bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supply Chain Management and the Other Half
Authors: Bhatnagar Kaninika
Published: December 2012

Supply Chain Management operations have traditionally been a gendered career. The role of a diverse workforce, particularly women, is reexamined from the perspective of maximizing the bottom-line and profit sharing in the logistics industry. The unique and problematic diversity issues that underlie both practices and policy in the industry are discussed. These include the more obvious inequities in salaries, to the more insidious and often invisible assumptions that may underlie policy. The net result is detrimental for both business and the basic ethical imperative of equity. The narrative places the discussion of logistics business operations and decision-making in the context of the current research on gender differences, and examines possible ways to create more equitable enterprises, while maintaining and improving the bottom-line.
Open Innovation and Collaborative Network in Supply Chain
Authors: Sakamoto Angela Ruriko , Villar Cristiane Biazzin , Martins Michele Esteves
Published: December 2012

This chapter aims to discuss the use of open innovation and collaborative network as a resource to create value and increase competitiveness in supply chain. A case study of Open IPTV Forum was conducted based on documentary and secondary data. The analysis was based on Amit and Zott (2001) model as well as on Carayannis and Wang (2008) innovation networks and knowledge clusters roles. The results indicate the feasibility of joining simultaneously several different actors of a supply chain to develop a new product/service.
Business Case Development Risks in On and Offshore IT Outsourcing
Authors: Rouse Anne C.
Published: December 2012

Outsourcing of IT-supported business processes (systems development; customer relationship management; helpdesk, etc.) has become increasingly common in Western economies since the late 1990s. Such outsourcing is totally dependent on the provision of inter-organizational information systems (IOSs), which act as the “glue” to link vendor(s) and client(s). Hence understanding the importance of IOSs, and conversely, the downsides or risks they embody, is a critical part of ensuring that outsourcing arrangements are successful. In this chapter the theory behind outsourcing is unpacked, and readers are alerted to sometimes-overlooked aspects of the IOSs on which outsourcing depends. These raise the risks, and reduce the benefits, of outsourcing if they are not well thought through. Decision makers are advised to explicitly include the notion of risk in their outsourcing business cases, including those risks associated with the IOSs that support outsourcing arrangements.
From Mass Distribution to Customer-Centric Awareness Tools
Authors: Hallier Bernd
Published: December 2012

The demand for meat grew in Western Europe after World War II: meat became a mass-product from the 70s of the last century onwards. However, while in the consumer product section “brands” were established, in the agricultural sector food was an anonymous product. Unfortunately, mass-production and discount-prices resulted in many food scandals starting in the 80s. In the beef-sector, especially the British Cow Decease (BSE) created a mistrust of meat. To re-gain “trust” meat-buyers of six German retail-chains started in 1995, together with the Cologne-based EHI Retail Institute, a tracking and tracing system—known later as the EHI-Meat-Label. This private initiative has been rolled out since 1997 by the EU via EU-regulations. Within the last five years, most stakeholders had been built up in the total supply chain in Western Europe with tracking/tracing systems from farm to fork, quite often with the help of IT. The evolution at the beginning of this decade is caused by mobile technology and social media, i.e. apps on smart phones that enable the communication “from fork to farm.” The challenge is a U-turn of info-streams strongly emphasizing consumer awareness. Part one of this chapter discloses what had happened at the backstage of the EHI-Meat Workshop between 1994 and 2001 to create a technical tool for tracing, to intertwine all stakeholders in the market, and to establish politics, both nationally and internationally. This work represents a case study of applied sciences to explain chronologically what happened within that time-period. Part two is an analysis of the marketing-tools and how the mix of the activities of EHI was used so that this success-story could unfold. Part three is a look at how to cope with the new challenge of smart phones and apps by integrating the individual pioneers into an EU-roof of Future Internet and Technologies. The chapter has been developed through an ethnographic observation platform by the author’s practical experience and observation.
An Enterprise Model for Customer-Centric Knowledge Management and Knowledge-Oriented Customer Relationship Management
Authors: Chan Joseph O.
Published: December 2012

Knowledge management and customer relationship management are two key ingredients for value creation in the new economy. The merging of these business strategies has created two enterprise perspectives, customer-centric knowledge management (CCKM) and knowledge-oriented customer relationship management (KCRM). CCKM concerns the processes of managing customer knowledge, whereas KCRM concerns the application of knowledge to enhance CRM processes. Enterprise modeling provides a compositional framework for requirement specifications of interrelated components of an enterprise. This chapter presents an enterprise model for CCKM and KCRM that provides an integrated framework for customer knowledge and operational assets, spanning the different levels of an enterprise and across the various dimensions of the CRM ecosystem.
An Enterprise Architecture Approach for Designing an Integrated Wood Supply Management System
Authors: Marques A. F. , Borges J. G. , Sousa P. M. , Fonseca M. , Gonçalves J. , Oliveira J.
Published: December 2012

The wood supply chains encompass a multitude of agents with independent business processes and information systems. The network of interrelationships and information flows among the agents is often neglected when designing information systems. Common processes and automatic data exchanges can enhance collaboration as well as improve IT alignment with business needs across multiple organizations in the supply chain. This article proposes an Enterprise Architecture methodological approach for designing an integrated modular Wood Supply Management System. Both Process Architecture Framework and Information Architecture were developed and used to define individual systems and integration requirements, discussed on the Applications Architecture. The Technological Architecture was further addressed. Results of its application to the Portuguese pulpwood, biomass and lumber-based supply chains are presented. Results show that this approach can effectively specify individual systems requirements driven from the processes descriptions built in collaboration with the agents. It further shows that a Service-Oriented Architecture can be derived, ensuring systems integration and interoperability.
Design for Sustainment
Authors: Uzochukwu Benedict M. , Udoka Silvanus J.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to chronicle and analyze existing challenges and theoretical issues in the domain of product, system, and the emerging area of global supply chain sustainment. These challenges encompass the provision of reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and quality services by key players and major stakeholders in product and global supply chain. The authors argue that sustainment concept serves as a vehicle for elevating the rate of product and system utilization. This will have a tremendous impact at reducing the burden of product or system’s operational issues thereby allowing for the leveraging of the enormous potentials of sustainment. Both contemporary as well as classical journal papers and publications are included in this study to trace and describe the development, state of sustainment perspectives, available tools, and methodologies in product and global supply chain system sustainment.
A Three-Level Multiple-Agent Early Warning Mechanism for Preventing Loss of Customers in Fashion Supply Chains
Authors: Lo Wei-Shuo , Hong Tzung-Pei
Published: December 2012

The fashion industry is experiencing rapid changes in many areas, including the supply chain. Typical quick response (QR) systems have been broadly used in the fashion industry to enable agile supply chain management (SCM). However, the original functions of QR systems cannot completely address the challenge of issuing early warnings to prevent customer loss. This article merges the typical MIS system development procedure with that of an e-SCM multiple-agent decision support system to confront this problem. The system has three levels: data mining, ontology, and decision support. These levels are interlinked in handling different databases. Different agents execute different tasks at each level to achieve integration and communication in a supply chain with less human intervention. The proposed framework emphasizes transparent connections among businesses and assists in information sharing, thereby preventing customer loss.
Informatics for Medicines Management Systems in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Stergachis Andy , Keene Douglas , Somani Shabir
Published: December 2012

Improved access to information is necessary to ensure achievement of the potential benefits of medicines in resource-limited countries. The scaling up of treatment and prevention programs involving medicines in resource-limited regions with high disease burdens requires proper and urgent attention to the development and use of information technologies. Areas of need for medicines management systems informatics include prescribing, dispensing, pharmaceutical care, administration, patient monitoring, education and training, supply chain management, and monitoring and evaluation of program performance. Such information systems should strive to collect and manage data that are a standardized, compiled, and made easily accessible for use by key stakeholders, including ministries of health, medicines regulators, pharmaceutical industry, public health programs, academic researchers, donor organizations, the health care delivery sector, and ultimately the public and patients. A framework is described for medicines management systems informatics in resource-limited settings.
How Semantic Web Technologies can Support the Mediation between Supply and Demand in the ICT Market
Authors: Goy Anna , Magro Diego
Published: December 2012

This chapter presents the ARNEIS framework, i.e., an architecture enabling intelligent Web-based repositories of descriptions of software products and services. ARNEIS exploits Semantic Web technologies in order to support the interaction between ICT companies offering software solutions for business automation, and small-to-medium sized enterprises looking for technological support to their business. In particular, the authors chose Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as a field for the evaluation of the framework, and thus in this chapter, they describe how the ARNEIS framework enables a Web-based service that supports an intelligent matching between supply and demand for CRM-related tools. After presenting the background of the project and discussing related work, the chapter describes the ARNEIS framework, starting from its architecture and user interaction flow. The domain analysis of the CRM field and role of ontologies is then discussed. The chapter then focuses on the user interfaces and matching between semantic descriptions of offers and needs. A brief discussion of future challenges concludes the chapter.
Online Grocery Provision Resistance
Authors: de Kervenoael Ronan , Bozkaya Burcin , Palmer Mark
Published: December 2012

This chapter investigates the resistance by institutional actors in ambiguous supply chain environments for online grocery provision. Recent studies have shown that significant shifts in urban geographies are increasing consumers’ expectations of online retail provision. However, at the same time there is also growing evidence that the collaborative practice in online grocery provision within the urban supply chains is resisted. That these trends are found despite growing demand of online provision highlights both the difficulty of bringing geographically dispersed supply partners together and the problems associated with operating within and across ambiguous environments. Drawing upon twenty-nine in-depth interviews with a range of institutional actors, including retail, logistics, and urban planning experts within an urban metropolis in an emerging market, we detail the different ways that collaboration is resisted in online retail provision. Several different patterns of resistance were identified in (non-) collaboration notably, ideological, functional, regulatory and spatial.
A Study of Eco-Friendly Supply Chain Management at Cement Industries of Chhattisgarh
Authors: Ashraf Gazala Yasmin
Published: December 2012

India has experienced one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world which has been a dramatic driver in the nature and scale of impact on the country’s environment and natural resources. Environmental risks and problems are widening. The issues of managing environment impacts are capturing public attention. Modernization and technology up-gradation is a continuous process for any growing industry and is equally true for the cement industry. With increasing awareness of environmental protection worldwide, the green trend of conserving the Earth’s resources and protecting the environment is overwhelming, thereby exerting pressure on corporations in India. The pressure and drive accompanying globalization has prompted enterprises to improve their environmental performance (Zhu and Sarkis, 2006). Consequently, corporations have shown growing concern for the environment over the past ten years (Sheu, et al., 2005). The pressure on corporations to improve their environmental performances comes from globalization rather than localization (Sarkis and Tamarkin, 2005). Increasing environmental concern has gradually become part of the overall corporation culture and, in turn, has helped to reengineer the strategies of corporations (Madu, et al., 2002).
Supply Chain Disruptions and Best-Practice Mitigation Strategies
Authors: Moradeyo Adenike Aderonke
Published: December 2012

This paper reviews the supply chain management literature to summarize best-practice guidelines for mitigating supply problems. Very few studies in the extant literature focused on matching a strategy for both the supply and demand perspective. Case studies of supply chain management have traditionally focused on single companies, and especially on successful organizations rather than on the demand-supply-chain relationships (which involve at least two companies). Therefore, this study considers the experiences of the author, and researchers several well-known profitable fortune 1000 supply chain companies, to determine which supply chain mitigation strategies work best in complex situations.
Two Case Studies on RFID Initiatives
Authors: Angeles Rebecca
Published: December 2012

This paper features the results of an empirical online survey focusing on radio frequency identification initiatives and the revalidation of these results using brief case studies on Charles Voegele and Vail Resorts. The empirical study investigates the ability of information technology (IT) infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration to moderate the relationships between the importance of the perceived seven adoption attributes and system deployment outcomes, operational efficiency and market knowledge creation in radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled supply chains. Using the online survey method, data was collected from members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals in North America. The moderated regression procedure suggested by Aguinis (2004) was applied. The three adoption attributes, relative advantage, results, and images turned out to be the most important attributes in these RFID systems. Indeed, both IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration moderate the relationships between these three adoption attributes and the RFID system outcomes.
Multidimensional Analysis of Supply Chain Environmental Performance
Authors: Sirkka Antti , Junkkari Marko
Published: December 2012

Monitoring the environmental performance of a product is recognized to be increasingly important. The most common method of measuring the environmental performance is the international standards of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Typically, measuring is based on estimations and average values at product category level. In this chapter, the authors present a framework for measuring environmental impact at the item level. Using Traceability Graph, emissions and resources can be monitored from the data management perspective. The model can be mapped to any precision level of physical tracing. At the most precise level, even a single physical object and its components can be analyzed. This, of course, demands that the related objects and their components are identified and mapped to the database. From the opposite perspective, the authors’ model also supports rough level analysis of products and their histories. In terms of the Traceability Cube, multidimensional analysis can be applied for traceability data.
The Application of Value Chain Analysis for the Evaluation of Alternative Supply Chain Strategies for the Provision of Humanitarian Aid to Africa
Authors: Taylor David H.
Published: December 2012

The chapter also gives a more general consideration to the potential of value chain analysis concepts and techniques to the measurement, evaluation, and improvement of humanitarian supply chain operations in locations and scenarios beyond that described in the current case study.
Adding Value to Logistics Services using ICT
Authors: Evangelista Pietro
Published: December 2012

The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the most critical areas of innovation for third-party logistics service providers (3PLs). ICT is seen as tool for achieve service differentiation and improving connectivity with other supply chain partner. Nevertheless, many logistics service companies had failed to use ICT to gain competitive advantage as the implementation of technology innovation is a challenging and risky process involving huge resources. In the context of small 3PLs, technology adoption is particularly critical and ICT investments need to be carefully planned. The objective of this chapter is to investigate ICT adoption in small 3PLs through a case study analysis conducted in the Italian logistics service market. The role of technology in supporting service customization together with inhibitors and enabling factors influencing technology innovation are explored. Implications are derived from the research and supply chain innovation perspectives.
Supply Chain Knowledge Integration in Emerging Economies
Authors: Atkins Ryan
Published: December 2012

Firms in developed economies have been purchasing from firms in emerging economies for years, but they typically purchase low value, low margin items. Opportunities have arisen for emerging economy manufacturers to supply higher value products and services to firms in developed economies. In today’s global, knowledge based economy, suppliers must have cutting edge knowledge, and they must constantly upgrade their knowledge to maintain a competitive advantage. When supplying high-value products, complex knowledge based interactions between the buyer and supplier are necessary. A conceptual model is developed in this chapter, proposing that if suppliers in emerging economies are committed to long term relationships with developed economy customers, they can increase the level of knowledge integration in the relationship, and in turn, improve performance. The primary contribution of this chapter is to show that firms in emerging economies can achieve sales growth by becoming critical links in today’s global, knowledge based supply chains.
Trust and Transaction Cost in Supply Chain Cost Optimization
Authors: Kwon Ik-Whan G. , Hamilton John H. , Hong Seock-Jin
Published: December 2012

This chapter describes the relationship between trust and transaction cost in supply chain operations. Empirical findings from several research studies on trust and transaction cost in supply chain operations will be presented in support of the argument for managing transaction cost in supply chain management. A suggested future research agenda on this topic is also provided.
Designing Post-Disaster Supply Chains
Authors: Kovács Gyöngyi , Matopoulos Aristides , Hayes Odran
Published: December 2012

Post-disaster housing reconstruction projects face several challenges. Resources and material supplies are often scarce; several and different types of organizations are involved, while projects must be completed as quickly as possible to foster recovery. Within this context, the chapter aims to increase the understanding of relief supply chain design in reconstruction. In addition, the chapter is introducing a community based and beneficiary perspective to relief supply chains by evaluating the implications of local components for supply chain design in reconstruction. This is achieved through the means of secondary data analysis based on the evaluation reports of two major housing reconstruction projects that took place in Europe the last decade. A comparative analysis of the organizational designs of these projects highlights the ways in which users can be involved. The performance of reconstruction supply chains seems to depend to a large extent on the way beneficiaries are integrated in supply chain design impacting positively on the effectiveness of reconstruction supply chains.
Relief Supply Chain Planning
Authors: Banomyong Ruth , Sodapang Apichat
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a framework for the development of relief supply chain systems. An illustrative case study is presented in order to help relief supply chain decision makers in their relief supply chain planning process. Developing simulation models to test proposed relief supply chain response plans is much less risky than actually waiting for another disaster to happen and test the proposed relief supply chain model in a real life situation. The simulated outcome can then be used to refine the developed relief supply chain response model.
Social CRM
Authors: Ayanso Anteneh
Published: December 2012

This chapter provides an overview of social customer relationship management (CRM) and explores the Web-based platforms that provide social CRM solution in software as a service (SaaS) model as well as the applications and tools that complement traditional CRM systems. Based on a review of current practices, the chapter also outlines the potential benefits social CRM provides to organizations in their sales, service, and marketing efforts. Furthermore, while the Web and its new breed of technologies and applications open new opportunities for businesses, these technologies also pose several new challenges for organizations in implementation, integration, data security, and consumer privacy, among others. In addition, these technologies can be exploited in a negative way to propagate misinformation against businesses and their reputations. In view of this, this chapter also examines ethical and legal challenges businesses could face in embracing social media technologies at the core of their customer management processes and systems.
Being a Preferred Customer of Leading Suppliers and Its Impact on Supplier Contribution to Innovation
Authors: Schiele Holger , Veldman Jasper , Hüttinger Lisa
Published: December 2012

In this chapter, the authors introduce the concept of preferred customer status as a means for creating supply-side induced advantages in highly competitive supplier markets. For the authors, being a preferred customer means that a buyer is awarded preferential treatment of important suppliers compared to what their other customers receive. Taking this into account, having Preferred Customer Status might also have a positive impact on the generation of innovation upstream the supply chain. As there is a lack of knowledge of what motivates suppliers to serve selected buyers better than others, the research presented here focuses on the suppliers’ evaluation of customers and how it can be influenced by buyers. Based on an extensive literature review, an overview is provided of recent contributions on customer attractiveness and supplier satisfaction as the prerequisites for becoming a preferred customer of strategic suppliers. Furthermore, the authors stress the importance of being a preferred customer particularly in a new product development context by empirically testing the impact of preferred customer status on supplier innovativeness in a buyer-seller relationship. They conclude that implementing a preferred customer policy in buying firms can improve the conditions for innovating with suppliers.
International Fashion Retailing from an Enterprise Architecture Perspective
Authors: Tambo Torben
Published: December 2012

International retailing of non-food fashion products, as chain stores impose a particular challenge within Enterprise Architecture (EA) as the same general infrastructure networks, brands, data, business intelligence and applications should work in multiple, semi-compliant geographic regions. Generalised Information System architectures are desirable. A case is presented of a fashion retailing organisation growing from 100 to 2,000 stores with both fluctuant and long-term decision making but also a strong international orientation. The case creates a basis for shaping the wider Enterprise Architecture for retailing. EA has significant potentials for innovation, improvement, enrichment and increased interaction between business and technology. Technology vendors are prepared for EA observations but business seems hesitant: The IT inventory of chain retailing should be managed within EA, positioning the store in large international networks of chains encompassing marketing, supply chain, multi-channel concepts, payment systems and loyalty programs. Conclusively, guidelines are set for a deepening of EA within retail.
A Content Analysis for Evaluating RFID Applications in Supply Network Management
Authors: Gnoni Maria Grazia , Rollo Alessandra
Published: December 2012

Traditionally, a supply network is a sequence of different and multiple numbers of processes interconnected each other in order to satisfy all capacities and demand requirements imposed by customers with minimum cost to the network. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology could potentially improve supply network management by guarantying more visibility and real time communications across actors. Currently, RFID has playing an important role in coordinating information in several industrial contexts: in brief, its main advantage is to improve the quality and the speediness of information sharing among different partners in a network. Moreover, RFID capability could be effectively applied to replace traditional approaches (i.e. barcodes) to store and retrieve item data. On the other hand, RFID application is affected by some criticisms from both technological and economical point of view, as all emerging ICT technologies. In recent years, several studies have been developed in order to analyze benefits of RFID applications; few papers are focused on analyzing evaluation frameworks for RFID applications in complex supply networks. The proposed content analysis aims to support in evaluting potential operational benefits of RFID technology in different supply networks. The analysis proposed has been developed according to the well-know Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) which allows integrating business process reengineering, benchmarking, and process measurement into a cross-functional framework. The content analysis has been developed according to current literature about RFID applications; finally, it is proposed a standardized guideline for evaluating potential benefit of RFID technology in supply networks.
The Management of Services Contracts
Authors: Callender Guy
Published: December 2012

The management of services creates a new and exciting development in business relationship management. It is a field which grows as organizations increasingly seek to specialize and also replace in-house service delivery with contractual relationships with suppliers. This chapter explores many of the attributes and challenges of planning, developing, and managing service contracts within complex supply chains.
Deploying and Running Enterprise Grade Applications in a Federated Cloud
Authors: Hudzia Benoit , Sinclair Jonathan , Lindner Maik
Published: December 2012

The notion of cloud computing is a paradigm shift from local machines and networks to virtualization technologies with services as a technical and business concept. This shift introduces major challenges when using cloud for deploying and running enterprise applications in the current Enterprise ecosystems. For companies, picking and choosing the right cloud to meet requirements is hard, and no solution is likely to provide the end-to-end specific IT services delivery and an end-to-end IT solution. Conversely cloud federation assists in providing flexibility to the customer and enables them to lower their TCO by shifting from one cloud to another while mitigating risks associated with a single cloud approach. In order to create competitive differentiation, small businesses require multiple software systems to both meet minimal data management and creative expectations. At the other end of the enterprise ecosystem spectrum, large companies rely on thousands of services in order to meet the needs of everything from simple departmental database applications to core Enterprise Resource planning and Customer Relationship Management systems on which the enterprise itself is managed. As an optimal adoption decision cannot be established for all individual cases, the authors propose to analyze three different use cases for deployment of enterprise applications such as SAP, on the cloud in order to provide some valuable pointers to navigate the emerging cloud ecosystem: rapid provisioning, elasticity and live migration of enterprise applications.
Anti-Counterfeit Technologies for Spurious Drugs in India
Authors: Dass Ruchi , Gajjar Bharat
Published: December 2012

The problem of counterfeit drugs in India has led to significant negative publicity around the world. In this paper, the author discusses how mobile/radio based and other technologies are not only helping educate people on how to check counterfeit medicines and supply chain management, but also promoting disease surveillance and spurious drugs data collection.
Assessing the Impact of Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms on Supply Chain Performance
Authors: McLaughlin Stephen
Published: December 2012

With the complexity of organizations increasing, it is becoming vitally important that organizations understand how knowledge is created and shared around their core business processes. However, many organizations deploy technology without due consideration for how their employees access, create and share information and knowledge. This chapter explores the subject empirically through the study of how employees work with information and knowledge around a core business function – in this case a supply chain process. In order to do this the organization needs to be viewed for a network perspective as it relates to specific business processes. Viewing the organization in this way enabled the author to see how employee’s preferred knowledge and information transfer mechanisms varied across the core process. In some cases the identified transfer mechanisms where at odds with the prescribed organization wide mechanisms. However, when the organization considered the employee’s preferred transfer mechanisms as part of an overall process improvement, the E2E supply chain performance was seen to improve significantly.
Interoperability Issues for Systems Managing Competency Information
Authors: Blandin Bernard , Frank Geoffrey , Laughton Simone , Hirata Kenji
Published: December 2012

This chapter has four sections. The first one describes how the needs for interoperability in exchanging competency information have been addressed so far. The second part adopts a “Digital Services Supply Chain” approach and discusses the issues related to the exchange of competency information across systems regarding this approach. The third part is the core part of this chapter. It describes the 4 levels of the proposed approach: the Conceptual Reference Model (CRM), the Semantic Model, the Information Model and the Data Model. The final section presents the research directions currently envisaged, and the research programme needed to make the proposed approach operational.
Potential Impact of RFID-Based Tracing Systems on the Integrity of Pharmaceutical Products
Authors: Maffia Michele , Mainetti Luca , Patrono Luigi , Urso Emanuela
Published: December 2012

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is going to play a crucial role as auto-identification technology in a wide range of applications such as healthcare, logistics, supply chain management, ticketing, et cetera. The use of electromagnetic waves to identify, trace, and track people or goods allows solving many problems related to auto-identification devices based on optical reading (i.e. bar code). Currently, high interest is concentrated on the use of Radio Frequency (RF) solutions in healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain, in order to improve drugs flow transparency and patients’ safety. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that drug interaction with electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by RF devices, such as RFID readers, deteriorate the potency of bioactive compounds. This chapter proposes an experimental multidisciplinary approach to investigate potential alterations induced by EMFs on drug molecular structure and performance. To show the versatility of this approach, some experimental results obtained on two biological pharmaceuticals (peptide hormone-based) are discussed.
A Gravitational Search Algorithm Approach for Optimizing Closed-Loop Logistics Network
Authors: Sadrnia Abdolhossein , Nezamabadi-Pour Hossein , Nikbakht Mehrdad , Ismail Napsiah
Published: December 2012

Since late in the 20th century, various heuristic and metaheuristic optimization methods have been developed to obtain superior results and optimize models more efficiently. Some have been inspired by natural events and swarm behaviors. In this chapter, the authors illustrate empirical applications of the gravitational search algorithm (GSA) as a new optimization algorithm based on the law of gravity and mass interactions to optimize closed-loop logistics network. To achieve these aims, the need for a green supply chain will be discussed, and the related drivers and pressures motivate us to develop a mathematical model to optimize total cost in a closed-loop logistic for gathering automobile alternators at the end of their life cycle. Finally, optimizing total costs in a logistic network is solved using GSA in MATLAB software. To express GSA capabilities, a genetic algorithm (GA), as a common and standard metaheuristic algorithm, is compared. The obtained results confirm GSA’s performance and its ability to solve complicated network problems in closed-loop supply chain and logistics.
Justifying RFID Investment to Enable Mobile Service Applications in Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Authors: Lee In
Published: December 2012

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is rapidly expanding its application area from simple inventory management to advanced location tracking and supply chain management in a wide range of industries. Because of the potential benefits gained and high investment costs incurred by RFID, firms need to carefully assess every RFID opportunity and challenge to ensure that their resources are spent judiciously. Because of the lack of analytical methods for measuring the benefits and costs, this chapter presents a mathematical model for the evaluation of RFID investment in manufacturing and supply chain. This model provides a basis for the authors’ understanding of RFID value creation and ways to build an RFID business case for an RFID investment justification.
Planarity
Authors: Hojabri Hossein , Miandoabchi Elnaz
Published: December 2012

In this chapter the authors consider a property of a whole graph, which is of theoretical and practical importance. The concept addresses the possibility of drawing a given graph in a plane such that none of its edges intersect. The authors find this property, named planarity, very useful in application. They address the problem of planarity recognition including its theorems and its algorithm. Also, they discuss the concept of duality of graphs in the context of planarity.
Graph Coloring
Authors: Dadgostari Faraz , Hosseininia Mahtab
Published: December 2012

In this chapter a particular type of graph labeling, called graph coloring, is introduced and discussed. In the first part, the simple type of coloring, vertex coloring, is focused. Thus, concerning vertex coloring, some terms and definitions are introduced. Next, some theorems and applying those theorems, some coloring algorithms and applications are introduced. At last, some helpful concepts such as critical graphs, list coloring, and vertex decomposition are presented and discussed. In the second section, edge coloring is focused. Thus, concerning edge coloring, some terms and definitions are described, some important information about edge chromatic number and edge list coloring is presented, and applying them, classification of graphs using the coloring approach is summarized. At last some helpful concepts such as edge list coloring and edge decomposition are illustrated and discussed.
Networks
Authors: Boloori Alireza , Mahmoudi Monirehalsadat
Published: December 2012

This chapter sheds light on various aspects of network theory and relevant concepts including basic definitions, the most common types of network flow problems that have been studied by literature, and the main algorithms and solution approaches proposed for solving network problems.
Inbound Logistics and Vehicle Routing
Authors: Farahani Reza Zanjirani , Rashidi-Bajgan Hannaneh , Nehzati Taravatsadat
Published: December 2012

One of the most important factors in the design of automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) is the flow path design. The unidirectional/ conventional flow path design in automated guided vehicle (AGV) routing problem considers aisles to be undirected so that each pair of cells could be reached mutually. Regarding the flow between cells, this chapter presents a novel algorithm to minimize the total distance traveled by the loaded vehicles on the block layout graph. The algorithm is an efficient branch-and-band method with branches on the feasible solutions to solve the strongly connected graph layout. To find the feasible and efficient flow path, the authors use the Revised-DFS based on testing connectivity of the graph.
Facility Layout Planning
Authors: Hojabri Hossein , Miandoabchi Elnaz
Published: December 2012

The weighted maximal planar graph (WMPG) appears in many applications. It is currently used to design facilities layout in manufacturing plants. Given an edge-weighted complete simple graph G, the WMPG involves finding a sub-graph of G that is planar in the sense that it could be embedded on the plane such that none of its edges intersect, and is maximal in the sense that no more edges can be added to it unless its planarity is violated. Finally, it is optimal in the sense that the resulting maximal planar graph holds the maximum sum of edge weights. In this chapter, the aim is to explain the application of planarity in facility layout design. The mathematical models and the algorithms developed for the problem so far are explained. In the meanwhile, the corollaries and theorems needed to explain the algorithms and models are briefly given. In the last part, an explanation on how to draw block layout from the adjacency graph is given.
Adaptive Network Structures for Data/Text Pattern Recognition (Application)
Authors: Buabin Emmanuel
Published: December 2012

The objective of this chapter is implementation of neural based solutions in real world context. In particular, a step-wise approach to constructing, training, validating, and testing of selected feed-forward (Multi-Layer Perceptron, Radial Basis function) and recurrent (Recurrent Neural Networks) neural based classification systems are demonstrated. The pre-processing techniques adopted in extracting information from selected datasets are also discussed. In terms of future practical directions, a catalogue of intelligent systems across selected disciplines, are outlined. The main contribution of this book chapter is to provide basic introductory text with less mathematical rigor for the benefit of students, tutors, lecturers, researchers, and/or professionals who wish to delve into foundational (practical) representations of bio-intelligent intelligent systems.
Understanding Reinforcement Learning Theory for Operations Research and Management
Authors: Buabin Emmanuel
Published: December 2012

The objective of this chapter is the introduction of reinforcement learning in the context of graphs. In particular, a linkage between reinforcement learning theory and graph theory is established. Within the context of semi-supervised pattern recognition, reinforcement learning theory is introduced and discussed in basic steps. Motivation, leading to learning agent development with reinforcement capabilities for massive data pattern learning is also given. The main contribution of this book chapter is the provision of a basic introductory text authored in less mathematical rigor for the benefit of students, tutors, lecturers, researchers, and/or professionals who wish to delve into the foundation, representations, concepts, and theory of graph based semi-supervised intelligent systems.
An Example-Based Generator of XSLT Programs
Authors: Leal José Paulo , Queirós Ricardo
Published: December 2012

XSLT is a powerful and widely used language for transforming XML documents. However, its power and complexity can be overwhelming for novice or infrequent users, many of whom simply give up on using this language. On the other hand, many XSLT programs of practical use are simple enough to be automatically inferred from examples of source and target documents. An inferred XSLT program is seldom adequate for production usage but can be used as a skeleton of the final program, or at least as scaffolding in the process of coding it. It should be noted that the authors do not claim that XSLT programs, in general, can be inferred from examples. The aim of Vishnu—the XSLT generator engine described in this chapter—is to produce XSLT programs for processing documents similar to the given examples and with enough readability to be easily understood by a programmer not familiar with the language. The architecture of Vishnu is composed by a graphical editor and a programming engine. In this chapter, the authors focus on the editor as a GWT Web application where the programmer loads and edits document examples and pairs their content using graphical primitives. The programming engine receives the data collected by the editor and produces an XSLT program.
A Secure and Dynamic Mobile Identity Wallet Authorization Architecture Based on a XMPP Messaging Infrastructure
Authors: Augusto Alexandre B. , Correia Manuel E.
Published: December 2012

In this chapter, the authors propose and describe an identity management framework that allows users to asynchronously control and effectively share sensitive dynamic data, thus guaranteeing security and privacy in a simple and transparent way. Their approach is realised by a fully secure mobile identity digital wallet, running on mobile devices (Android devices), where users can exercise discretionary control over the access to sensitive dynamic attributes, disclosing their value only to pre-authenticated and authorised users for determined periods of time. For that, the authors rely on an adaptation of the OAuth protocol to authorise and secure the disclosure of personal-private user data by the usage of token exchange and new XML Schemas to establish secure authorisation and disclosure of a set of supported dynamic data types that are being maintained by the personal mobile digital wallet. The communication infrastructure is fully implemented over the XMPP instant messaging protocol and is completely compatible with the public XMPP large messaging infrastructures already deployed on the Internet for real time XML document interchange.
Preservation of Data Warehouses
Authors: Aldeias Carlos , David Gabriel , Ribeiro Cristina
Published: December 2012

Data warehouses are used in many application domains, and there is no established method for their preservation. A data warehouse can be implemented in multidimensional structures or in relational databases that represent the dimensional model concepts in the relational model. The focus of this work is on describing the dimensional model of a data warehouse and migrating it to an XML model, in order to achieve a long-term preservation format. This chapter presents the definition of the XML structure that extends the SIARD format used for the description and archive of relational databases, enriching it with a layer of metadata for the data warehouse components. Data Warehouse Extensible Markup Language (DWXML) is the XML language proposed to describe the data warehouse. An application that combines the SIARD format and the DWXML metadata layer supports the XML language and helps to acquire the relevant metadata for the warehouse and to build the archival format.
New Dimension in Relational Database Preservation
Authors: Freitas Ricardo André Pereira , Ramalho José Carlos
Published: December 2012

Due to the expansion and growth of information technologies, much of human knowledge is now recorded on digital media. A new problem in the digital universe has arisen: Digital Preservation. This chapter addresses the problems of Digital Preservation and focuses on the conceptual model within a specific class of digital objects: Relational Databases. Previously, a neutral format was adopted to pursue the goal of platform independence and to achieve a standard format in the digital preservation of relational databases, both data and structure (logical model). The authors address the preservation of relational databases by focusing on the conceptual model of the database, considering the database semantics as an important preservation “property.” For the representation of this higher layer of abstraction present in databases, they use an ontology-based approach. At this higher abstraction level exists inherent Knowledge associated to the database semantics that the authors tentatively represent using “Web Ontology Language” (OWL). From the initial prototype, they develop a framework (supported by case studies) and establish a mapping algorithm for the conversion between databases and OWL. The ontology approach is adopted to formalize the knowledge associated to the conceptual model of the database and also a methodology to create an abstract representation of it. The system is based on the functional axes (ingestion, administration, dissemination, and preservation) of the OAIS reference model.