao Lai-jun, Wang Ke, Ma Ting, Ni Jia-lei 2013, 16 (1):  9-13.  Abstract ( 2114 )   Save Based on the experience in Japan and practical situations in China, the necessity of building emergency shelters for earthquake disasters in Shanghai is studied in this paper. A model is developed for analyzing the dynamic behavior when an earthquake happens. By this model, engineering and technological features, such as geologic and geographic factors, the speed on the earth’s surface, the possibility of water supply cut-off, are considered. Also, sociological and psychological features, such as patience to the water supply cut-off and human choices on emergency shelters, are considered. With the model and in light of human factors, the effect of different features on the need for emergency shelters is analyzed. It shows that there is significant difference between the results obtained by the proposed model and that from the model based on the constructional features. The needs caused by constructional features may be 60% less than the maximal one. In addition, it also shows the changing tendency for emergency shelter needs by time. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Study on the Environment of Subway Security-Checking Task and Its Improvement Yu Rui-feng, Cheng Yu-chen 2013, 16 (1):  14-18.  Abstract ( 2160 )   Save The job of security-checking staff in a subway is a typical visual search task. Their performance directly affects passengers’ safety. Focusing on the environment of subway security-checking task, this work investigates and assesses the effects of auditory and environmentally visual disturbances on staffs’ performance and attention by using questionnaire. Their satisfaction about the micro-climate as well as the improvement measures is also evaluated. Results reveal that personal privacy, conversation, workplace enclosure, and micro-climate have a significant influence on a staff. To enclose the workstation with transparent glass to some degree is the most feasible measure. References | Related Articles | Metrics

A Study of Perceived Service Quality in Online Retailing Based on Service Blueprinting Du Xue-mei, Zhang Qian, Su Qiang 2013, 16 (1):  19-24.  Abstract ( 2161 )   Save Online retailing is more and more popular. By investigation, it is found that the customers feel less satisfaction about express delivery and online service. Thus, it is important to improve its service quality. Service encounter points involved in the online retailing are identified by drafting the service blueprinting. With the service blueprinting, service encounter factors for online retailing are presented. Then, customer-perceived service quality is evaluated by using the fuzzy comprehensive method and the service fail points are analyzed. Thus, by improving the service fail points, it can improve the customer experience of the online retailing. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Slot Allocation for Export Containers in Container Yard with Arrival and Leaving Time Uncertainties Zhou Peng-fei, Li Pi-an 2013, 16 (1):  25-30.  Abstract ( 2343 )   Save Slot allocation of export containers in a container terminal yard has great effect on the reshuffle ratio and vessel handling efficiency. In order to make reasonable slot allocation, by considering the stochastic characteristic of container arrival and leaving time, a two-level dynamic stochastic programming model is developed. By this model, the objectives are to minimize the reshuffles when loading a ship and the storage cranes travel distance when fetching containers. Then, after analyzing the characteristics of the problem, a heuristic algorithm is presented to solve the problem by designing priority rules for bay and stack selection. Numerical experiment results show that, with the information about container arrival or leaving, the proposed method can improve container storage slot allocation. References | Related Articles | Metrics

A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Flexible Job-Shop Scheduling Problem Shuai Qi1,2, Yao Xi-fan2 2013, 16 (1):  31-37.  Abstract ( 2229 )   Save The flexible job-shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is addressed and a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to solve this problem. A heuristic is used to create a set of relatively good schedules for the problem, from which the initial population is created by selecting the relatively good ones. Furthermore, priority rules are integrated into crossover, mutation, exchange, and selection to avoid that it converges to a local optimum. In this way, a better solution can be obtained. Benchmark FJSPs are used to test the proposed method and comparison with some existing approaches is done. Results show that it is effective and efficient for solving FJSPs. References | Related Articles | Metrics

A Stochastic Model for Perishable Product Production and Distribution with Operation Risks Liu Kai-fei, Liu Xiao 2013, 16 (1):  38-44.  Abstract ( 1961 )   Save The operations of a supply network for short life cycle products are characterized by uncertainties of risks, such as quality risk, delivery risk, production risk, inventory risk, and demand risk. The effect of these risks on the operations of the network is analyzed. Then, an inventory, production, and distribution policy is proposed. With this policy, a stochastic programming model is build. By analyzing the characteristics of the model, based on ILOG CPLEX, a dispatching solution method is developed to solve the problem. With some practical cases, the impact of various risk factors on operation process of the overall supply chain is analyzed. Simulation results show that the obtained inventory strategies are effective and practical. References | Related Articles | Metrics

articles

A Quantum Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Bundling Optimization for Multi-item Procurements Wang Ding-wei1, Wang Na2 2013, 16 (1):  45-49.  Abstract ( 1852 )   Save The object bundling optimization problem in reverse combinatorial auctions for online procurements and large project tenders is addressed. A mathematical model with multi-objectives is proposed to solve the problem. Because of its nonlinear and non-analytic properties with variable sets, it is very difficult to solve. Thus, a Quantum Evolutionary Algorithm (QEA) is developed for its solution. It adopts the 0-1 encoding scheme with nonzero elements in the cost complementarity matrix, and the β-based rotation gate to enlarge the probability of selecting the better Q-bits. Numerical results from a number of examples show that the β-based rotation gate is evidently better than the α-based one. Compared with a contrastive genetic algorithm, QEA can achieve better computational performances for small- and middle-sized problems. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Decision-Making Model of Construction Material Procurement with Payment Delay Liu Jun, Wang Xu-ming, Liu Ning, Sun Wen-hui 2013, 16 (1):  50-53.  Abstract ( 1932 )   Save In the construction industry, to a contractor, the material suppliers provide payment delay service and discount for cash on delivery. To take this advantage, this paper explores the cost structure for construction material purchasing with different payment strategies. By modifying the existing purchase model used in the retail and manufacturing industries, the contractor’s payment strategy is analyzed when cash discount is adopted. Further, an optimum construction material purchasing decision model is put forward when payment delay is selected. An example is used to verify the feasibility of the proposed model. References | Related Articles | Metrics

On Product Attribute Configuration for Multiple Personalized Demands Sun Xiao-dong, Feng Xue-gang 2013, 16 (1):  54-60.  Abstract ( 1886 )   Save The production of personalized products with different attributes for the same kind of products ordered by multiple customers is considered. The issue addressed in this paper is how a firm optimizes its attribute configuration to satisfy the personalized demands under production capacity and cost constraints. Based on the deviation between customers’ demands and attribute outputs, a pricing factor function is established. Then, two programming models for configuration optimization are established to minimize total weighted deviation and maximize total profit, respectively. Numerical example is used to compare these two models. Results show that, under the same pricing rules, these two models can obtain similar solutions in meeting customers’ demands. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Coordination Model for Supply Chain with Buyback Transshipment and Expedited Production Strategies Guo Jin-sen, Zhou Yong-wu, Li Ji-cai 2013, 16 (1):  61-66.  Abstract ( 1844 )   Save A supply chain composed of one manufacturer and two competitive retailers is considered. The retailers sell a single product to the customers over a short selling season. Under two different order conditions: one ordering opportunity and two ordering opportunities, research is conducted for how the manufacturer designs the buyback and expedited production strategies to maximize its expected profit and how the retailers decide their orders to maximize their expected profit. A model is presented to describe this problem. With this model, optimal solution can be found and properties of the problem are revealed. Numerical example is provided to illustrate the model and some meaningful management implications. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Postponed Production Optimization for Mass Customization Manufacturer Qin Yan-hong1, Xiong Dan-ping1, Li Yu-yu2 2013, 16 (1):  67-72.  Abstract ( 1909 )   Save Production cost for mass customization manufacturers with postponed strategies adopted or not is addressed in this paper. Models are established for both cases. Then, an extending M/M/1 queuing model is applied to minimize the total cost of production. Through simulation and sensitivity analysis, it is shown that the customers’ waiting time and the number of product categories have significant effect on the total cost for the manufacturers. This provides a theoretical support for the manufacturers to correctly determine customer order decoupling point (CODP). Thus, it is a basis for a manufacturer to make decision in implementing a postponed strategy. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Supply Disruption Model of Ordinary Medicine with Failure Correlation Zhao Xiao-song，Li Li，Wu You，Wu Jin-hui 2013, 16 (1):  73-78.  Abstract ( 1900 )   Save To solve the prevention problem of disruption of ordinary medicine in a supply chain, an effective way is to establish a robust and reliable disruption model so as to find best suppliers for the customers. The issue addressed in this work is how to eliminate the limitations caused by assumption that suppliers are independence. After qualitatively analyzing the correlation between the suppliers, a quantitative model about the correlation between the suppliers is developed by using the reliability theory. Then, by using the characteristics of ordinary medicine, a supply disruption model of ordinary medicine with failure correlation between suppliers is proposed. Result shows that, by minimizing the expected total cost to find the most reliable suppliers for customers, the model can reduce the disruption risk of ordinary medicine. At the same time, by doing so, the limitations resulting from the assumption of supplier independence are eliminated and thus more reliable solution can be obtained. References | Related Articles | Metrics

practice & application

Coordination Mechanism of Closed-Loop Supply Chain with Retailer as Leader under Asymmetric Information Gao Peng, Xie Zhong-qiu, Xie Yin-cheng 2013, 16 (1):  79-85.  Abstract ( 2073 )   Save A closed-loop supply chain with retailer as leader is addressed in this paper. For such a supply chain, there is asymmetry for information about the manufacturers’ re-manufacturing cost. Game models are developed for analysis of operation and coordination mechanism of the supply chain under both symmetric information and asymmetric information. With the models, comparative study is conducted. Results reveal that retailers can achieve the purpose of collaboration and access to excess profits by providing franchise fee under both asymmetric and symmetric information. Under asymmetric information, manufacturers who are able to save large part of cost by remanufacturing have the information advantages and can gain high profits. Also, in this case, through coordination, a manufacturer can achieve the same retail price, the recovery rate, and total profit as that obtained under symmetric information. Examples are used to verify the proposed method. References | Related Articles | Metrics

articles

Cooperation Analysis of a Closed-loop Supply Chain Based on Remanufacturing Si Wen-jing, Ma Jun-hai 2013, 16 (1):  86-90.  Abstract ( 2226 )   Save A closed-loop supply chain composed of one manufacturer, one dealer, and one recycler is considered. Based on differentiate-pricing strategy, Stackelberg game theory is used to analyze the effect of cooperation level on pricing, sales, and product returning rate. Results reveal that the manufacturer has more profit gain through the building of partnership with the dealer and recycler. And, along with the increase of cooperation level, the profits of the whole supply chain increase. At the same time, the cooperative relationship of the manufacturer with the dealer and the recycler can result in mutual interaction in building sale and product return channel. Based on the analysis, suggestions are made for coordination improvement by profit redistribution. References | Related Articles | Metrics

An Emergency Supply Stockpile Location Model by Combining Fuzzy TOPSIS Method and Multi-Level Coverage Xiao Jun-hua1,2, Hou Yun-xian1 2013, 16 (1):  91-98.  Abstract ( 2866 )   Save It is of great significance to study the location theory for emergency supply stockpile in response to frequently occurring large-scale emergency events. To overcome the limitation of the existing location theory, a location model is put forward by combining fuzzy TOPSIS method and multi-level coverage for emergency supply stockpile. By analyzing the factors that affect the emergency supply stockpile location, an indicator system of facility location is established. The fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to select the primary candidate facility set. Then, based on the idea of “backup coverage” and “partial coverage”, a multi-level coverage location model is constructed for determining the best solution. A genetic algorithm procedure based on Matlab 70 is developed to solve the model. Numerical experiment is conducted to test the proposed method and result shows that it is effective. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Study on Joint Inventory-Pricing Decision-Making in Reverse Auction Procurement Liu Shu-ren1,2, Li Wei2, Wang Na2 2013, 16 (1):  99-104.  Abstract ( 2235 )   Save The problem of joint procurement decision and pricing for a retailer in a single period setting is addressed. The retailer creates a procurement contract specifying payment for possible purchase quantity. Then, bidding invitation is issued in a reverse auction way. The won supplier has the right to make the decision about the quantity to be produced and delivered. Meanwhile, the retailer decides the price simultaneously to maximize the expected profit. With the assumption that the stochastic demand is a product function, under some relatively mild conditions, it is shown that the retailers expected revenue (not including the procurement cost) is a concave function of the purchased quantity, leading to an optimal ordering and pricing decision for the retailer. Especially, analytical expressions for purchase quantity and expected profit under normal demand distribution for the retailer are obtained. Numerical analyses are made and results show that the retailer gets more expected profit when the number of suppliers participating in the auction increase or the suppliers marginal costs are more diverse. References | Related Articles | Metrics

A Comparative Study on Algorithms for Inventory-Transportation Integrated Optimization Problem Pei Ying-mei1, 2, Ye Chun-ming1, Zuo Cui-hong2, Liu Li-hui3 2013, 16 (1):  105-109.  Abstract ( 2116 )   Save The inventory-transportation integrated optimization (ITIO) problem in a distribution network with multiple warehouses and multiple retailers is addressed. For solving this problem, different algorithms are explored. First, a Lagrange multiplier method is used to solve the integrated problem of inventory control and transportation scheduling. Then, to overcome the computationally inefficiency for large-scale problem by the Lagrange multiplier method, a scenario-based dynamic slope scaling procedure (DSSP) heuristic is proposed to establish an ITIO model. Lastly, to improve the solution accuracy of the heuristic, the Lagrangian relaxation-based DSSP heuristic is applied to solve the ITIO problem. Comparison is done for problems in a many-to-many distribution network. Results show that the Lagrangian relaxation-based DSSP heuristic outperforms the others in both solution accuracy and computational efficiency. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Study on Markov Chain Modeling of Ideal Position Rank Structure and Dynamic Regulation for Large and Medium-Sized Enterprises Sheng Yong-xiang , Chen Shan , Wu Jie 2013, 16 (1):  110-114.  Abstract ( 1944 )   Save Under the condition that the proportion of position rank promotion and dismissal is stable, study on enterprise position rank structure change is conducted. A homogeneous Markov chain model is established for this problem. For ideal position rank structure, this problem can be converted into a set of linear equations. With this model, then to optimize the enterprise position rank structure is to dynamically regulate the recruitment rate of every position rank for every year. With the position rank structure data from a large information technology (IT) enterprise, empirical analysis is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. References | Related Articles | Metrics

An Integrated Maintenance Strategy on Two Operating Classes with Multiple Constraints Hu Zhi-yong, Xie Li-yang, Kong Xiang-wei, Zhang Xiao-jin 2013, 16 (1):  115-118.  Abstract ( 2041 )   Save Aiming at effective maintenance planning for equipment which has multiple operating classes, an integrated maintenance strategy is proposed in this paper. By using the proposed maintenance strategy, maintenance effect model, and damage accumulation theory, a life cycle benefit model of two operating classes with multiple constraints is established. Numerical example is given to verify the proposed strategy and it shows that is can maximize the life cycle benefit of equipment. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Application of Bat Algorithm to Permutation Flow-Shop Scheduling Problem Sheng Xiao-hua, Ye Chun-ming 2013, 16 (1):  119-124.  Abstract ( 2445 )   Save Permutation flow-shop scheduling problem (PFSP) is a typical combinatorial optimization problem. It is known that the existing bat algorithm is not suitable for solving discrete problems. To overcome this drawback, a new bat algorithm is proposed by modifying its code design and initialization. Then, the proposed algorithm is applied to the PFSP. The proposed method is tested by using classic scheduling benchmark problems and compared with standard particle swarm algorithm and quantum particle swarm algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the others. References | Related Articles | Metrics

R-Allocation Models of p-Hub Median Problem with Total Allocation Number Constraint Han Lie, Zhang Ning 2013, 16 (1):  125-131.  Abstract ( 1991 )   Save With construction allocation resource constraint taking into account, the R-allocation p-hub median problem is put forward. Then, two versions of mixed integer programming models are developed to describe the problem. Based on the models, analysis is done and result shows that, for some special cases, these two models are equivalent to the classic single and multiple allocation formulations. Well-known datasets are used to test the proposed method. It indicates that, by the proposed method, when the permissive allocation number is 60, the total network traffic cost is 15% less than that by UrApHMP. When the permissive allocation number is small, the increase of total allocation number results in significant cost saving. When this number is 45, the increase of this number can gain only a little cost saving. When the total allocation number reaches 60, the increase of this number has no effect on the traffic cost and hub location. The effectiveness and practicability of these models are demonstrated by numerical examples. References | Related Articles | Metrics

Support Vector Data Description-based Multivariate Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Control Chart He Shu-guang, Qian Ting 2013, 16 (1):  132.  Abstract ( 2077 )   Save The D2 control chart based on support vector data description (SVDD) has an advantage that it does not require a known sampling distribution for the process data. However, it uses only the current samples, leading to that it is insensitive to small shifts. To solve this problem, based on SVDD method, a multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA) control chart (denoted as S-MEWMA) is proposed in this paper. Simulation results show that the S-MEWMA chart outperforms the D2 control chart no matter whether a process follows a normal or non-normal distribution. References | Related Articles | Metrics