Management Inventory Research Articles

Improving Interorganizational Information Sharing for Vendor Managed Inventory: Toward a Decentralized Information Hub Using Blockchain Technology

Supply chain literature has long recognized the benefits of information sharing. Researchers and practitioners see high potential for improving processes, enabling new replenishment policies, and enhancing supply chain integration. Even though information technology represents a vital role as a driver and a success factor for implementing information sharing, established technologies still do not reflect the highly decentralized and fragmented characteristics of complex and often global supply chains. Early research shows that blockchain might be an enabler for the supply chain management. However, little is known about how blockchain might improve information sharing for complex, multitier supply chains. Therefore, this article aims at analyzing how and to what extent blockchain can facilitate information sharing for vendor managed inventory by designing a software prototype based on Hyperledger Fabric using the design science research approach. This research took place in close cooperation with a leading German healthcare technology manufacturer, which allowed us to base our study both on literature and practical insights. With our results, we contribute to the supply chain knowledge base by introducing the decentralized information hub model, describing how companies utilize decentralized technologies, such as blockchain, to facilitate information sharing.

Complex Trauma and Criminogenic Needs in a Youth Justice Sample: A Gender-Informed Latent Profile Analysis

How complex trauma features and criminogenic needs co-vary within youth justice populations requires examination. This study applies latent profile analysis to a sample of 311 justice-involved Canadian youth (211 male, 100 female) to identify if unique profiles of youth would emerge delineated by different combinations of comorbid needs pulled from complex trauma and personality/social learning models. Two similar profiles emerged for males and females alike: a complex trauma with criminogenic needs profile (70% of females, 58.8% of males) and a low overall needs profile (30% of females, 41.2% of males). Surprisingly, the Youth-Level Service/Case Management Inventory predicted recidivism well among the complex trauma/criminogenic need female cases (AUC = .71), but poorly among the complex trauma/criminogenic need male cases (AUC = .59). Trauma-informed approaches that target criminogenic needs in both genders is a clear implication of the findings.

Mathematical Model for Centralized Supply Chains with Decisions Involving Shared Resources

Context: Cooperation in supply chain management is an important issue considering the global performance of the different echelons of a specific supply chain. In this sense, applying logistic strategies such as VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) allows a system to manage distribution processes from a central point or depot. Additionally, the components of the chain work more closely with it, which allows increasing global performance, instead of individually developing each sector. Method: A stochastic mathematical model is proposed which considers a network of customers, where products are delivered from a central depot. These customers can share part of their product with the central depot for redistribution, aiming to minimize shortage for other customers. A mathematical model is proposed which includes the elements involved in distribution processes. It is then reformulated to consider shortage and the linearization of some of its elements. Results: Results show that implementing or adapting logistic strategies, such as managing from a central point and sharing resources along the supply chain, allows companies to reduce the complexity of some decisions and improve performance. Conclusions: Implementing logistic strategies such as centralized management and sharing resources along a supply network allows companies to reduce the complexity of some decisions and, in turn, improve their performance.

Vendor-managed inventory supply chain coordination based on commitment-penalty contracts with bilateral asymmetric information

ABSTRACT Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is adopted to improve the efficiency of overall supply chain. Research shows that asymmetric information might cause supply chain inefficiency. This study looks at how VMI supply chain coordination can be achieved in an asymmetric information environment. We propose a commitment penalty contract to improve the performance of a VMI supply chain where the manufacturer holds private production cost information and the retailer holds private demand information. The replenishment quantity and contract under symmetric information and bilateral asymmetric information are solved respectively. We find that the commitment penalty contract may reveal the private information of the manufacturer and the retailer can coordinate the supply chain under the asymmetric information of bilateral information. We present numerical examples to illustrate the effectiveness of the contract and develop managerial guidelines.

Gender-Based Psychosocial Differences in a Sample of Young Offenders.

This study analyzes the differential psychosocial characteristics of male and female young offenders with a judicial measure from a juvenile court in Spain. Data on origin, recidivism, criminal and psychosocial characteristics of a sample of 838 juvenile offenders were collected using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). Most of the minors were males (n = 650; 77.6%). Regarding the type of offences committed most males committed some type of crime, while females mainly committed misdemeanours. The rates of infractions committed by large groups and belonging to a gang were higher in males than in females. Concerning psychosocial variables, females presented with higher scores than males in three areas (parenting/educational guidelines, leisure and recreation, attitudes and orientation), in the total score and in several specific variables of the YLS/CMI. Moreover, having a poor relationship with one's mother and limited participation in organized activities were related to being a female minor offender, whereas having a short attention span was related to being a male offender. These three variables correctly classified 77.6% of cases. Female minor offenders present with a more severe psychosocial profile than males. Therefore, gender-based variables should be considered and addressed in prevention and intervention programmes for minors.

The Utility of SAPROF-YV Ratings for Predicting Recidivism in Male Youth Under Community Supervision in Singapore

There is bourgeoning empirical support for the usage of the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAPROF) across many jurisdictions, but there is a dearth of research on the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for Violence Risk—Youth Version (SAPROF-YV). This study examined (a) the predictive validity of the SAPROF-YV ratings for general recidivism and (b) the incremental predictive validity of the SAPROF-YV ratings when used in conjunction with the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) 2.0 ratings. Using a sample of 822 male youths who were involved with the justice system and under community supervision in Singapore, the results showed that the SAPROF-YV total score and final protection judgment rating were significantly predictive of general recidivism. Moreover, the SAPROF-YV total score and final judgment rating showed incremental predictive validity over the YLS/CMI 2.0 total score and risk rating. Overall, the results suggest that SAPROF-YV ratings are suited for assessing justice-involved youth within the Singaporean context and can be used in conjunction with YLS/CMI 2.0 ratings for predicting recidivism.

Application of Vendor Managed Inventory Cooperation Model to Encourage Distribution of Products in Ud. Sari Jaya

UD. Sari Jaya is a home industry that produces cassava and other tubers into chips. Cassava chips are the main product because of their high level of consumer interest in the product compared to others. The Problems faced by UD. Sari Jaya is that they are unable to meet the market demand more effectively. In the process of providing the needs, UD. Sari Jaya often performs several deliveries to each Stall caused by the lack of product availability at Stall, causing demand to be unfulfilled. The number of Retailers to be served, the lack of information on needs is one of the obstacles in the process of inventory replenishment. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is one of the Collaboration Model in the supply chain between producers and retailers where collaboration is expected to make arrangements regarding the number of lot sizes order as well as the frequency of deliveries to each Stall with a minimum total cost, by thus UD. Sari Jaya can have good control in the process of fulfilling the needs of this Cassava Chips.

Model-Based Estimation of Forest Inventory Attributes Using Lidar: A Comparison of the Area-Based and Semi-Individual Tree Crown Approaches

The use of individual tree detection methods to support forest management inventories has been a research topic for over two decades, but a formal assessment of these methods to produce stand-level and region-level predictions of forest attributes and measures of error is lacking. We employed model-based estimation methods in conjunction with the semi-individual tree crown approach (s-ITC) to produce predictions and measures of error for tree volume (VOL), basal area (BA), stem density (DEN), and quadratic mean diameter (QMD) at the scale of forest stands and the entire study region. We compared the s-ITC approach against the area-based approach (ABA) for predictions of region-level and stand-level attributes via model-based root mean squared errors (RMSEs). The study was conducted at the Panther Creek watershed in Oregon, USA using a set of 78 field plots and aerial lidar information. For region-level attributes, s-ITC RMSEs demonstrated changes between −31% and 17% relative to ABA models. At the stand level, median s-ITC RMSEs generally increased, with changes between −29% and 414% relative to ABA models, but demonstrated important reductions in stands where segmentation provided large increases in sample size and was less prone to extrapolation than ABA models. The ABA demonstrated smaller RMSEs in stands without sampled population units for all variables. Our findings motivate further research into niche applications where s-ITC models may consistently outperform ABA models.

Competitive Advantage with Vendor Managed Inventory

Vendor managed inventory (VMI) has become a competitive supply chain management tool that has been used by retailers, suppliers and manufacturers to reduce inventory management cost over the last few decades. The basic concept of VMI is that suppliers (vendors) are accountable for a customer’s inventory restocking when supply is low. Minimum inventory levels, consignment stocks, and vendor ordering are three of the key terms associated with this model that is designed to work on the order fulfillment processes of a company. As with every business model, there are several advantages and disadvantages of VMI for both the buyer and the supplier that should be considered before deciding to implement. We discuss critical issues concerning vendor managed inventory and examine the impact of VMI on the organization and its supply chain network.

A map of African humid tropical forest aboveground biomass derived from management inventories

Forest biomass is key in Earth carbon cycle and climate system, and thus under intense scrutiny in the context of international climate change mitigation initiatives (e.g. REDD+). In tropical forests, the spatial distribution of aboveground biomass (AGB) remains, however, highly uncertain. There is increasing recognition that progress is strongly limited by the lack of field observations over large and remote areas. Here, we introduce the Congo basin Forests AGB (CoFor-AGB) dataset that contains AGB estimations and associated uncertainty for 59,857 1-km pixels aggregated from nearly 100,000 ha of in situ forest management inventories for the 2000 – early 2010s period in five central African countries. A comprehensive error propagation scheme suggests that the uncertainty on AGB estimations derived from c. 0.5-ha inventory plots (8.6–15.0%) is only moderately higher than the error obtained from scientific sampling plots (8.3%). CoFor-AGB provides the first large scale view of forest AGB spatial variation from field data in central Africa, the second largest continuous tropical forest domain of the world.

Facilitators of Practitioner Adherence to a Risk/Need Assessment Tool: Hypothesis Testing on a Survey of Juvenile Probation Officers.

We used a statewide survey to test hypotheses about the predictors of juvenile probation officers' adherence to the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) risk/need assessment (RNA) tool, focusing on (1) the consistency and quality with which officers completed the tool, and (2) the extent to which they used it in decisions. While some hypotheses had been tested in prior quantitative studies, others were based on insights from case studies. Results showed that leadership and climate variables were consistently important in predicting adherence, though these tended to operate indirectly through their effects on other facilitators. Probation officer attitudes, either toward the YLS/CMI or to evidence-based practices, were also important across adherence measures. Although inconsistent in their effects across dependent variables, quality assurance of officer decision-making, external office relationships, and county YLS/CMI policies also predicted adherence.

Predicting stand age in managed forests using National Forest Inventory field data and airborne laser scanning

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to construct a nationwide stand age model by using National Forest Inventory (NFI) data and nationwide airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. In plantation forestry, age is usually known. While this is not the case in boreal managed forests, age is still seldom predicted in forest management inventories. Measuring age accurately in situ is also very laborious. On the other hand, tree age is one of the accurately measured sample tree attributes in NFI field data. Many countries also have a nationwide coverage of airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. In this study, we merged these data sources and constructed a nationwide, area-based model for stand age.ResultsWhile constructing the model, we omitted old forests from the data, since the correlation between ALS height metrics and stand age diminished at stands with age > 100 years. Additionally, the effect of growth conditions was considerable, so we also utilized different geographical and NFI variables such as site fertility and soil type in the modeling. The resultant nationwide model for the stand age of managed forests yielded a root mean square error (RMSE) of about 14 years. The model could be improved further by additional forest structure variables, but such information may not be available in practice.ConclusionsThe results showed that the prediction of stand age by ALS, geographical and NFI information was challenging, but still possible with moderate success. This study is an example of the joint use of NFI and nationwide ALS data and re-use of NFI data in research.

Vendor Managed Inventory and Strategy

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) may be perceived as a business agreement between a supplier and a buyer in which the supplier manages the customer's inventory for a fee. The purpose of this paper is to examine potential and current VMI relationships between two large Pittsburgh-based companies, mostly from a global reach perspective. The initial findings of the research show that not implementing a VMI system could potentially hurt these companies, while supporting the basic research proposition that VMI will increase customer satisfaction ratings and revenues for both companies. Within this case study, there are several main questions throughout the paper. These questions are what are the goals in the case study of supply chain management (SCM) in terms of their operations? How will these goals affect the operations? What are the different perspectives from the buyer and supplier? Will the need to implement a global SCM strategy continue to exist, especially under the pressures of Covid-19?

Sistem Informasi Manajemen Aset dan Inventaris menggunakan QR Code di Kantor Camat Petang

Abstract—Information and communication technology in this era it’s very rapid development. The impact of this information technology is very large felt in supporting the performance and activities ranging from schools, businesses and government agencies. Government agencies have used a lot of information systems that help the performance of these agencies to support the speed of the government process, but this information system has not been used as a whole in the government process especially in the sub-district office that still uses manual methods in recording inventory data owned by the agency. This research was made with the waterfall method that begins with the planning process of the system in which in this process a system of planning will be made related to the problems that exist in the camat petang office, then the modeling process where the system in the form of system design will be made, then the process is carried out implementation and testing of systems that have been made. Based on the problems and data obtained, an asset management information system and inventory were made using QR-Code, this system is useful for recording assets, providing information related to assets in a complete and fast way and providing convenience in bleaching items that are damaged or cannot be used anymore. 
 
 Keywords: simanis, information systems, management, assets, inventory, QR-Code

Anxiety and Bodily Pain in Older Women Participants in a Physical Education Program. A Multiple Moderated Mediation Analysis

(1) Background: Bodily pain is normally associated with the consequences of ageing, whereas anxiety shows a high prevalence in elderly people, decreasing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Pain coping strategies are used to reduce the consequences of pain, specifically in older people. This study analyzed if the passive and active pain coping strategies were significant moderators in the link between anxiety and bodily pain with a physical component as a mediator. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of older women between 60 and 90 years old from small villages with under 5000 inhabitants, of whom 53.8% of the total were participants of a physical education program. Participants of the present study completed all sociodemographic (living alone/accompanied, marital and educational status, number of illnesses, and level of physical activity (PA)) and clinical (anxiety, HRQoL, and pain coping strategies) questionnaires. Anxiety was assessed by the Hospitality Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), passive and active strategies by the Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory (VPMI), and bodily pain and the physical component by the SF-36 questionnaire. (3) Results: The physical component positively predicted bodily pain (p < 0.001) and passive strategies significantly moderated the effect of anxiety on the physical component (p = 0.034). (4) Conclusions: These outcomes help to understand the link between anxiety and bodily pain in older women and the moderation of pain coping strategies in this relationship. In addition, the physical component should be considered when physical education programs aimed at the reduction of bodily pain through the management of anxiety are designed.

Stock replenishment policies for a vendor-managed inventory in a retailing system

Using Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), the vendor determines the replenishment decisions at the location of buyers (retailers). This strategy is used primarily for handling demand fluctuations stemming from the Bullwhip effect, leading the system to prevent from holding excessive inventory that result in a reduction in the overall cost of the supply chain. The main advantages of VMI for vendors are higher levels of accessibility to inventory information and more direct contact with the customers. Similarly, VMI has some pros for the buyers, such as shared risk with upper levels of supply chain and reduction in their holding costs of inventory. In this paper, a vendor-managed inventory system is developed containing one vendor and two buyers in which the main assumption is that back-ordering and lost sales are permitted. In this system, (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies are compared according to their performances to see which one performs more cost-efficiently when partial back-ordering is allowed. In accordance, mathematical models utilizing (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies are developed, and algorithms for deriving the optimal replenishment decision variables are proposed. Moreover, significant differences between the two replenishment policies are discussed. The main finding obtained by this research is that when shortage is permitted, both (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies under VMI have pros and cons in different contexts.

Determination of Joint Lot Size using the supply chain approach with Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Method at PT. XYZ

PT. XYZ is a company producing animal feed products which is located in the Medan Region. This company is a branch of Z Group company based in Surabaya. In the process company business activities, both from the process of ordering raw materials to suppliers up to the sale of products to buyers, often happens planning mismatches in determining production lots so often cause overstock and stockout. This is based on the lack of integration each component in the supply chain. Each component is still using the traditional way that is by making each plan without coordinating with each other. This manufacturing company still needs to do improvements in the production planning system. The absence of the PPIC Department make planning in the production in the company becomes out of control. This study aims to improve the supply chain system by method VMI and determine the optimum combined lot size by the JELS method. The JELS calculation results show an optimal Q of 8,692 bags, with QM for 437,082 bags with a frequency of product shipments 50 times and the frequency of replenishment of raw materials 13 times.

Elements Influencing Selection of Suppliers for Vendor Managed Inventory Adoption in Healthcare: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Elements Influencing Selection of Suppliers for Vendor Managed Inventory Adoption in Healthcare: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Development and upgrading of public primary healthcare facilities with essential surgical services infrastructure: a strategy towards achieving universal health coverage in Tanzania

BackgroundInfrastructure development and upgrading to support safe surgical services in primary health care facilities is an important step in the journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Quality health service provision together with equitable geographic access and service delivery are important components that constitute UHC. Tanzania has been investing in infrastructure development to offer essential safe surgery close to communities at affordable costs while ensuring better outcomes. This study aimed to understand the public sector’s efforts to improve the infrastructure of primary health facilities between 2005 and 2019. We assessed the construction rates, geographic coverage, and physical status of each facility, surgical safety and services rendered in public primary health facilities.MethodsData was collected from existing policy reports, the Services Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool (physical status), the Health Facility Registry (HFR), implementation reports on infrastructure development from the 26 regions and 185 district councils across the country (covering assessment of physical infrastructure, waste management systems and inventories for ambulances) and Comprehensive Emergence Obstetric Care (CEMONC) signal functions assessment tool. Data was descriptively analyzed so as to understand the distribution of primary health care facilities and their status (old, new, upgraded, under construction, renovated and equipped), and the service provided, including essential surgical services.ResultsOf 5072 (518 are Health Centers and 4554 are Dispensaries) existing public primary health care facilities, the majority (46%) had a physical status of A (good state), 33% (1693) had physical status of B (minor renovation needed) and the remaining facilities had physical status of C up to F (needing major renovation). About 33% (1673) of all health facilities had piped water and 5.1% had landline telecommunication system. Between 2015 and August 2019, a total of 419 (8.3%) health facilities (Consisting of 350 health centers and 69 District Council Hospitals) were either renovated or constructed and equipped to offer safe surgery services. Of all Health Centers only 115 (22.2%) were offering the CEMONC services. Of these 115 health facilities, only 20 (17.4%) were offering the CEMONC services with all 9 - signal functions and only 17.4% had facilities that are offering safe blood transfusion services.ConclusionThis study indicates that between 2015 and 2019 there has been improvement in physical status of primary health facilities as a result constructions, upgrading and equipping the facilities to offer safe surgery and related diagnostic services. Despite the achievements, still there is a high demand for good physical statuses and functioning of primary health facilities with capacity to offer essential and safe surgical services in the country also as an important strategy towards achieving UHC. This is also inline with the National Surgical, Obstetrics and Anesthesia plan (NSOAP).

Innovative Frontline Nurse Leader Professional Development Program.

Frontline nurse leaders direct staff and unit systems while ensuring that quality, safe patient care is provided. It is unknown if frontline nurse leaders oriented with only on-the-job-training are competent and if a professional development program will improve their competencies. This project's purpose was to measure self-assessed competencies, using the Nurse Manager Inventory Tool, of 38 frontline nurse leaders. This project used a quasi-experimental design and utilized pre- and postsurvey for evaluation purposes of a leadership development curriculum.