Tuote- ja tilaustietojen hallinta tukkukaupan toimitusketjussa

Työn tavoitteena on selvittää, millaisia tuote-ja tilaustietojen hallinnan malleja tukkukaupan toimitusketjussa on käytössä. Kaupan alan tilaus-toimitusketju on hyvin tietointensiivinen prosessi, ja siksi kiinnostava tiedon hallinnan näkökulmasta. Työssä perehdytään kolmen Suomessa toimivan caseyrityksen käytäntöihin päivittäistavara- kaupan, lääketukkukaupan ja sähkötarviketukkukaupan alalta. Toimitusketjun keskipisteenä on tässä työssä tukkukaupan organisaatio. Tiedon välitystä tarkastellaan tukkukaupan organisaation ja sen asiakkaiden välillä (B2B) ja toisaalta tukkukaupan ja sen ensimmäisen tason päämiesten / tavarantoimittajien välillä. Tutkimuksen keskeistä aineistoa ovat henkilökohtaiset haastattelut. Lisäksi tutkimuskysymyksiin etsittiin vastauksia myös alan kirjallisuudesta. Työ antaa yleiskuvaa tukkukaupan organisaatioiden tuote- ja tilaustietojen hallinnan nykytilasta ja kehityskohteista. Työ tarjoaa myös vertailupohjaa tuote- ja tilaustietojen hallinnan kehittämistä suunnitteleville muille organisaatioille. Kaikilla tarkastelluilla toimialoilla tuote- ja tilaustietojen hallintaa ohjaa pyrkimys kustannustehokkaaseen toimintatapaan. Tuotetietojen hallinnassa ensiarvoisen tärkeää on tuotetiedon nopea saatavuus, luotettavuus ja virheettömyys toimialasta riippumatta. Päivittäistavarakaupan tuotetietojen keskitettyä hallintaa voi perustellusti esittää malliksi myös muille kaupan aloille. Yhteistyökumppaneiden suuri määrä ja kasvavat tietovirrat korostavat transaktioiden prosessoinnin merkitystä toimitusketjussa.

Tavaran toimitusasiakirjojen sähköistäminen

Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää sähköisten tavaran toimitusasiakirjojen käytön vaikutukset hankinta- ja logistiikkapalveluita tarjoavan yrityksen toimitusketjun loppupään toimintoihin. Lisäksi työssä rakennetaan konstruktiivisen tutkimusmenetelmän viitekehyksen mukainen toimintamalli yrityksen käyttöä varten. Toimintamallin avulla tarkastellaan kohdeyrityksen mahdollisuutta parantaa toimitusketjun läpinäkyvyyttä, tehostaa sidosryhmien välistä tiedonsiirtoa ja vähentää virheitä ja manuaalista työtä nykyisissä prosesseissa. Työn keskeisin sisältö rakentuu kohdeyrityksen käyttämille kuljetusyrityksille tehdyn kuljetusliikekyselyn, tarkkaan kuvatun nykytilan sekä käytännön ongelmaan rakennetun konstruktion ympärille. Kuljetusliikekyselyn avulla saadaan käyttökelpoinen kuva kuljetusyritysten nykytilasta sekä tulevaisuuden suunnitelmista sähköisiin tavaran toimitusasiakirjoihin liittyen. Nykytilan kuvauksella nostetaan esiin prosesseja ja toimintoja joiden toimintaan voidaan oleellisesti vaikuttaa informaatioteknologian sekä prosessimuutosten avulla. Konstruktion rakentamisessa pääpaino on suunnattu läpinäkyvän ja tehokkaan toimitusketjun aikaansaamisessa. Tutkielman konstruktiota, sähköisten tavaran toimitusasiakirjojen toimintamallia, tarkastellaan yrityksen liiketoiminnan näkökulmasta peilaamalla oletettuja parannuksia aikaisempaan teoriapohjaan. Lisäksi toimintamallin soveltumista reaalimaailman ongelman ratkaisuun arvioidaan diplomityön ohjausryhmästä koostuvan johtajapaneelin tekemällä SWOT-analyysillä sekä heikolla markkinatestillä. Sidosryhmien välisen toiminnan tehostumista arvioidaan kvalitatiivisin menetelmin

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.

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.

Supply chain performance management system

The purpose of the study is to determine general features of the supply chain performance management system, to assess the current state of performance management in the case company mills and to make proposals for improvement – how the future state of performance management system would look like. The study covers four phases which consist of theory and case company parts. Theoretical review gives understanding about performance management and measurement. Current state analysis assesses the current state of performance management in the mills. Results and proposals for improvement are derived from current state analysis and finally the conclusions with answers to research questions are presented. Supply chain performance management system consists of five areas: perfor-mance measurement and metrics, action plans, performance tracking, performance dialogue and rewards, consequences and actions. The result of the study revealed that all mills were quite average level in performance management and there is a room for improvement. Created performance improvement matrix served as a tool in assessing current performance management and could work also as a tool in the future in mapping the current state after transformation process. Limited harmonization was revealed as there were different ways to work and manage performance in the mills. Lots of good ideas existed though actions are needed to make a progress. There is also need to harmonize KPI structure.

Automated Purchase to Pay Process Value Modeling and Comparative Process Speeds

The importance of efficient supply chain management has increased due to globalization and the blurring of organizational boundaries. Various supply chain management technologies have been identified to drive organizational profitability and financial performance. Organizations have historically been concentrating heavily on the flow of goods and services, while less attention has been dedicated to the flow of money. While supply chains are becoming more transparent and automated, new opportunities for financial supply chain management have emerged through information technology solutions and comprehensive financial supply chain management strategies. This research concentrates on the end part of the purchasing process which is the handling of invoices. Efficient invoice processing can have an impact on organizations working capital management and thus provide companies with better readiness to face the challenges related to cash management. Leveraging a process mining solution the aim of this research was to examine the automated invoice handling process of four different organizations. The invoice data was collected from each organizations invoice processing system. The sample included all the invoices organizations had processed during the year 2012. The main objective was to find out whether e-invoices are faster to process in an automated invoice processing solution than scanned invoices (post entry into invoice processing solution). Other objectives included looking into the longest lead times between process steps and the impact of manual process steps on cycle time. Processing of invoices from maverick purchases was also examined. Based on the results of the research and previous literature on the subject, suggestions for improving the process were proposed. The results of the research indicate that scanned invoices were processed faster than e-invoices. This is mostly due to the more complex processing of e-invoices. It should be noted however that the manual tasks related to turning a paper invoice into electronic format through scanning are ignored in this research. The transitions with the longest lead times in the invoice handling process included both pre-automated steps as well as manual steps performed by humans. When the most common manual steps were examined in more detail, it was clear that these steps had a prolonging impact on the process. Regarding invoices from maverick purchases the evidence shows that these invoices were slower to process than invoices from purchases conducted through e-procurement systems and from preferred suppliers. Suggestions on how to improve the process included: increasing invoice matching, reducing of manual steps and leveraging of different value added services such as invoice validation service, mobile solutions and supply chain financing services. For companies that have already reaped all the process efficiencies the next step is to engage in collaborative financial supply chain management strategies that can benefit the whole supply chain.

Assessment of purchasing maturity in spare parts supply chain

To describe the change of purchasing moving from administrative to strategic function academics have put forward maturity models which help practitioners to compare their purchasing activities to industry top performers and best practices. However, none of the models aim to distinguish the purchasing maturity from the after-sales point of view, even though after-sales activities are acknowledged as a relevant source of revenue, profit and competitive advantage in most manufacturing firms. The maturity of purchasing and supply management practices have a large impact to the overall performance of the spare parts supply chain and ultimately to the value creation and relationship building for the end customer. The research was done as a case study for a European after-sales organization which is part of a globally operating industrial firm specialized in heavy machinery. The study mapped the current state of the purchasing practices in the case organization and also distinguished the relevant areas for future development. The study was based on the purchasing maturity model developed by Schiele (2007) and investigated also how applicable is the maturity model in the spare parts supply chain context. Data for the assessment was gathered using five expert interviews inside the case organization and other parties involved in the company’s spare parts supply chain. Inventory management dimension was added to the original maturity model in order to better capture the important areas in a spare parts supply chain. The added five questions were deduced from the spare parts management literature and verified as relevant areas by the case organization’s personnel. Results indicate that largest need for development in the case organization are: better collaboration between sourcing and operative procurement functions, use of installed base information in the spare parts management, training plan development for new buyers, assessment of aligned KPI’s between the supply chain parties and better defining the role of after-sales sourcing. The purchasing maturity model used in this research worked well in H&R Leading, Controlling and Inventory Management dimensions. The assessment was more difficult to conduct in the Supplier related processes, Process integration and Organizational structure –dimensions, mainly because the assessment in these sections would for some parts require more company-wide assessment. Results indicate also that the purchasing maturity model developed by Schiele (2007) captures the relevant areas in the spare parts supply as well.

Risk Management in Sustainable Supply Chain

Growing awareness in corporate responsibility and issues related to sustainability is seen to increase innovativeness in a company as well as in its supply chain. The stakeholders’ awareness on sustainability has increased, and they demand the companies to identify sustainability risks and adapt procedures for mitigating them. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how risks are managed in sustainable supply chain. Definition of sustainability risks and risk management procedures construct the framework of the study. It is done through an empirical study conducted on 95 Finnish companies operating in the manufacturing industry. The data is acquired via an online questionnaire. The research has been conducted as a quantitative study utilizing the methods of statistical analysis, such as correlation analysis and factor analysis. The essential results of this thesis are identified risk-procedure connections, and the importance of different risks and procedures in the respondent companies.

Developing Supply Chain Process Management and Measurement in Global Manufacturing Company

The objective of this research is to create a current state analysis of pulp supply chain processes from production planning to deliveries to customers. A cross-functional flowchart is being used to model these processes. These models help finding key performance indicators (KPIs) which enable examinations of the supply chain efficiency. Supply chain measures in different processes reveal the changes need processes that affect the whole supply chain and its efficiency and competitiveness. Structure of pulp supply chain differs from most of the other supply chains. The fact that there are big volumes of bulk products, small product variations and supply forecasts are made for the year ahead make the difference. This factor brings different benefits but also challenges when developing supply chain. This thesis divides pulp supply chain in three different main categories: production planning, warehousing and transportation. It provides tools for estimating the functionality of supply chain as well as developing the efficiency for different functions of supply chain. By having a better understanding of supply chain processes and measurement the whole supply chain structure can be developed significantly.

Estado situacional de los modelos basados en agentes y su impacto en la investigación organizacional

En un mundo hiperconectado, dinámico y cargado de incertidumbre como el actual, los métodos y modelos analíticos convencionales están mostrando sus limitaciones. Las organizaciones requieren, por tanto, herramientas útiles que empleen tecnología de información y modelos de simulación computacional como mecanismos para la toma de decisiones y la resolución de problemas. Una de las más recientes, potentes y prometedoras es el modelamiento y la simulación basados en agentes (MSBA). Muchas organizaciones, incluidas empresas consultoras, emplean esta técnica para comprender fenómenos, hacer evaluación de estrategias y resolver problemas de diversa índole. Pese a ello, no existe (hasta donde conocemos) un estado situacional acerca del MSBA y su aplicación a la investigación organizacional. Cabe anotar, además, que por su novedad no es un tema suficientemente difundido y trabajado en Latinoamérica. En consecuencia, este proyecto pretende elaborar un estado situacional sobre el MSBA y su impacto sobre la investigación organizacional.

Propuesta de mejoramiento de la política de inventarios de la empresa Wholesale and Retail Place LLC

Wholesale and Retail place LLC, es una empresa que nace en el año 2012 en la ciudad de Carteret, Nueva Jersey dedicada a la comercialización y distribución de ropa para mujer colombiana en Estados Unidos. De esta manera, la problemática abordada en este proyecto será la influencia de la política de inventarios en el desempeño de la empresa. A partir de esto, se plantea realizar un mejoramiento de la política de gestión de inventarios, recurso que procure cambiar el modelo operativo de negocio mediante un enfoque a la transición, desde una pequeña hasta una mediana empresa, con énfasis en la perdurabilidad y sostenibilidad de la compañía.

Intelligent wireless web services: context-aware computing in construction-logistics supply chain

The construction industry has incurred a considerable amount of waste as a result of poor logistics supply chain network management. Therefore, managing logistics in the construction industry is critical. An effective logistic system ensures delivery of the right products and services to the right players at the right time while minimising costs and rewarding all sectors based on value added to the supply chain. This paper reports on an on-going research study on the concept of context-aware services delivery in the construction project supply chain logistics. As part of the emerging wireless technologies, an Intelligent Wireless Web (IWW) using context-aware computing capability represents the next generation ICT application to construction-logistics management. This intelligent system has the potential of serving and improving the construction logistics through access to context-specific data, information and services. Existing mobile communication deployments in the construction industry rely on static modes of information delivery and do not take into account the worker’s changing context and dynamic project conditions. The major problems in these applications are lack of context-specificity in the distribution of information, services and other project resources, and lack of cohesion with the existing desktop based ICT infrastructure. The research works focus on identifying the context dimension such as user context, environmental context and project context, selection of technologies to capture context-parameters such wireless sensors and RFID, selection of supporting technologies such as wireless communication, Semantic Web, Web Services, agents, etc. The process of integration of Context-Aware Computing and Web-Services to facilitate the creation of intelligent collaboration environment for managing construction logistics will take into account all the necessary critical parameters such as storage, transportation, distribution, assembly, etc. within off and on-site project.

Electronic commerce in agriculture and agribusiness: the case of Emilia-Romagna (Italy )

Despite the expectations of the benefits of this tool, the adoption of Electronic Commerce (EC) by small and medium firms of the agro-food sector in Italy is still not frequent, however, the understanding of opportunities it could create and how they can be exploited remains a relevant issue. This study, carried out in the Emilia -Romagna region during 2002, illustrates the results of a survey of 208 firms at all stages of the agro-food chain aimed at understanding the use of the Internet and the strategies adopted for EC implementation. The results show a low level of implementation of the instrument and a limited variety of adoption strategies. Agro-food firms actually invest very little in EC focusing their efforts on the Internet as promotion tool, while web-based direct selling is confined to market niches. The view that the Internet would reverse the disadvantages of small firms appears by now non realistic, even if interesting opportunities for further development are still present.