Raportointitietokannan suorituskyvyn parantaminen

Tietokoneiden tallennuskapasiteetin ja sekä tietokoneiden että verkkojen nopeuden kasvaessa myös käyttäjien odotukset kasvavat. Tietoa talletetaan yhä enemmän ja näistä tiedoista laaditaan yhä monimutkaisempia raportteja. Raporttien monimutkaisuuden kasvaessa niiden tarvitseman tiedon keräämiseen kuluva aika ei kuitenkaan saisi oleellisesti kasvaa. Tämän työn tarkoituksena on tutkia ja parantaa kansainvälisen metsäteollisuusyrityksen myynnin ja logistiikan järjestelmän raportointitietokannan tehokkuutta etenkin raporttien tietojen keräämiseen kuluvalla ajalla mitattuna. Työssä keskitytään kartoittamaan nykyisen järjestelmän pullonkauloja ja pyritään parantamaan järjestelmän suorituskykyä. Tulevaisuudessa suorituskykyä tarvitaan kuitenkin lisää, joten työssä tarkastellaan myös nykyisen, yleiskäyttöisen tietokannan, korvaamista erityisesti raportointia varten suunnitellulla tietokannalla. Työn tuloksena järjestelmän raporttien tietojen keräämiseen kuluvaa aikaa pystyttiin pienentämään ja pahimmat pullonkaulat selvittämään. Käyttäjämäärän kasvaessa tietokannan suorituskyvyn rajat tulevat kuitenkin pian vastaan. Tietokanta joudutaan tulevaisuudessa vaihtamaan erityisesti raportointitietokannaksi suunniteltuun.

Testing and Monitoring Mill Connection Messages

Tarve tälle työlle on noussut sanomapalvelinsoveluksissa (servers) esiintyvistä ongelmista. Sanomapalvelinsovelluksia käytetään lähettämään ja vastaanottamaan sanomia paperiteollisuuden myynnin ja jakelun järjestelmässä maantieteellisesti erillään olevista paperiteollisuuden tehtaista. Sanomapalvelinsovelusten kunnollinen toimivuus on tärkeää koko järjestelmän toimivuuden kannalta, koska nämä palvelimet käsittelevät päivittäin tuhansia sanomia, jotka sisältävät merkityksellistä järjestelmätietoa. Tässä työssä on tutkittu mahdollisia toteutustekniikoita ja näihin tutkimuksiin pohjautuen toteutettu työkalut sanomapalvelinsovellusten testaukseen ja valvontaan. Sovellus-arkkituuritekniikoita tutkittaessa tutkimus rajattiin 3-tasoarkkitehtuuritekniikkaan, erityisesti TUXEDOTM -järjestelmätekniikkaan, koska toteutettavaa sovellusta käytetään hajautetussa sovellusympäristössä. Sovellusasiakkaan (client) toteutusta varten tutkittiin ja vertailtiin XML-tekniikkaa ja Microsoft Visual C++ -tekniikkaa käytettynä Tieto-Enatorin Phobos Interaktiivisen C++ -luokkakirjaston kanssa. XML-tekniikoita sekä Visual C++ ja Phobos-luokkakirjasto –tekniikkaa tutkittiin niiltä osin, mitä tarvittiin sanomamerkkijonojen katseluun. XML-tietokantatekniikoita tutkittiin mahdollisena vaihtoehtona tietokanta ja sovelluspalvelintekniikalle. Työn ensimmäisenä tavoitteena oli toteuttaa työkalu sanomapalvelinsovellusten testaamiseen. Toisena tavoitteena oli toteuttaa työkalu sanomien sisällön oikeellisuuden valvontaan. Kolmantena tavoitteena oli analysoida olemassaolevaa sanomavirheiden valvontasovellusta ja kehittää sitä eteenpäin. Diplomityön tuloksena toteutettiin sovellus sanomapalvelinsovellusten testaamiseen ja valvontaan. Tutkituista asiakassovelustekniikoista valittiin toteutus-tekniikaksi MS Visual C++ käytettynä Phobos Interaktiivisen C++ luokkakirjaston kanssa tekniikan tunnettavuuden vuoksi. 3-taso TUXEDOTM-tekniikka valittiin sovelluksen arkkitehtuuriksi. Lisäksi löydettiin parannuksia olemassa oleviin sanoma-virheiden valvontatoimintoihin. Tutkitut toteutustekniikat ovat yleisiä ja niitä voidaan käyttää, kun toteutetaan samanlaisia sovelluksia samanlaisiin sovellusympäristöihin.

Information exchange and disruption risk in multimodal maritime supply chains

Supply chains are becoming increasingly dependent on information ex-change in today’s world, and any disruption can cause severe repercus-sions to the flow of materials in the chain. The speed, accuracy and amount of information are key factors. The aim in this thesis is to address a gap in the research by focusing on information exchange and the risks related to it in a multimodal wood supply chain operating between the Baltic States and Finland. The study involved interviewing people engaged in logistics management in the supply chain in question. The main risk the interviewees identified arose from the sea logistics system, which held a lot of different kinds of information. The threat of breakdown in the Internet connection was also found to hinder the operations significantly. A vulnerability analysis was carried out in order to identify the main actors and channels of infor-mation flow in the supply chain. The analysis revealed that the most important and therefore most vulnerable information-exchange channels were those linking the terminal superintendent, the operative managers and the mill managers. The study gives a holistic picture of the investigated supply chain. Information-exchange-related risks varied greatly. One of the most frequently mentioned was the risk of information inaccuracy, which was usually due to the fact that those in charge of the various functions did not fully understand the consequences for the entire chain.

Teollisuusvaihdetehtaan sisälogistiikkajärjestelmän suunnittelu ja toteutus

Diplomityön tavoitteena on suunnitella ja toteuttaa tehokas sisälogistinen ratkaisu. Työssä tutkitaan varastonhallintaa ja materiaalivirtojen ohjausta sekä näihin kuuluvia prosesseja. Myös toimintaa pyritään tehostamaan. Työssä käytetään konstruktiivista tutkimusotetta, jossa olevassa olevaa ongelmaa lähdetään ratkaisemaan teorian avulla, jonka jälkeen kehitetään ratkaisumalli. Työn aineistona on käytetty aiheeseen liittyvää kirjallisuutta, tieteellisiä artikkeleita, kohdeyrityksen tietokantoja sekä työntekijöiden kanssa käytyjä keskusteluja. Diplomityön seurauksena yrityksellä on käytössään nykyaikainen ja tehokas sisälogistinen järjestelmä, sekä toiminta on yrityksen tahtotilan mukaisesti läpinäkyvämpää. Varastoon sitoutuva pääoma pienenee sekä materiaalin käsittely tehostuu huomattavasti. Varastotoimintojen odotetaan tehostuvan yli 40 % nykyiseen verrattuna.

Sisälogististen materiaalivirtojen -ja materiaalitoimintojen kehittäminen eräässä kokoonpanoyrityksessä

Toimintaympäristön muutokset ja kysynnän monipuolistuminen haastavat useat teollisuuden alan yritykset kehittämään toimintaansa. Varastointi ja sisälogistiikka sisältävät useita yrityksen sisäisen tehokkuuden kehityskohteita. Logististen toimintojen ajankäytöllisen hukan eliminointi ja sisälogistinen selkeys parantavat liiketoiminnan kannattavuutta. Työssä käsitellään yrityksen sisälogistisia materiaalivirtoja, jotka muodostuvat materiaalitoimintojen suorittamista komponenttien ja lopputuotteiden siirroista. Tavoitteina oli lyhentää tuotannon pääkokoonpanon komponenttien keräilyyn kuluvaa aikaa ja selkeyttää sisälogistista systeemiä kehittämällä kokoonpanotuotannon ja sitä palvelevan varastoinnin layoutia, sekä komponenttien varastopaikkoja. Tutkimus perustuu kvantitatiiviseen ja kvalitatiiviseen tutkimusmenetelmään. Sisälogististen osa-alueiden analysointiin käytettiin osallistuvaa havainnointia, haastatteluita, vertailevaa tutkimusta ja datapohjaista aineistoa. Työn tuloksena syntyi kehitysehdotus materiaalivirtojen ja varastoinnin uudeksi rakenteeksi, sekä toimintamalli nimikkeiden varastopaikkojen määrittämiseksi ja työpisteiden järjestyksen ylläpitoon.

Optimization of Transportation System by Tailored Logistics Network: A Case Study in Automotive Industry

This thesis aims to redesign the supply chain system in an automotive industry in order to obtain space reduction in the inventory by using tailored logistics network. The redesigning process by tailored supply chain will combine all possible shipment methods including direct shipment, milk-run, milk-run via distribution center and Kanban delivery. The current supply chain system in Nissan goes rather well when the production volume is in moderate level. However, when the production volume is high, there is a capacity problem in the warehouse to accommodate all delivered parts from suppliers. Hence, the optimization of supply chain system is needed in order to obtain efficient logistics process and effective inventory consumption. The study will use primary data for both qualitative and quantitative approach as the research methods. Qualitative data will be collected by conducting interviews with people related to procurement and inventory control. Quantitative data consists of list of suppliers with their condition in several parameters which will be evaluated and analyzed by using scoring method to assign the most suitable transportation network to each suppliers for improvement of inventory reduction in a cost efficient manner.

Value added logistics in supply and demand chains. Smile. Part 1. eBusiness between global company and itslocal sme supplier network

VALOSADE (Value Added Logistics in Supply and Demand Chains) is the research project of Anita Lukka's VALORE (Value Added Logistics Research) research team inLappeenranta University of Technology. VALOSADE is included in ELO (Ebusiness logistics) technology program of Tekes (Finnish Technology Agency). SMILE (SME-sector, Internet applications and Logistical Efficiency) is one of four subprojects of VALOSADE. SMILE research focuses on case network that is composed of small and medium sized mechanical maintenance service providers and global wood processing customers. Basic principle of SMILE study is communication and ebusiness insupply and demand network. This first phase of research concentrates on creating backgrounds for SMILE study and for ebusiness solutions of maintenance case network. The focus is on general trends of ebusiness in supply chains and networksof different industries; total ebusiness system architecture of company networks; ebusiness strategy of company network; information value chain; different factors, which influence on ebusiness solution of company network; and the correlation between ebusiness and competitive advantage. Literature, interviews and benchmarking were used as research methods in this qualitative case study. Networks and end-to-end supply chains are the organizational structures, which can add value for end customer. Information is one of the key factors in these decentralized structures. Because of decentralization of business, information is produced and used in different companies and in different information systems. Information refinement services are needed to manage information flows in company networksbetween different systems. Furthermore, some new solutions like network information systems are utilised in optimising network performance and in standardizingnetwork common processes. Some cases have however indicated, that utilization of ebusiness in decentralized business model is not always a necessity, but value-add of ICT must be defined case-specifically. In the theory part of report, different ebusiness and architecture models are introduced. These models are compared to empirical case data in research results. The biggest difference between theory and empirical data is that models are mainly developed for large-scale companies - not for SMEs. This is due to that implemented network ebusiness solutions are mainly large company centered. Genuine SME network centred ebusiness models are quite rare, and the study in that area has been few in number. Business relationships between customer and their SME suppliers are nowadays concentrated more on collaborative tactical and strategic initiatives besides transaction based operational initiatives. However, ebusiness systems are further mainly based on exchange of operational transactional data. Collaborative ebusiness solutions are in planning or pilot phase in most case companies. Furthermore, many ebusiness solutions are nowadays between two participants, but network and end-to-end supply chain transparency and information systems are quite rare. Transaction volumes, data formats, the types of exchanged information, information criticality,type and duration of business relationship, internal information systems of partners, processes and operation models (e.g. different ordering models) differ among network companies, and furthermore companies are at different stages on networking and ebusiness readiness. Because of former factors, different customer-supplier combinations in network must utilise totally different ebusiness architectures, technologies, systems and standards.

Value added logistics in supply and demand chain. Smile. Part 2. eBusiness in a service business. Case: A maintenance and operations network in forest industry

VVALOSADE is a research project of professor Anita Lukka's VALORE research team in the Lappeenranta University of Technology. The VALOSADE includes the ELO technology program of Tekes. SMILE is one of four subprojects of the VALOSADE. The SMILE study focuses on the case of the company network that is composed of small and micro-sized mechanical maintenance service providers and forest industry as large-scale customers. The basic principle of the SMILE study is the communication and ebusiness in supply and demand networks. The aim of the study is to develop ebusiness strategy, ebusiness model and e-processes among the SME local service providers, and onthe other hand, between the local service provider network and the forest industry customers in a maintenance and operations service business. A literature review, interviews and benchmarking are used as research methods in this qualitative case study. The first SMILE report, 'Ebusiness between Global Company and Its Local SME Supplier Network', concentrated on creating background for the SMILE study by studying general trends of ebusiness in supply chains and networks of different industries. This second phase of the study concentrates on case network background, such as business relationships, information systems and business objectives; core processes in maintenance and operations service network; development needs in communication among the network participants; and ICT solutions to respond needs in changing environment. In the theory part of the report, different ebusiness models and frameworks are introduced. Those models and frameworks are compared to empirical case data. From that analysis of the empirical data, therecommendations for the development of the network information system are derived. In process industry such as the forest industry, it is crucial to achieve a high level of operational efficiency and reliability, which sets up great requirements for maintenance and operations. Therefore, partnerships or strategic alliances are needed between the network participants. In partnerships and alliances, deep communication is important, and therefore the information systems in the network also are critical. Communication, coordination and collaboration will increase in the case network in the future, because network resources must be optimised to improve competitive capability of the forest industry customers and theefficiency of their service providers. At present, ebusiness systems are not usual in this maintenance network. A network information system among the forest industry customers and their local service providers actually is the only genuinenetwork information system in this total network. However, the utilisation of that system has been quite insignificant. The current system does not add value enough either to the customers or to the local service providers. At present, thenetwork information system is the infomediary that share static information forthe network partners. The network information system should be the transaction intermediary, which integrates internal processes of the network companies; the network information system, which provides common standardised processes for thelocal service providers; and the infomediary, which share static and dynamic information on right time, on right partner, on right costs, on right format and on right quality. This study provides recommendations how to develop this system in the future to add value to the network companies. Ebusiness scenarios, vision, objectives, strategies, application architecture, ebusiness model, core processes and development strategy must be considered when the network information system will be developed in the next development step. The core processes in the case network are demand/capacity management, customer/supplier relationship management, service delivery management, knowledge management and cash flow management. Most benefits from ebusiness solutions come from the electrifying of operational level processes, such as service delivery management and cash flow management.

Consignment Stock Concept for Corporation’s Inbound Logistics

Kaupintavaraston käyttäminen yrityksen hankintalogistiikassa vapauttaa varastoihin sitoutuneita pääomia, parantaa palveluastetta ja syventää asiakkaan ja toimittajan välistä yhteistyötä. Tulevaisuudessa menetelmää tullaan käyttämään laajenevassa määrin keinona logistisen kilpailukyvyn ja kustannustehokkuuden parantamisessa.Tämän työn tavoitteena oli selvittää yrityksen hankintalogistiikkaan soveltuvan kaupintavarastontoiminnan vaatimukset ja kehittää konsernin eri toimialoille yhtenäinen konsepti. Selvitys aloitettiin tutkimalla kirjallisuutta ja yrityksen asiakkaalla käytössä olevaa kaupintavarastoratkaisua, jonka jälkeen käytännön ongelmia kartoitettiin pilottiprojektin avulla.Tuloksena saatiin konsepti, jossa on käsitelty kaupintavaraston käyttöönottoa varten tarvittavat erityispiirteet kansainvälisessä kaupankäynnissä. Toimittajien ja toimitusketjujen erilaisista rakenteista johtuen yksityiskohdat on mietittävä jokaisen toimittajan kanssa erikseen.

Electronic Data Interchange in Logistics Processes

Tämän diplomityön tarkoituksena oli tehdä selvitys EDI:in liittyvistä vaikutuksista, tarpeista ja eduista sekä valmistella Oracle Applications- toiminnanohjausjärjestelmän EDI Gateway- modulin ottamista tuotantokäyttöön. Tietoa tarvekartoitukseen saatiin keskustelujen avulla. Uusia kaupallisista lähtökohdista johdettuja, yritysten väliseen kaupankäyntiin ja internet-teknologian hyödyntämiseen kehitettyjä aloitteita käsiteltiin EDI-näkökulmasta tulevaisuutta varten. Ajankohtaisinta tietoa tätä diplomityötä varten löydettiin myös internetistä. Tämän jälkeen oli mahdollista toteuttaa sopivan laaja mutta rajattu EDI pilottiprojekti EDI-konseptin luomista varten. EDI:n vaikutuksiin ostossa keskityttiin tässä diplomityössä enemmän ja EDI:ä päätettiin soveltaa aluksi ostotilauksissa. EDI:n hyötyjä on vaikea mitata numeerisesti. Suurta määrää rahaa tai tuoteyksiköitä on käsiteltävä EDI-partnerin kanssa riittävän usein. EDI:n käyttöönottovaiheessa pääongelmat ovat sovelluksiin liittyviä tietotekniikkaongelmia. Selvityksistä ja EDI-projektista saatu tieto on mahdollista hyödyntää jatkokehityksessä. Lisätoimenpiteitä tarvitaan kokonaan toimivan järjestelmän luomiseksi.

State of Logistics and Operations Management in Finnish and Swedish Companies – Survey Research Findings

In this research we are examining what is the status of logistics and operations management in Finnish and Swedish companies. Empirical data is based on the web based questionnaire, which was completed in the end of 2007 and early 2008. Our examination consists of roughly 30 answers from largest manufacturing (highest representation in our sample), trade and logistics/distribution companies. Generally it could be argued that these companies operate in complex environment, where number of products, raw materials/components and suppliers is high. However, usually companies rely on small amount of suppliers per raw material/component (highest frequency is 2), and this was especially the case among Swedish companies, and among those companies, which favoured overseas sourcing. Sample consisted of companies which mostly are operating in an international environment, and are quite often multinationals. Our survey findings reveal that companies in general have taken logistics and information technology as part of their strategy process; utilization of performance measures as well as system implementations have followed the strategy decisions. In the transportation mode side we identify that road transports dominate all transport flow classes (inbound, internal and outbound), followed by sea and air. Surprisingly small amount of companies use railways, but in general we could argue that Swedish companies prefer this mode over Finnish counterparts. With respect of operations outsourcing, we found that more traditional areas of logistics outsourcing are driving factors in company's performance measurement priority. In contrary to previous research, our results indicate that the scope of outsourcing is not that wide in logistics/operations management area, and companies are not planning to outsource more in the near future. Some support is found for more international operations and increased outsourcing activity. From the increased time pressure of companies, we find evidence that local as well as overseas customers expect deliveries within days or weeks, but suppliers usually supply within weeks or months. So, basically this leads into considerable inventory holding. Interestingly local and overseas sourcing strategy does not have that great influence on lead time performance of these particular sourcing areas - local strategy is anyway considerably better in responding on market changes due to shorter supply lead times. In the end of our research work we have completed correlation analysis concerning items asked with Likert scale. Our analysis shows that seeing logistics more like a process rather than function, applying time based management, favouring partnerships and measuring logistics within different performance dimensions results on preferred features and performance found in logistics literature.

Performance Measurement of the Logistics Process

The objective of the thesis was to create a performance measurement system for the logistics process of a company. In addition, one goal was to make suggestions for improvements based on description and analysis of the process and current measures. The logistics process was described in detail, and the objectives for it were derived from the company strategy and goals. Suggestions for performance measurement system and process improvement were made based on current state analysis. As a result of the thesis, three new performance measures were decided to take into use. In addition, several improvements were suggested to the ERP system to make process smoother. Some of the improvements have already been added to the system and the rest will be added in the near future.

Information integration and its impacts on logistics performance - Using information technology and systems to facilitate information integration

Fast changing environment sets pressure on firms to share large amount of information with their customers and suppliers. The terms information integration and information sharing are essential for facilitating a smooth flow of information throughout the supply chain, and the terms are used interchangeably in research literature. By integrating and sharing information, firms want to improve their logistics performance. Firms share information with their suppliers and customers by using traditional communication methods (telephone, fax, Email, written and face-to-face contacts) and by using advanced or modern communication methods such as electronic data interchange (EDI), enterprise resource planning (ERP), web-based procurement systems, electronic trading systems and web portals. Adopting new ways of using IT is one important resource for staying competitive on the rapidly changing market (Saeed et al. 2005, 387), and an information system that provides people the information they need for performing their work, will support company performance (Boddy et al. 2005, 26). The purpose of this research has been to test and understand the relationship between information integration with key suppliers and/or customers and a firm’s logistics performance, especially when information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) are used for integrating information. Quantitative and qualitative research methods have been used to perform the research. Special attention has been paid to the scope, level and direction of information integration (Van Donk & van der Vaart 2005a). In addition, the four elements of integration (Jahre & Fabbe-Costes 2008) are closely tied to the frame of reference. The elements are integration of flows, integration of processes and activities, integration of information technologies and systems and integration of actors. The study found that information integration has a low positive relationship to operational performance and a medium positive relationship to strategic performance. The potential performance improvements found in this study vary from efficiency, delivery and quality improvements (operational) to profit, profitability or customer satisfaction improvements (strategic). The results indicate that although information integration has an impact on a firm’s logistics performance, all performance improvements have not been achieved. This study also found that the use of IT and IS have a mediocre positive relationship to information integration. Almost all case companies agreed on that the use of IT and IS could facilitate information integration and improve their logistics performance. The case companies felt that an implementation of a web portal or a data bank would benefit them - enhance their performance and increase information integration.

The effects of location, feedstock availability, and supply-chain logistics on the greenhouse gas emissions of forest-biomass energy utilization in Finland

Forest biomass represents a geographically distributed feedstock, and geographical location affects the greenhouse gas (GHG) performance of a given forest-bioenergy system in several ways. For example, biomass availability, forest operations, transportation possibilities and the distances involved, biomass end-use possibilities, fossil reference systems, and forest carbon balances all depend to some extent on location. The overall objective of this thesis was to assess the GHG emissions derived from supply and energy-utilization chains of forest biomass in Finland, with a specific focus on the effect of location in relation to forest biomass’s availability and the transportation possibilities. Biomass availability and transportation-network assessments were conducted through utilization of geographical information system methods, and the GHG emissions were assessed by means of lifecycle assessment. The thesis is based on four papers in which forest biomass supply on industrial scale was assessed. The feedstocks assessed in this thesis include harvesting residues, smalldiameter energy wood and stumps. The principal implication of the findings in this thesis is that in Finland, the location and availability of biomass in the proximity of a given energyutilization or energy-conversion plant is not a decisive factor in supply-chain GHG emissions or the possible GHG savings to be achieved with forest-biomass energy use. Therefore, for the greatest GHG reductions with limited forest-biomass resources, energy utilization of forest biomass in Finland should be directed to the locations where most GHG savings are achieved through replacement of fossil fuels. Furthermore, one should prioritize the types of forest biomass with the lowest direct supply-chain GHG emissions (e.g., from transport and comminution) and the lowest indirect ones (in particular, soil carbon-stock losses), regardless of location. In this respect, the best combination is to use harvesting residues in combined heat and power production, replacing peat or coal.

Mitigating uncertainty in logistics outsourcing with ERP systems

Outsourcing is a common strategy for companies looking for cost savings and improvements in performance. This has been especially prevalent in logistics, where warehousing and transporting are typical targets for outsourcing. However, while the benefits from logistics outsourcing are clear on paper, there are several cases companies fail to reach these benefits. The most commonly cited reasons for this are poor information flow between the company and the third party logistics partner, and a lack of integration between the two partners. Uncertainty stems from lack of information, and it can cripple the whole outsourcing operation. This is where enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems step in, as they can have a significant role in improving the flow of information, and integration, which consequently mitigates uncertainty. The purpose of the study is to examine if ERP systems have an effect on a company's decision to outsource logistics operations. Along the rapid advancements in technology during the past decades, ERP systems have also evolved. Therefore, empirical research on the subject needs constant revision as it can quickly become outdated due to ERP systems having more advanced capabilities every year. The research was conducted using a qualitative single-case study of a Finnish manufacturing firm that had outsourced warehousing and transportation operations in the Swedish market. The empirical data was gathered with use of semi-structured interviews with three employees from the case company that were closely related to the outsourcing operation. The theoretical framework that was used to analyze the empirical data was based on Transaction Cost Economics theory. The results of the study were align with the theoretical framework, in that the ERP system of the case company was seen as an enabler for their logistics outsourcing operation. However, the full theoretical benefits from ERP systems concerning extended enterprise functionality and flexibility were not attained due to the case company having an older version of their ERP system. This emphasizes the importance of having up-to-date technology if you want to overcome the shortcomings of ERP systems in outsourcing situations.