This paper formulates a multi-level supply chain network with a single producer, multi distributors and multi retailers during a finite planning horizon. The demand rate is assumed to be exponential function of time; shortages are allowed and completely backlogged. The stock is assumed to undergo deterioration as soon as it is produced. The production rate is dependent on demand rate and greater than the demand rate. Optimal solution for the proposed model is derived and using a numerical example, the behavior of the model is analyzed.

This paper models the process of ordered product design decision making. The problem is formulated by introducing the notion of Quality Loss to quantify the loss of design freedom incurred by the decision makers in the later stages of a cross-functional decision process. In this context, the optimal order is the decision order with the lowest quality loss, whose characterization is one of the contributions of this paper. In this paper, we present a novel decision support system for order in a Make-to-Stock or Make-to-Order production environment. The proposed decision support system is comprised of six steps. The customers are prioritized based on a new method. In this paper, the idea of the algorithm “Knapsack” is used to prioritize customers. Finally, numerical experiments are conducted to show the tractability of the applied mathematical programming model.

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a method for measuring the efficiency of peer decision making units (DMUs). Traditional DEA models deal with measurements of relative efficiency of DMUs regarding multiple-inputs vs. multiple-outputs. One of the drawbacks of these models is the neglect of intermediate products or linking activities. Recently, DEA has been extended to examine the efficiency of network structures, where there are lots of sub-processes that are linked with intermediate parameters. These intermediate parameters can be considered as the outputs of the first stage and simultaneously as the inputs for the second stage. In contrast to the traditional DEA analysis, network DEA analysis aims to measure different sub-processes’ efficiencies in addition to the total efficiency. Lots of network DEA technique has been used recently, but none of them uses Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in network DEA for assessing a network’s efficiency. In this paper, AHP methodology is used for considering the importance of each sub-process and network DEA is used for measuring total and partial efficiencies based on the importance of each department measured from AHP methodology. In this regard, the case of Iranian Handmade Carpet Industry (IHCI) is used.

From a wide variety of queuing models, the finite-capacity queuing models are the most commonly used, where arrival and service rates follow an exponential distribution. Based on two criteria of system cost and expected degree of customer satisfaction, the present study defines a new productivity rate index and evaluates the optimization of a queuing model with finite capacity. In queuing models, obviously, as the number of servers increases, the length of waiting lines decreases, the expected degree of customer satisfaction enhances, and obviously the system cost increases. This study deals with the mathematical relationships involved in the computations of these two criteria, and proposes a novel approach to determine an optimal number of servers by considering a decision-maker & apos; s priority and establishing a trade-off between criteria.

In this article, a framework is proposed to define and identify knowledge work intensity in jobs, quantitatively. For determining the Knowledge Work Intensity Score (KWIS) of a job, it is supposed that the job comprises some tasks and KWIS of the job is determined based on knowledge intensity of these tasks. Functional Job Analysis (FJA) method is applied to determine tasks of jobs and then Task’s Knowledge Intensity Score (TKIS) is computed by using Fuzzy integral method. Besides, importance weight and time weight of tasks are determined by utilizing appropriate methods. Finally, KWIS is calculated by a formula composed of tasks’ TKISs and the weights. For evaluating applicability of the framework, it is applied to calculate KWISs of two jobs (Deputy of Finance and service, Laboratory technician).

Differential Search (DS) algorithm is a new meta-heuristic for solving real-valued numerical optimization. This paper introduces a new method based on DS for solving Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP). The RCPSP is aimed to schedule a set of activities at minimal duration subject to precedence constraints and the limited availability of resources. The proposed method is applied to PSPLIB case studies and its performance is evaluated in comparison with some of state of art methods. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effective. Also, it is among the best algorithms for solving RCPSP.

In the context of supply chain management, supplier selection plays a key role in reaching desirable production planning. In today & apos; s competitive world, many enterprises have focused on selecting the appropriate suppliers in an attempt to reduce purchasing costs and improve quality products and services. Supplier selection is a multi-criteria decision problem, which includes different qualitative and quantitative criteria such as purchase cost, on time delivery, quality of service, etc. In this study, a fuzzy multi-objective mathematical programming model is presented to select appropriate supplier and assign desirable order to different supplies. The proposed model was implemented for an organization by considering 16 different scenarios and the results are compared with two other existing methods.

Distribution and optimum allocation of emergency resources are the most important tasks, which need to be accomplished during crisis. When a natural disaster such as earthquake, flood, etc. takes place, it is necessary to deliver rescue efforts as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is important to find optimum location and distribution of emergency relief resources. When a natural disaster occurs, it is not possible to reach some damaged areas. In this paper, location and multi-depot vehicle routing for emergency vehicles using tour coverage and random sampling is investigated. In this study, there is no need to visit all the places and some demand points receive their needs from the nearest possible location. The proposed study is implemented for some randomly generated numbers in different sizes. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed method was capable of reaching desirable solutions in reasonable amount of time.

The bullwhip effect is a phenomenon in forecast-driven distribution channels, which is associated with a trend of larger and larger swings in inventory in response to changes in demand, as we look at firm further back in the supply chain for a particular product. This paper deals with the bullwhip effect in a multi-echelon multiple products supply chain with correlated market demands. The downstream retailer procures products from an un-capacitated upstream supplier to meet the correlated market demands of multiple products. This paper proposes a new method based on demand forecasting technique and uses a simple moving average to eliminate the bullwhip effect, which is proved to be effective under some circumstances.

This paper examines the effect of the service brand on the customer value–loyalty process. The study includes the traditional effect of brand image plus three additional influences, which reflects the broader service perspective including company image, employee trust, and company trust. Using survey data of a sample of 385 bank customers, the analysis indicates there is a direct influence of some of the perspectives of the brand on customers & apos; perceptions of value. The results indicate that brand image, organization image, trust to firm influence positively on quality of services. In addition, brand image, organization image, quality of services and trust to firm influence on customer’s perspective where quality of services maintains the lowest impact and corporate image has the highest impact on customer’s perspective.