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A fictional production and logistics scenario is presented, with different contributors providing advice and solutions. Methods for effectively addressing demand uncertainty issues include taking a proactive approach and creating and directing demand, cautioning against outsourcing in order to own production and customer service, and improving production and inventory planning.

Simulation of service operations of airlines to reduce passenger boarding time in airplanes, for better management of airport facilities, is described.

Motivated by a problem faced by a large manufacturer of a consumer product, we explore the interaction between production planning and capacity acquisition decisions in environments with demand growth. We study a firm producing multiple items in a multiperiod environment where demand for items is known but varies over time with a long-term growth and possible short-term fluctuations. The production equipment is characterized by significant changeover time between the production of different items. While demand growth is gradual, capacity additions are discrete. Therefore, periods immediately following a machine purchase are characterized by excess machine capacity. We develop a mathematical programming model and an effective solution approach to determine the optimal capacity acquisition, production and inventory decisions over time. Through a computational study, we show the effectiveness of the solution approach in terms of solution quality and investigate the impact of product variety, cost of capital, and other important parameters on the capacity and inventory decisions. The computational results bring out some key insights--increasing product variety may not result in excessive inventory and even a substantial increase in set-up times or holding costs may not increase the total cost over the horizon in a significant manner due to the ability to acquire additional capacity. We also provide solutions and insights to the real problem that motivated this work., 1. Introduction This paper was motivated by a problem faced by a large manufacturing firm producing a consumer product. The firm produces many different items that are stocked in inventory [...]

A study develops a supply chain process modeling method suitable for the needs of humanitarian organizations. The reference task model identifies more than 100 supply chain management (SCM) tasks in humanitarian organizations and its feasibility and utility are verified.

Byline: D. Garel Rhys In the last 20 years, so much has been written about the supply side of the motor industry; the need to reduce costs through supply change management, design for manufacture, the appropriate level of investment, and the correct systems to make best use of these features. However, this is only part of what is needed for a successful enterprise. In short, lean production and supply side factors may be a necessary condition for the establishment of a successful enterprise in the automotive industry, but the sufficient condition needs the addition of appropriate scale and on the demand side of the equation, the manufacture of products that the consumer wants. If a car company is able to use this and produce products that the market really wants then it can make profits whatever the market throws at it, and use price and non-price competition to their advantage. The current motor industry consists of very large specialist firms and huge mass producers. In short, successful marketing needs appropriate supply conditions.

AAI Acquisition Inc. is planning to fully rejuvenate its very light jet (VLJ) program, which currently is in semi-hibernation, as soon as economic conditions improve. Information about the company's low-cost, out-of-autoclave composite manufacturing technology that has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, is also presented.