Idle Capacity Research Articles

Vehicle Routing Problem of an Innovative B2C and O2O Joint Distribution Service

In respond to the problem of insufficient capacity in peak hours and idle capacity in off-peak hours of O2O delivery, the logistics industry has been challenged to minimize the total costs of both B2C and O2O delivery. Considering the high coincidence in geographical space of B2C and O2O orders, an innovative joint distribution service is proposed. This paper designs a modified C-W algorithm based on the merging of node-inserted paths to achieve the optimization of pickup and delivery problem with time windows (PDPTW). A numerical analysis is conducted to compare the independent distribution mode with the innovative joint distribution mode. The results highlight that the innovative joint distribution mode performs better than the independent distribution mode in both different order sizes and different lengths of O2O time windows, which can improve the delivery efficiency and lower the total costs.

SFP-based vertical handover with MIH services for integrated Wi-Fi and WIMAX networks

The seamless vertical handover among different wireless systems are required to offer high quality services. It is attained by the developing standard IEEE 802.21 media independent handover (MIH) services. In this paper, single AP scanning, fast ranging and preregistration (SFP) approach is used in which the target AP is chosen based on the proposed idle capacity and signal strength with hybrid PS-GS algorithm. After selecting the target base station (BS), the handover decision algorithm based on SINR enabled with utilising RSSI, available bandwidth and monetary cost. In the proposed vertical handover scenario, the MAC overhead is minimised by reducing the scanning time. The efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated in terms of scanning time, handover interruption time, handover latency, packet loss, packet delay and throughput. When compared with the existing handover procedures, better results obtained in the proposed handover procedure. The outcomes demonstrate that the hybrid algorithm retains a maximum capacity to escape from local optimums with faster convergence than the standard PSO and GSA.

Optimal Overbooking Policy for Cloud Service Providers: Profit and Service Quality

A cloud federation is a current paradigm that enables partnered cloud providers to share idle capacities during low demand periods and to purchase spare resources during demand spikes. In this research, we propose an optimal overbooking policy to maximize federation members’ profits and enhance cloud users’ experiences. The proposed policy overcomes cloud providers’ low utilization and increases their profits. Under the market-oriented cloud federation system, we use the number of idle resources in the cloud federation and the operational costs of those resources to help the provider decide on its instance exchange price. Under such a price mechanism, we develop an optimal overbooking model and identify the conditions necessary for optimal solutions. Through implementing the optimal mechanism, we observe that the proposed overbooking policy can improve a federated provider’s profits and decrease the probability of service level agreement (SLA) violation. When a provider’s capacity is relatively large and the provider adopts the proposed overbooking policy, it could achieve maximum profits and decline its SLA violation when it has unmet customer demands and there are idle resources in the cloud federation. Through establishing the cooperative game model of the cloud federation, we make a reasonable profit distribution based on Shapley value. The cloud provider’s profits and the probability of the SLA violation change as the instance price, the distribution of unserved customers, the number of federation members and penalty cost change. Compared with the other overbooking policies and no overbooking mechanisms, our research improves profits and reduces cloud provider’s overbooking risks, thereby presenting a win-win situation for both the individual providers and the cloud federation.

DEMANDA DE MADEIRA PARA SERRARIAS E POTENCIAL DE INVESTIMENTO FLORESTAL NA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO RIO PARDO, RS, BRASIL

O trabalho teve como objetivo geral avaliar a demanda de madeira para as serrarias no Vale do Rio Pardo e, ainda, analisar a viabilidade financeira de implantar uma base florestal que supra a capacidade ociosa de processamento dessa região. O estudo foi desenvolvido na área central do Rio Grande do Sul, abrangendo 13 municípios que compõem a Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Pardo. Para a obtenção dos dados foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com proprietários de serrarias da região. Essas foram avaliadas quanto ao seu consumo e capacidade instalada, que, respectivamente, foram de 7.005 m³.mês-1 e 12.330 m³.mês-1, apresentando uma capacidade ociosa na ordem de 63.900 m³.ano-1. O abastecimento de 30.336 m³.ano-1 ocorre através de fornecedores de fora da região. Com isso, verificou-se a necessidade de 1.836 ha para suprir a demanda anual destas serrarias. A substituição da importação de matéria-prima e o incremento da capacidade ociosa seriam responsáveis por gerar 55 empregos nas atividades de produção florestal e 471 empregos na indústria. Conforme análise financeira pelo Método de Monte Carlo, a receita anual gerada pelo empreendimento seria na ordem de R$ 1.756.347,00, correspondente a uma área de colheita estimada em 122,40 ha, distribuída nos municípios da região.

Using inverter-based renewable generators to improve the grid power quality—A review

With the increasing penetration of renewable power in the grid, renewable generators are expected to play more important roles rather than merely working as active power sources. Considering the high controllability and considerable idle capacity of the inverter-based renewable generators, various auxiliary functions for them have been studied to benefit the grid. Among these auxiliary functions, the grid power quality improvement is very promising. This paper presents a review of the emerging control strategies for inverter-based renewable generators to improve grid power quality. The related papers are classified with different power quality issues and technical routes, and a comprehensive comparison is presented. The future trends of this research area are also discussed.

Funds sharing regulation in the context of the sharing economy: Understanding the logic of China's P2P lending regulation

“Sharing economy” is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of digital platform-based activities that includes P2P lending and other forms of internet-based lending. The core aim of the sharing economy is to leverage the utilization of idle capacity. P2P lending can not only be used to leverage small amounts of money on the lender's side, but also be used to promote financial democracy and inclusion both on the lender and borrower's sides. P2P lending regulation, therefore, should place an emphasis on the utilization of dead money and promotion of financial democracy. This article scrutinizes the regulation of P2P lending in China. The existing regulatory system for P2P lending in China is built upon rules and regulations that have been designed solely with traditional brokers in mind. The article contends that the rigid rules placed on lending platforms limited their ability to maintain their roles as brokers and, in turn, heavily endangered the commercial sustainability of P2P platforms, thereby harming the sharing economy's openness and inclusivity. Additionally, the article argues that the fact that there is no limit on the amount a lender can invest poses a threat to the notions of leveraging idle money and financial inclusivity. The closed-ended P2P lending regime in China would cause some chilling effects to financial innovation in the P2P lending industry, and in a wider sense, the rising FinTech sector. Regulators in China need to cope with these challenges in a flexible but pragmatic manner, and particularly make use of the benefits the sharing economy may bring to the Chinese economy more broadly.

Usability of Time Driven Activity Based Costing Methods in the Budgeting Process of SMEs

In this study budget and cost calculations, which can be applied by producer Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), have been emphasized to contribute producer SME’s having longer lifespans in today’s conditions of high competition. Nowadays when we act on the fact that the budget and cost calculations are inadequate in SMEs, it is intended to be a useful work that can be implemented and contribute to the achievement of the objectives to managers. In the studies carried out, it is overemphasized on the interrelated studies of budget, product based costs and production targets (productivity). In product-based cost calculations, the most up-to-date approach in the distribution of manufacturing overhead costs was made using the Time-Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC) method. In consequence of the application study, the idle capacity was determined and the productivity results were obtained with the improvement studies. Finally, the findings were interpreted and the suggestions were made.

Sectoral and regional determinants of firm dynamics in developing countries: Evidence for low-, medium- and high-tech manufacturing in Argentina

This study analyses the determinants of firm dynamics in developing countries, using Argentina as an illustrative case. It explains firm entry and exit at the regional level, distinguishing three groups of manufacturing activities: low-, medium- and high-tech. The study finds that both region- and sector- specific determinants explain firm dynamics, but the impact is not homogeneous across sectors. In particular, for low-tech industries, there is a need for explanatory variables as a proxy for the specificities of developing economies (poverty, informal economy and idle capacity). There is also evidence of a core-periphery pattern according to which agglomeration economies and previous entries/exits have different effects in core and peripheral regions. These results are relevant for policymakers in developing countries, who should take into account not only the specificities of such economies, but also the regional heterogeneity both in terms of the level of development and industrial composition within the country.

Pluralism and Regulatory Response to the Sharing Economy

Providers use platforms in dissimilar ways. Some providers create new capacity and designate it for exclusively commercial use via platforms. For example, a provider buys a car that serves predominantly for driving paying passengers, converts a standard residential rental to a short-term rental, or works full-time via a platform. Conversely, other providers leverage their idle capacity and monetize it (e.g., a provider uses the family car to drive platform passengers in the evenings). This chapter argues that the distinction between new and idle capacity is a fundamental concept that should guide regulation of activities in the platform economy. Creating new capacity for platform use creates negative externalities that are likely to reduce choices for consumers and providers. Examples include reduction in the availability of traditional services (e.g., hotels, taxies), decline in availability of standard residential rentals, and cutbacks in protected employment opportunities. However, putting excess capacity to platform use produces lower negative externalities and can bring benefits: increasing the availability of flexible employment opportunities and expanding consumer market choice. The chapter deploys the theory of pluralism to support regulation that increases employee and consumer choices but also curbs harms attendant to the platforms and protects traditional services and institutions that are important to society.

Universitas Gadjah Mada Drinking Water Supply System (UGM-DWSS) Potential on Supporting Green Campus Program in Universitas Gadjah Mada

Green Campus is a campus environment that is designed to increase energy efficiency, preserve resource and improve the quality of the environment. One of the important elements to support the green campus program is the existence of drinking water supply system.Universitas Gadjah Mada Drinking Water Supply System (UGM-DWSS) is a drinking water or potable water supply service to supply drinking water for the campus. This research aims at analyzing UGM-DWSS potential and its performance to support Green Campus. This research was based on primary data collection in UGM campus. Data collection techniques consist of observation of UGM-DWSS facilities, interview with UGM-DWSS water managers and users, and questionnaires distribution to UGM academic community. The daily water production of UGM-DWSS was 10 l/s drinking water. Every day the water discharge distributed from UGM-DWSS to 49 water fountains and 12 water dispensers was1.71 l/s, while the estimated daily water consumption rate was0.07l/s. It is assumed that those who did not consume water from UGM-DWSS facilities bought plastic drinking water bottle. Every day, it is estimated that the number of generated plastic drinking water bottle waste was 19,168 bottles with capacity 600 ml/bottle. Indeed, by comparing to the total water production capacity being produced daily, the idle capacity was 99.3 %.The tendency of negative response from the majority of UGM inhabitants for using UGM –DWSS was due to hesitation about water quality, continuity of water supply, and ease of access to the nearby water fountains and water dispensers. Improvement of UGM-DWSS facilities that are supported by massive socialization programs including innovation to utilize produced drinking water is recommended to optimize the role of UGM-DWSS to create Green Campus.

Campus Drinking Water Supply System Performance Analysis Universitas Gadjah Mada of Yogyakarta

The decent quality, quantity, and continuity of Drinking Water Supply System (DWSS) are needed to support the activities of a campus. Universitas Gadjah Mada drinking water supply system (UGM-DWSS) provides 49 Water Fountains (WF) and 12 Water Dispensers (WD) to support daily activities for all the campus community. This research aimed at figuring out the performance of the existing UGM-DWSS against the current service pipeline distribution network so that the technical condition of the pipes’ pressure, the water consumption’s discharge, and the pumps’ use can be identified. The method used for analyzing is by implementing simulating the network performance using WaterNet program version 2.2 by which pipes network and its facilities performance including optimization of pipe diameter can be described. The simulation indicated that there was 80% idle capacity of the available water capacity. It is uneconomical to make any changes to the existing pipes’ condition considering the very high cost of the pipeline construction. Therefore, pump replacement was considered more feasible optimization approach. To obtain the optimal results, the pump should be replaced with 4 m3/hours capacity with 20 meters pump design head.

Managing Labor Cost of Idle Capacity:

Managing Labor Cost of Idle Capacity:

Barter as an alternative trading and financing tool and its importance for businesses in times of economic crisis

Purpose- Today, growing commercial and financial integration between countries with globalization leads to intense competition and global economic crises. Due to these developments, the companies have some difficulties carrying on their business and managing the crises with traditional marketing and financing techniques. So they are turning alternative methods. One of them is barter system meaning buying and selling goods and services without using money. Barter is an innovated form of exchange system used as a trading method since the early ages. Barter offers companies various benefits such as moving inventory, utilizing idle capacity, increasing sales, supplying interest-free credit, debt configuration, foreign trade facilitation. The aim of this study is to examine barter from trade and financial aspects and investigate the use of barter in businesses as a way to overcome economic crises. Methodology- In the study, firstly the types and effects of economic crisis, then the development, types, benefits and difficulties of barter instrument were examined. Afterwards, the examples of retail, corporate and international barter transactions were given, and the contribution of barter to the enterprises in times of economic crisis was revealed. Findings- It was determined that barter can contribute the basic business functions of supply, production and marketing. It’s an innovative alternative to traditional mentality based on interest. Barter can contribute to the country's economy by relaxing companies even in times of crisis. Besides, barter industry has not well recognized, institutionalized and become widespread enough in Turkey yet. Conclusion- Barter is an effective way for businesses to sustain their long-term presence. Therefore companies should use it to formulate their strategies at all level and crisis management plans. It is seen that legal regulations are needed for barter system to function properly.

Statistical Analysis of the Development of Ukrainian Industry: Has It Reserves?

The current of prospective trends in investment processes at industrial enterprises of Ukraine are studied using the data from Business Tendency Surveys (BTS), which tend to be overlooked by domestic analysts. The study is made by the system of survey indicators, proposed by the author, and in comparison with the data on EU as the whole, and Lithuania and Poland in particular. The study’s objective is to find out whether or not Ukrainian enterprises need external or internal investment given a high ratio of production capacities utilization, if the respondents’ treatment of this indicator may be ambiguous.
 Ukrainian industrial enterprises have the non-stop feeling of investment shortage and report very pessimistic expectations in this respect. The situation is ultimately different at industrial enterprises in European countries: at EU level the respondents’ attitudes are moderately positive regarding both expected and reported investment As regards Lithuanian enterprises, they might have received sizeable financial “injections” and, therefore, have quite optimistic expectations for future.
 The utilization of production capacities at enterprises is analyzed in parallel with the dynamics of investment processes, because when an enterprise has idle capacities, the question arises: does it really need any investment? The enterprise’s capacities may not be utilized optimally due to technical or technological reasons, but they are recorded anyway in calculating the utilization ratio; it is not known, therefore, what made respondents give such assessments. According to the information coming from Ukrainian surveys, with production capacities more than sufficient and utilization ratio lower than the normal, the significant lack of demand for products is reported. In European countries, where the demand has to stimulate further investment growth, much higher ratio of production capacities utilization is fixed.
 Therefore, Ukrainian enterprises need investment because of no massive renovation of facilities, which means that their production capacities cannot produce the output that could have been generated in case of their moral and physical renovation. This could have resulted in the enhanced competitiveness of Ukrainian products and the higher demand for them.

MILLING CAPACITY AND SUPPLY COMPETITION IN SUGAR-ETHANOL INDUSTRY IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

After the deregulation of the sugar and alcohol sector, the decision on the location and scale of processing units was transferred to the private sector. Given the competition, the search for raw materials increased substantially and became the key variable in determining the viability of plants. The neoclassical microeconomics indicates that the increase in capacity is the result of a decision to maximize the outcome of firms, especially considering the industrial economies of scale. However, the theory of industrial organization, raises the possibility of the decision on the installed capacity be affected by the competitive strategy of the firm, leading to raise barriers to entry. Thus, plants located in regions with greater competition for sugarcane would work with higher levels of idle capacity, as deterrent to entry of new units. Using techniques of geo-referencing, the research shows that in the traditional sugarcane areas, the installed capacity in recent years far exceeds the availability of raw material. Thus, it is unlikely that plants installed in these regions are operating in an ìoptimalî level grinding. Gains force the hypothesis that excess capacity has the role to impose barriers to entry despite the reduced efficiency of the plants

Modeling loss-propagation in the global supply network: The dynamic agent-based model acclimate

World markets are highly interlinked and local economies extensively rely on global supply and value chains. Consequently, local production disruptions, for instance caused by extreme weather events, are likely to induce indirect losses along supply chains with potentially global repercussions. These complex loss dynamics represent a challenge for comprehensive disaster risk assessments. Here, we introduce the numerical agent-based model acclimate designed to analyze the cascading of economic losses in the global supply network. Using national sectors as agents, we apply the model to study the global propagation of losses induced by stylized disasters. We find that indirect losses can become comparable in size to direct ones, but can be efficiently mitigated by warehousing and idle capacities. Consequently, a comprehensive risk assessment cannot focus solely on first-tier suppliers, but has to take the whole supply chain into account. To render the supply network climate-proof, national adaptation policies have to be complemented by international adaptation efforts. In that regard, our model can be employed to assess reasonable leverage points and to identify dynamic bottlenecks inaccessible to static analyses.

Uji Kriteria Manajemen dalam Pengelolaan Air Limbah Domestik Terpusat

Sanitation infrastructure is one of the basic needs of society and has a strategic role in improving the health and welfare of the community. The Indonesian government has built centralized domestic waste water infrastructure in 13 cities until 2014. According to USAID (2006) and AusAID (2013), idle capacity and cost recovery in the centralized domestic waste water system is still a major problem. Therefore, it needs to be done assessment management criteria of centralized domestic waste water management. This research is done by three-stage, that is construction models of a relationship of interdependence between management criteria; assessment of model suitability that has been constructed using SEM method; and calculate the weight of each management criteria using ANP method. The management criteria used on this study consist of: performance management, technical, institutional, regulatory, financing, and public participation. The weight of each criteria using models that have been assessment for their suitability, are: performance management (75.37%), financing (8.83%), public participation (8.39%), technical (3.56%), regulatory (2.36%) and institutional (1:49%). The global weight of sub criteria with most critical weight and should be a priority concern are sustainability (48.20%), public acceptance (14.90% 0, reliability (9.30%), willingness to pay (5.20%), and cost recovery (4.62%).

Well-Being Analysis of Power Systems Considering Increasing Deployment of Gas Turbines

With the significant decrease in natural gas prices in many parts of the world, the employment of gas turbine (GT) units has increased steadily in recent years. The ever-increasing deployment of GT units is strengthening the interconnections between electric power and natural gas systems, which could provide a higher level of operational flexibility and reliability. As a result, the planning and operation issues in the interconnected electric power and natural gas systems have aroused concern. In these circumstances, the impacts of increasing deployment of GT units in power system operation are studied and evaluated through well-being analysis (WBA). The fast responsive characteristics of GT units are analyzed first, and the definition and adaption of WBA in a power system with increasing deployment of GT units are addressed. Then the equivalent reserve capacity of GT units is estimated, taking demand fluctuations, commitment plans, and operational risks of GT units into account. The WBA of a power system with increasing deployment of GT units is conducted considering the uncertainties of system operation states and renewable energy sources. Finally, the proposed methods are validated through an integrated version of the IEEE 118-bus power system and a 10-bus natural gas system, and the impacts of GT units on power system security under various penetration levels are examined. Simulation results demonstrate that the role of a GT unit as a low-cost electricity producer may conflict with its role as a reserve provider, but through maintaining a proper proportion of idle GT capacities for reserve, the well-being performance of the power system concerned can be significantly improved.

Better safe than sorry? The cost of high standards for water system expansion

Abstract This paper provides an economic assessment of the city of Guelph's (Ontario, Canada) water expansion plan for the period of 2013–2038. Using historical demand data we use a probabilistic approach to determine alternate expansion strategies. The empirical results identify the cost savings and reduction in idle capacity associated with alternative water system expansion strategies that maintain a negligible likelihood of a water capacity shortfall. We estimate cost savings of $24.5 to $35.7 million which is 64%–93% of the total costs the city currently plans to spend on water infrastructure. We identify the potential benefits of policy reforms that more effectively weigh the benefits and costs of high standards for water system expansion.

The role of design in competitive strategies of Turkish ceramic sanitary ware industry

Purpose- Ceramic industry has a critical importance for the Turkish economy, as it is one of the sectors with the least use of indigenous resources and the least import dependency as well as having a strong presence in the world market with its export potential. Today, the pressure of price-based competition from developing countries is seen in the ceramic sanitary ware industry. In developed countries, average product prices have been kept high due to design, brand and product quality. Although Turkey is the largest exporter in Europe in terms of capacity, it is third in terms of turnover. The European Union countries' ceramic sector focuses on competitive strategies based on strengths such as innovation, design, and branding abilities to move countries away from the market, such as Turkey, where they cannot compete through cost leadership. Turkey has a great investment in ceramic sanitary ware industry. In order to expand the market share and the use of idle capacities, companies need to produce high value added products through design and branding investments. Methodology- In the study, literature review about design as a competition element is made and national and international sectoral reports are examined to understand drivers of competition and explain the value of design in the related industry. Findings- As a result of the study, it is revealed that the product design is one of the most important added value elements in the industry. Conclusion- The added value role of the discipline for Turkish ceramic sanitary ware industry and possible competition strategies based on design are introduced.