Supply Chain Management Journal 2015, Volume 6, Number 2

Urban logistics has now a new challenge in terms of barriers and access in urban areas. For this reason, the implementation of e-solutions based on ICT and ITS technologies is, at this moment, one of the most important way to solve the problems of logistics. ICT and ITS are, both, based on computer technologies and they are ready to be implemented based on cloud computing solutions (cloudification of this domain). A model of cloudification of logistics is the first step to understand the new paradigm and to move forward the development of new systems. Cloud based solutions for logistics are
presented and a reference model as well as the architecture of the system are defined.

cloud computing, urban logistics, ITS, smart mobility, smart city

December 2015, pp 1 – 10

Packaging “is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. Packaging can be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale, and end use. Packaging contains, protects, preserves, transports, informs, and sells.”
Packaging and labeling technologies can be used to fight supply-chain threats, but they must be part of an overall strategy. The pharmaceutical industry is no longer defined—or confined—by borders. Manufacturers are sourcing ingredients, materials, finished products, and contract packaging and manufacturing from around the world, and most are seeking to serve patients in multiple markets. The resulting supply chain is a
complex one. Further complications within the design process include the need to track and trace a product throughout the supply chain.
Pharmaceutical companies will have to give a serious thought and appoint dedicated team to implement the system; rather dedicated department of Track & Trace should be added. For proper implementation of Track & Trace system involvement and participation of each department is required. Major role playing departments are Packaging, QA, Production and IT.

Physical protection, Barrier protection, Containment or agglomeration, Information transmission, Marketing, Security, Convenience, Portion control

December 2015, pp 11 – 25https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UU1XKXgiT4W0pBvIa9ZHyfLUPSpfVqPf

Reducing the inventory is a constant point of interest for supply chain managers. The present research is based on an empirical study, in which the decision-making process is modeled and simulated, taking into account the interactions of a supply chain. The supply chain configuration is depicted using the beer distribution game paradigm, with three main stages: manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer. The beer game is a role- play simulation game that lets students experience typical coordination problem of traditional supply chains, in which information sharing and collaboration do not exist. The objective of the paper is to answer an empirical question based on logical assumptions. When it comes to place orders to replenish inventory, the retailer has to take into account a series of factors. First, the wholesaler offers its product in three batches from small to large and extra-large and temporary and periodical discounts depending on batches size. Second, the unit price is decreasing gradually with a ratio inversely proportional to the batch size. The retailer can place orders for a large batch with a balanced unitary price, to keep a decent level of inventory, and to be able to order extra-
large batch (for a better unitary price) when the wholesaler will offer periodical discounts. Another strategy that can be adopted by the retailer implies ordering extra-large batches (for a lower unitary price) without the concern of missing the periodical discounts due to an overstock of inventory. Based on the research of Behavioral Operations Management, two patterns of human behavior can be associated with the strategies described above, first of which being loss aversion and the second risk seeking. Loss aversion translates to the reluctance’s of the decision maker to give up an immediate gain even though the risk can be more beneficial in the long run. Based on the fundamentals of system dynamics the purpose of the analysis is to investigate the optimal alternative that the decision maker has when it comes to placing time-related orders upstream in the supply chain. The main contribution of this research is the use of simulation as a decision support system for stakeholders challenged by cognitive biases of human behavior when complex
choices have to be made.

Supply Chain, System Dynamics, Beer Game, Decision making, Ordering policies

December 2015, pp 26 – 36

Dining establishments have always been an essential element of travel and tourism because the earliest inns provided both lodging and food to weary travelers. In Europa and America the roots of modern gastronomy and dining away from home is
associated with its development in France. The term restaurant itself was originality a French word that described food thought to have restorative or healing properties like chocolate, soups and broths, and red meat. Cooking shops prepared such items solely for takeout customers to eat at tables outside, but eventually tables and bench were provided for patrons to sit down and eat within the confines of the establishment. As new dishes were introduced and dining rooms grew in size, the term restaurant was affixed to these establishments.
Consumers have two basic options when purchasing and consuming food and drink. One is to eat and drink outside the home in a hospitality operation. The other is to purchase food and drink from food retailers, which is fresh or partially prepared, for
consumption in or away from the home, but outside a hospitality operation. The boundary between catering and food and drink retail is therefore fuzzy and the division between the tho industries is becoming increasingly blurred as a result of technological developments and the activities of operators.
The catering industry is simply considered it cover all undertakings concerned with the provision of prepared food and drink ready for consumption away from home. It also includes establishments that provide a take-away and/or delivery service where the food and/or drink are prepared within the establishment but consumed elsewhere. In the last time convenience stores, major retailers and independent retailers increasingly provide a similar service. The former catering outlets includes such: 1. profit-orientated establishments as restaurants, fast-food chain outlets, cafes/takeaways, pubs, leisure and travel catering outlets while 2. the second sector (cost outlets) includes catering for business, education and health care.

catering industry, food services, restaurant, food safety, beef traceability, risk management, supply chain

December 2015, pp 37 – 47

Customer value is subject to widely different interpretations by researchers, but the common consensus is that value is evaluated through the use of some product or service subjectively perceived by the customer.
Creating a customer-focused organization takes hard work and discipline. It must be built on good policies, good people, and good processes. Customer satisfaction and loialty have evolved into a new concept: customer engagement refer to customers
‟involvement in or commitment to a brand and product offerings. Customer engagement is important outcome of a customer-focused culture and the organization‟s listening, learning, and performance-excellence strategy.
Customer-driven strategy is concerned with meeting the needs of the organization‟s actual and potential customers and, as a result, delivering the objectives of the organization, such as profit or service in a public service organization.
Demand Chain Management can be described as the opposite value chain of the supply chain. Within supply chain management focus is primarily directed at the downstream flow of products, increasing value down the chain through each link. Flow in the opposite direction can be regarded as the demand chain flowing information and funds upstream. Customer-Driven Supply Chain is a new concept, which has evolved from the supply chain management research stream.
Today, supply chains are among the most important business processes and can be viewed as encompassing many key value-creation and support processes such as supplier selection and certification, purchasing, logistics, receiving, and performance
measurement. The value chain provides a structure to capture the linkage of organizational activities that create value for the customer.
Benchmarking is a systematic and continuous process that facilitates the measurement and comparison of performance and identification of best pracices that enable superior performance. Process benchmarking identifies the most effective practices in key work processes in organization that perform similar functions, no matter in what industry.

Customer value, Customer-driven strategy, customer-focused organization, Customer-Driven Supply Chain, business processes, performance measurement, Benchmarking

December 2015, pp 48 – 76