The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact that unevenly allocating buffer capacity has on throughput and average buffer level regarding unreliable lines to better understand the relevant factors in supply chain design. Results show that the best patterns for unreliable merging lines in terms of generating higher throughput rates (TR), as compared to a balanced merging line counterpart, are those where total available buffer capacity is allocated between workstations in either an inverted bowl pattern (i.e. concentrating buffer capacity towards the centre of the line), or a balanced line pattern. In contrast, when considering the trade-off between generating revenue resulting from TR and reducing cost created by average buffer levels (ABL), we found that the balanced pattern was not the best pattern. The best pattern was dependent on the length of the line and on the total buffer capacity as shorter lines with very constrained buffers were best served with an inverted bowl pattern while longer lines had the best results when applying an ascending buffer allocation pattern. Longer lines, in contrast, had the best results regarding the trade-off between TR and ABL, on average, by allocating buffer capacity evenly in one of the parallel lines while applying any other pattern in the remaining parallel line.
LINK
In cases of sexual assault, the interpretation of biological traces on clothing, and particularly undergarments, may be complex. This is especially so when the complainant and defendant interact socially, for instance as (ex-)partners or by co-habitation. Here we present the results from a study where latent male DNA on female worn undergarments is recovered in four groups with different levels of male-female social interaction. The results conform to prior expectation, in that less interaction tend to result in less male DNA on undergarments. We explore the use of these experimental data for evaluative reporting given activity level propositions in a mock case scenario. We show how the selection of different populations to represent the social interaction between complainant and defendant may affect the strength of the evidence. We further show how datasets of limited size can be used for robust activity level evaluative reporting.
MULTIFILE
Export shipments arriving late at the freight building of KLM Cargo at Schiphol Airport is a trigger to deviations in the standard acceptance process. These Late Shows are currently handled ad-hoc making it difficult to plan and predict these events. In addition, shipments arriving on time is currently not a criterion for acceptance, while a shipment should depart on the flight planned at the moment of acceptance or the quality of the process deteriorates. By conducting a data analysis to quantitatively identify the characteristics of the Late Shows, and by conducting stakeholder interviews to understand the current process and discuss the future process, this research tried to design the operational process of the Late Shows to improve the operational excellence and quality of the acceptance process. The research shows that currently, late shipments are often still tried to be build up for the planned flight. It is found that 13% of these shipments do eventually not depart on the planned flight, while being accepted by KLM Cargo, deteriorating the quality of the process. The research concludes that the design of the Late Show process should include a check on whether the shipment was delivered on time, before acceptance of the shipment. By only accepting the shipment once it is decided that the planned flight is achievable or when it is rebooked to another flight, it is assured that the Late Show will be on time at the buildup buffer for the booked flight.
DOCUMENT
