Henry C.W. Lau, Peter K.H. Lau, Felix T.S. Chan and Ralph W.L. Ip
Whether or not a company is able to compete in the local and global arena depends significantly on how effectively the company can build up the partnership synergy with their…
Abstract
Whether or not a company is able to compete in the local and global arena depends significantly on how effectively the company can build up the partnership synergy with their business counterparts. With the emergence of a dispersed manufacturing network, the important issue is the criteria for the selection of the right partners for the right tasks. In this respect, it is essential to develop the necessary techniques to measure the performance of potential business partners prior to making the decision of partner selection. This paper suggests a performance measurement technique incorporated with on‐line analytical processing (OLAP) technology to support enterprise decisions related to selecting appropriate business partners. It also includes examples to illustrate how to apply this technique in real industrial situations.
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Henry C.W. Lau, Carman K.M. Lee, G.T.S. Ho, W.H. Ip, Felix T.S. Chan and Ralph W.L. Ip
This paper proposes an infrastructure of a responsive supply chain network, focusing on the deployment of the m‐commerce technology which transforms a traditional supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes an infrastructure of a responsive supply chain network, focusing on the deployment of the m‐commerce technology which transforms a traditional supply chain network to be more effective in coping with market changes.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed supply chain infrastructure embraces the concepts of distributed object technology, wireless markup language (WML), and extensible markup language (XML) schema to enable efficient data exchange among various data objects which reside in distributed platforms over geographically‐isolated regions, thereby leveraging the responsiveness of the entire supply chain network. A case study is conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed model.
Findings
Recent studies have found that wireless technology, mobile computing and internet programming techniques drive the development of mobile solution in various industries. Apart from location tracking of goods as well as relevant services, m‐commerce is able to play an important role to enhance the performance of a supply chain network, which is concerned with the proper monitoring of suppliers and production circles, encompassing a wide spectrum of value chain activities ranging from product design to after‐sales services.
Originality/value
The significance of this research is the demonstration of the synergy of using a combination of emerging technologies to form an integrated system that helps achieve flexibility and agility in supply chain network.
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Henry C.W. Lau, Peter K.H. Lau, Richard Y.K. Fung, Felix T.S. Chan and Ralph W.L. Ip
This paper attempts to propose a virtual case‐based benchmarking system (VCBS) which incorporates computational intelligence technologies into partners' benchmarking process to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to propose a virtual case‐based benchmarking system (VCBS) which incorporates computational intelligence technologies into partners' benchmarking process to support decision‐making.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed system consists of three main modules: data repository module, OLAP module and case‐based reasoning (CBR) module. The VCBS is a web‐based application that enables users to access the system and submit information to the system in anywhere at anytime. The database repository, on the other hand, maintains and acquires the data that are generated in the transactions processes and other workflow processes. It also ensures the entire valuable data which are accessible for the management to make decisions. The OLAP and the CBR modules are considered as the brain of the VCBS. The CBR module is aimed for short‐listing candidate, while the OLAP module is utilized for benchmarking the short‐listed candidate.
Findings
The VCBS is particularly useful in situations where multiple supply chain partners are involved to achieve the common objective to produce the products to the best satisfaction of customer demands with the lowest possible cost.
Research limitations/implications
Since data warehouse does not update in real time it only performs update periodically during non‐office hours to avoid network traffic. The solution provided to the company may not be the most updated information.
Originality/value
The proposed system improves the current practice of partner selection by adopting the computational intelligence technologies into the traditional partner selection process with the assimilation of data repository, CBR and OLAP to form the integrated system for evaluation of potential partners prior to the final decision.
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Felix T.S. Chan, H.J. Qi, H.K. Chan, Henry C.W. Lau and Ralph W.L. Ip
Supply chain management (SCM) has gained a tremendous amount of attention from both industries and researchers since the last decade. Until now, there are numerous papers…
Abstract
Supply chain management (SCM) has gained a tremendous amount of attention from both industries and researchers since the last decade. Until now, there are numerous papers, articles, and reports that address SCM, but there is still a lack of integration between the existing performance measurement methods and practical requirements for the SCM. An innovative performance measurement method is proposed to provide necessary assistance for performance improvement in SCM. The proposed method will address this purpose in these four aspects: a simplified supply chain model; tangible and intangible performance measures in multiple dimensions; a cross‐organizational performance measurement; and fuzzy set theory and weighted average method.
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Felix T.S. Chan, H.K. Chan, Henry C.W. Lau and Ralph W.L. Ip
To develop a new benchmarking process for continuous improvement against the market leader, and report a case study in the postal industry by employing the proposed benchmarking…
Abstract
Purpose
To develop a new benchmarking process for continuous improvement against the market leader, and report a case study in the postal industry by employing the proposed benchmarking process.
Design/methodology/approach
A double AHP methodology is developed in this paper to divide benchmarking process into two main parts: performance evaluation and continuous improvement. Both qualitative and quantitative factors have been taken into consideration. The first phase aims at evaluation of the performance of the benchmarked company and its competitors. The second phase aims at finding the best practice from a list of improvement alternatives based on the first phase.
Findings
The proposed framework can evaluate the performance of the case company against its competitors. It can also help the company to select the best improvement alternative for implementation in order to enhance its performance on the weakest measures.
Originality/value
The proposed benchmarking process in this paper can help the case company to identify its weaknesses and then select the best improvement alternative in order to improve its performance against the market leader. Although the postal industry is used to demonstrate the proposed framework, it can be applied to other industries with a little modification.
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WILLIAM H. DESVOUSGES, F. REED JOHNSON, RICHARD W. DUNFORD, K. NICOLE WILSON and KEVIN J. BOYLE
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way…
Abstract
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way of using the law in specific circumstances, and shows the variations therein. Sums up that arbitration is much the better way to gok as it avoids delays and expenses, plus the vexation/frustration of normal litigation. Concludes that the US and Greek constitutions and common law tradition in England appear to allow involved parties to choose their own judge, who can thus be an arbitrator. Discusses e‐commerce and speculates on this for the future.