Economic evaluation of systems that expedite inventory information

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bensoussan, Alain; Cakanyildirim, Metin; Sethi, Suresh P.
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas; University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas; University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas; University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas
• 刊物名称: PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1059-1478
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 360-368
• 关键词: information delays; delay evaluation; basestock policy; partially observed inventory

摘要

Information delays exist when the most recent inventory information available to the Inventory Manager (IM) is dated. Such situations arise when it takes a while to process the demand data, count the inventory, and pass the results to the IM. We show that the optimal total inventory-related cost decreases when the length of the information delay decreases. The amount of the decrease is an important datum for an IM interested in considering whether or not to invest in reducing the delay. The investment is required to finance design and acquisition of an information (collection and dissemination) system that can reduce the information delay. Such systems include phone calls, business meetings, and the use of information collection mechanisms such as radiofrequency identification tags.