In this paper, we investigate the environmental performance of lean supply chains using carbon dioxide emissions as the key performance indicator. Lean is based on the premise that compressing time reveals hidden qual...
详细信息
ISBN:
(纸本)9781622767557
In this paper, we investigate the environmental performance of lean supply chains using carbon dioxide emissions as the key performance indicator. Lean is based on the premise that compressing time reveals hidden quality problems and that their resolution leads to more efficient, cost-effective business processes. If time compression always implies lower emissions, then a leaner system is always greener as measured by emissions. If time compression does not always lead to lower emissions, then further changes to the lean system may be required in order to make it greener. We use a simulation model of a generic supply chain as well as two representative examples of supply chains to examine this. Our analysis shows that supply chain emissions are highly sensitive to the frequency and mode of delivery of goods as well as the type and amount of inventory stored at each company. Our results suggest that lean supply chains are not necessarily green, although they could turn out to be green in certain cases. The main impediment appears to be distance. While lean supply chains typically have lower emissions due to reduced inventory levels, the frequent replenishment at every point in the provision stream generally tends to increase the emissions. If a lean supply chain is located entirely within a small region, then it would almost certainly be green from an emissions perspective due to the low levels of inventory and short shipping distances. As distances increase along the supply chain, it is quite possible for lean and green to be in conflict, leading to tradeoffs as well as additional opportunities for optimization.
In AI systems so far developed, more knowledge (typically stored as "rules") entails slower processing; in the case of humans, the more knowledge attained (in the form of experience), the speed/efficiency of...
详细信息
In AI systems so far developed, more knowledge (typically stored as "rules") entails slower processing; in the case of humans, the more knowledge attained (in the form of experience), the speed/efficiency of performing new related tasks is improved. Experience-based (EB) identification and control is explored with the objective of achieving more human-like processes for 'intelligent' computing agents. The notion of experience is being successfully addressed via a novel concept for applying reinforcement learning (RL), called HLLA -higher level learning algorithm. The key idea is to re-purpose the RL method (to a "higher level") such that instead of creating an optimal controller for a given task, an already achieved collection of such solutions for a variety of related contexts is provided (as an experience repository), and HLLA creates a strategy for optimally selecting a solution from the repository. The selection process is triggered by the agent becoming aware that a change in context has occurred, followed by the agent seeking information about what changed -a process here called context discernment - and finally, by selection. Typically, context discernment entails a form of system identification (SId); substantial enhancement of SId is also achieved via the EB methods. Examples are given.
Successful K-12 engineering outreach at any university requires substantial support from the administration at the department, school/college and university levels. It also requires dedication of faculty, staff and un...
详细信息
Active Grids are a form of grid infrastructure where the grid network is active andprogrammable. These grids directly support applications with value added services such as data migration, compression, adaptation and...
详细信息
ISBN:
(纸本)9781920682361
Active Grids are a form of grid infrastructure where the grid network is active andprogrammable. These grids directly support applications with value added services such as data migration, compression, adaptation and monitoring. Services such as these are particularly important for eResearch applications which by their very nature are performance critical anddata *** propose an architecture for improving the flexibility of Active Grids through web services. These enable Active Grid services to be easily and flexibly configured, monitored anddeployed from practically any platform or application. The architecture is called WeSPNI ("Web Services based on programmable Networks Infrastructure"). We present the architecture together with some early experimental results on using web services to monitor data movement in an active grid.
The deleterious impact of industrial activities on safety health and environmental quality has motivated industries to adopt environmental management systems (EMSs). This paper examines the implementation of EMSs in i...
详细信息
Mathematical models are often used in system identification applications. The dynamics of most systems, however, change over time and the sources of these changes cannot always be directly determined or measured. To m...
详细信息
暂无评论