Stochastic scheduling addresses several forms of uncertainty to represent better production environments in the real world. Stochastic scheduling has applications on several areas such as logistics, transportation, production, and healthcare, among others. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of various greedy functions for a GRASP-based approach, under stochastic processing times. Since simulation is used for estimating the objective function, two simulation techniques, Monte Carlo simulation and Common Random Numbers (CRN), are used to compare the performance of different greedy (utility) functions within the GRASP. In order to validate the proposed methodology, the expected total weighted tardiness minimization for a single machine problem was taken as case study. Results showed that both, CRN and Monte Carlo, are not statistically different regarding the expected weighted tardiness results. However, CRN showed a better performance in terms of simulation replications and the confidence interval size for the difference between means. Furthermore, the statistical analysis confirmed that there is a significant difference between greedy functions.

Supplier evaluation and selection play a vital role in establishing an effective supply chain for any firm. The supplier evaluation not only enables the firm to know the performance of suppliers, but also gives an indication of the ability of the firm itself to gain competitive advantage. The appropriate evaluation is the basis for the subsequent selection of the best supplier. This paper presents a hybrid methodology using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) to evaluate suppliers and to identify the best supplier for a firm. In this work, super efficiency and cross efficiency methods of DEA are employed to determine the efficiencies and the performance scores of the suppliers respectively. On the basis of super efficiency and cross efficiency scores, the list of efficient suppliers with high performance is identified and GRA methodology is adopted to identify the best supplier. A case study is presented to demonstrate the proposed hybrid methodology.

In this study, an integrated approach is presented for analyzing the impact of resilience engineering and ergonomics factors in aerospace supply chain using data envelopment analysis (DEA). The proposed approach selects the preferred supplier by considering traditional supply chain factors as well as resilience engineering and ergonomics factors. Also, the relevant performance efficiency of each decision making unit is calculated. The case study of this paper is the supply chain of real commercial airlines. Thus, the aerospace standards as well as resilience and ergonomics factors are considered to be modeled by the mathematical programming approach. 22 suppliers are evaluated by analyzing inputs and outputs through data envelopment analysis, and each supplier is considered as a decision making unit (DMU). In this study, the most effective factors are identified as “reliability”, “Human resource management”, “supplier’s delay” and “availability”. Also, “lead time” shows the highest potential for improvement. This study helps decision makers identify the weaknesses of their supply chain management to establish a performance improvement plan in aerospace industry.

Many entrepreneurs use different ways to offer credit to enhance long term profit as well as relations with their customers. Order-size dependent credit period is one of them that encourage customers to order large lots to grab more credits in payments. Since display of items play positive role in boosting demand, stock dependent demand is assumed in the proposed model. Ordering large lots can create space issue so the proposed model presents a rented warehouse along with owned one. Rented warehouse is used only when owned warehouse is utilized, completely. Here we propose an integrated inventory model with capacity utilization dependent holding cost to optimize joint profit of supplier and retailer. An algorithm is developed to determine the optimal replenishment policies in order to enhance total profit of supply chain under different ordering schemes. Total joint profit for supplier and retailer is optimized using MATLAB 2015. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the solution procedure and the results. Sensitivity analysis for some key parameters is carried out to demonstrate the influence of different parameters on over-all profit and cycle time. The proposed model is applicable to fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and home textile industry.

Just in time (JIT) philosophy has grown to a new high level since its evolution and has successfully been implemented in manufacturing. As it is universally accepted that manufacturing and maintenance cannot be managed as a separate function, the aim of the present study is to evaluate various elements of JIT to implement in maintenance sector which have high degree of importance in Global context. It is because now maintenance also plays an important role in optimization of business processes. Maintenance operations are much like manufacturing operations where both employ processes that add value to the basic input used to create the end products. JIT focuses on the processes, not the product. It can, therefore, be applied to any process in manufacturing or maintenance operations. For this, literature related to JIT usage and performance is reviewed. Thirty-eight elements are analyzed from sixty-five research papers of global context. With aid of theoretical analysis and brain storming with maintenance specialists of JIT elements who have implemented it for manufacturing industries, eighteen elements are selected to check the implementation of JIT philosophy in maintenance sector. Relative importance of such elements are also highlighted in the article.

In this study, a multi-product, multi-period and non-linear programming model is developed for production planning problem where demand is under uncertainty. The proposed study is designed for a real-world case study of chemicals production factory with 1 production line and 2 manual and automatic technologies. In manual technology, workers are working with 3 amateur, typical and professional skills in 2 typical and overtime working. Automatic technology in this system has n machines in which the repairing and maintenance of the machineries are also included. This system has n products and the products are life-limited and with diversity. The primary goal is to propose a model for improvement of the production planning and minimization of the production system costs. The products in high volume and various types are produced and they are stored in bottles as the final products. For different production periods, the human forces capacities are considered and the level of employment or forces dismissal are considered. The production process is forwarding and backward process is not acceptable; that is, it is not allowable to rework in this system. Delivering final product from stockpiles to the retailers is conducted using vehicles with limited capacity. To solve the model in larger space and because of the complexity of the model, meta-heuristic algorithm is used. Finally, it is concluded that due to covering most of the assumptions in perishable products production, the proposed model is closer to the real-world circumstances and reduces costs in production systems.

Extension of product’s useful life through product recovery options can help to reduce the consumption of natural resource and environmental pollution. Remanufacturing operation is considered as the most suitable product recovery option for automotive parts. The objective of this paper is to identify the barriers and the critical success factors in automotive engine remanufacturing. A case study is carried out in an automotive engine remanufacturing plant, situated in the south-western part of India. In this case study, the strategic, tactical and operational characteristics of the remanufacturing process are explored, what are the barriers they have faced while remanufacturing and to overcome those barriers, what strategies they have adopted are also analyzed. A fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solutions (TOPSIS) is used to identify the critical success factor to overcome the roadblocks of remanufacturing. As this study is directed by the experts’ opinion from the remanufacturing plant which proves its practical implication. This case study is also useful for the other OEM remanufacturers in India.

Many researchers focused on economic production quantity (EPQ) model for deteriorating items with rework of defective items in a single production run. Few of them proposed the model for multi-production inventory model under the assumptions (i) all the defective items can be reproduced as serviceable items and (ii) all the deteriorating items can be detached from the inventory through screening process. However, in real life manufacturing systems, due to controllable or uncontrollable factors, the defective items may not be reproduced as serviceable items and hence the generation of scrap (disposable) items is potential. It is possible that the internally deteriorating items like fruits, vegetables, eggs, pharmaceutical drugs, etc. pass on to customers which will make negative impact on corporate image in the global market. This paper presents a multi-production run inventory model for deteriorating items with scrap, defective items, failure rework and penalty cost for selling the deteriorating items to customers under finite planning horizon. Our objective is to determine the optimal production run, optimal finite planning horizon by minimizing the total cost of the system. A solution procedure with an algorithm is proposed and a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Finally, sensitivity analysis is provided to provide managerial phenomena of the system.

Fashion and Apparel Supply Chains work in a very fast-changing environment and always demand better quality, higher availability of products, broader assortments and shorter delivery times. An efficient Supply Chain Management can make a difference between success and failure in the market. In this context, the main purposes of the presented work are: (i) to define the physical and informative flows, together with connected cost and revenue items, which characterize a Fashion Supply Chain working with a wide network of direct-operated or franchising mono-brand stores and (ii) to optimize Supply Chain performances through a responsive approach which, during the sales season, analyses actual market demand and adjusts operations plans accordingly. The framework aims at becoming a decision support system for the optimization of the performances of a process that starts from the development of the collection by the Styling Office and ends with the withdrawal of unsold items from the stores. In order to analyze the performances under different scenarios, a set of Key Performance indicators, partially selected from the SCOR Model, is defined.

Accidents and unpredictable diseases in different parts of the world, especially in big cities influence many lives. Most of the accidents and/or sudden diseases require quick aid due to its relation to people’s life, and the least time might affect the result of the aid significantly. It is noteworthy that finding the appropriate solution is under influence of considering the financial and treatment limitations. Integration of decision making in relief logistics leads to establish a better condition. Also, with regards to the unpredictability of relief demand, uncertain conditions should be investigated in a more appropriate way of planning process. This paper investigates a comprehensive and multi-level emergency Location allocation routing emergency problem under uncertain conditions with stable response to the different situations. In the presented model, the demand is defined by the emergency stations in order to represent the actual situations in real world. On the other hand, by the increase in the rate of providing services by the ambulances, the length of the queue will decrease and the costs will reduce due to the increase in the efficiency of the ambulances. A simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is developed to solve the problem. The obtained results show that the proposed algorithm has good performance. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is done to consider the effect of different values and uncertainty taken by parameters in real world.