Mohamed M. Naim

Cardiff University | CU · Cardiff Business School

We consider a component manufacturing and remanufacturing system where, due to the end of-life warranty, new and after-sales demand must be satisfied. Two kinds of demand exhibit different lifecycle patterns with different scales and a time lag, while a third correlated component return lifecycle with again a different lag and scale, driven by adop...

Managing order pipeline inventory is important for controlling unwanted system dynamics, especially the bullwhip effect. We analytically explore the impact of desired target order pipeline inventory, advocated as a key decision in managing pipeline inventory, on system dynamics performance. Using control theory and system dynamics simulation, we ev...

We study the dynamic behaviour of a hybrid system where manufacturing and remanufacturing operations occur simultaneously to produce the same serviceable inventory for order fulfilment. Such a hybrid system, commonly found in the photocopier and personal computer industries, has received considerable attention in the literature. However, its dynami...

Nonlinearities can lead to unexpected dynamic behaviours in supply chain systems that could then either trigger disruptions or make the response and recovery process more difficult. In this chapter we take a control theoretic perspective to discuss the impact of nonlinearities on the ripple effect. This chapter is particularly relevant for research...

The hybrid assembly-to-order (ATO) supply chain, combining make-to-stock and make-to-order (MTS-MTO) production, separated by a customer order decoupling point (CODP), is well recognised in many sectors. Based on the well-established Inventory and Order Based Production Control Systems (the IOBPCS family), we develop a hybrid ATO system dynamics mo...

The dynamic performance of an inventory and order based production control system (IOBPCS) has traditionally been assessed via its service level capabilities, usually determined by capacity availability, measured by bullwhip, and net stock variance, with both having production costs implications. The underlying assumption in most analytical studies...

Given the UK Government’s mandatory requirement, from April 2016, for Building Information Modelling (BIM) adoption, our research set out to explore whether construction supply chains can achieve the targets set and what actions are required to accelerate BIM adoption in the supply chain. To establish an in-depth understanding of the current state...

In 1994, through classic control theory, John, Naim and Towill developed the ‘Automatic Pipeline, Inventory and Order-based Production Control System’ (APIOBPCS) which extended the original IOBPCS archetype developed by Towill in 1982 ─ well-recognized as a base framework for a production planning and control system. Due to the prevalence of the tw...

In 1994, through classic control theory, John, Naim and Towill developed the 'Automatic Pipeline, Inventory and Order-based Production Control System' (APIOBPCS), which extended the original IOBPCS archetype (Towill 1982) ─ a well-recognized as a base framework for a production planning and control system. Due to the prevalence of two original mode...

In an empirical context, a method to use nonlinear control theory in the dynamic analysis of supply chain resilience is developed and tested. The method utilises block diagram development, transfer function formulation, describing function representation of nonlinearities and simulation. Using both ‘shock’ or step response and ‘filter’ or frequency...

This research has responded to the need for diagnostic reference tools explicitly linking the influence of environmental uncertainty and performance within the supply chain. Uncertainty is a key factor influencing performance and an important measure of the operating environment. We develop and demonstrate a novel reference methodology based on dat...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a measure that links the causes and consequences of disruptions in freight transport operations. Such a measure is needed to quantify the scale of impact and identify the root causes of disruptions. Design/methodology/approach – In order to develop this measure, an inductive approach was adopted, u...

We propose an efficient evolutionary multi-objective optimization approach to the capacitated facility location–allocation problem (CFLP) for solving large instances that considers flexibility at the allocation level, where financial costs and CO2 emissions are considered simultaneously. Our approach utilizes suitably adapted Lagrangian Relaxation...

The paper explores the meaning of flexibility in the context of lean, agile and leagile supply networks and articulates a supply network flexibility framework. Two key ‘sources’ of flexibility are investigated: Vendor Flexibility and Sourcing Flexibility. The paper introduces an extension of the ‘leagility’ concept beyond the simple material flow d...

By integrating the approaches of Forrester and Burbidge [Forrester, J. W. 1961. Industrial Dynamics. Pegasus Communications; Burbidge, J. L. 1961. “The “New Approach” to Production.” Production Engineer 40: 769–784], a set of five design principles have emerged which provide a foundation for sound supply chain design. The ‘FORRIDGE’ principles have...

We investigate how capacity limitations in the transportation system affect the dynamic behaviour of supply chains. We are interested in the more recently defined, ‘backlash’ effect. Using a system dynamics simulation approach, we replicate the well-known Beer Game supply chain for different transport capacity management scenarios. The results indi...

This paper explores the concept of building adaptability with particular reference to its potential contribution to the sustainable construction agenda. It considers the drivers for adaptability, the characteristics of buildings and building processes that enable the adaptability of buildings, and the benefits associated with such buildings and tec...

Previous studies (such as Fung et al., 2007) have revealed that in industries characterized by high degrees of agility, fragmentation and globalization, such as the fashion sector, trade intermediaries play a significant role in integrating geographically dispersed value-chain activities. The typical tasks of an intermediary include sourcing, suppl...

Uncertainty affecting operations has long been recognized by researchers as a major obstacle to the delivery of customer value in supply chains. While it has been acknowledged that different types of supply chain have different uncertainty profiles, there is little academic literature addressing the particular uncertainties relating to engineer-to-...

There is no consensus on the supply chain management definition of resilience. To aid in evaluating the dynamic behaviour of such systems we need to establish clearly elucidated performance criteria that encapsulate the attributes of resilience. A literature review establishes the latter as readiness, responsiveness and recovery. We also identify r...

This paper explores the concept of workplace organisation and the role of safety. Specifically, the objectives of the study were to identify the role of safety within 5S and to test how the extension of the method (to 6S) can explicitly and effectively integrate safety with productivity and quality. An action research approach enabled the developme...

Rogue seasonality or unintended cyclic variability in order and other supply chain variables is an endogenous disturbance generated by a company's internal processes such as inventory and production control systems. The ability to automatically detect, diagnose and discriminate rogue seasonality from exogenous disturbances is of prime importance to...

The role that liquid biofuels will play in future energy systems will depend on biomass-to-energy supply chain to overcome the barriers that may hinder the development and international trade, as well as a sustainable and efficient production of biomass resources. This research paper is based on an extensive literature review, and its purpose is to...

There is a need to explore the actual uptake of specification options by clients in the context of the self-build housing industry. In so doing all the components in a house that can be customized were categorized so as to highlight the features that must be customizable and those that can be standardized. Through a longitudinal study of a German h...

The purpose of this paper is to develop and investigate a four-step framework for achieving appropriate flexibilities to mitigate the uncertainties experienced in supply chains. The framework is developed through four literature streams and then investigated in the specific setting of the construction industry. The empirical research is based on a...

It is strategically important to design efficient and environmentally friendly distribution networks. In this paper we propose a new methodology for solving the capacitated facility location problem (CFLP) based on combining an evolutionary multi-objective algorithm with Lagrangian Relaxation where financial costs and CO2 emissions are considered s...

This paper, through a case study, evaluates postponement as an option to improve supply chain performances in a soluble coffee manufacturer. The main focus of the paper is on the development of a numerical data-driven methodology for quantifying the benefits of postponement obtained from the total inventory reduction. Our study shows that significa...

In 1999 a paper by Naylor, Naim and Berry on ‘leagility’ was published in international journal of production economics. The paper has attracted over 100 independent citations from over 60 journals of international standing. This paper explores the testing, exploitation and extension of the original work. Via a systematic literature review the nota...

Traditionally, logistics design is driven by a need to reduce costs and improve customer service. Recently, the environmental concerns from transport have been increasingly discussed. The traffic levels and associated energy consumption are influenced by supply chain structure, modal split and vehicle utilization. This paper aims to assess the impa...

Since the 1990s there has been a rich literature on business-to-business electronic marketplaces. While many aspects of supply chain management have been considered, there are only a few studies which investigate the development and application of these electronic marketplaces in logistics. These can be termed Electronic Logistics Marketplaces (ELM...

This chapter presents a new perspective to obtain a better understanding of postponement benefits. This new perspective tries to address the important alignment between the production-inventory and marketing functions, under which we are able to obtain a more complete view on how postponement may enhance firms’ profitability. We developed stylised...

The UK has a requirement for people with seafaring expertise to fill a wide range of jobs in the maritime-related sector of the economy ashore. The pool of seagoing ships' officers has now reached the level where shore-based demand for such officers cannot be satisfied by natural wastage from this pool alone. This paper considers the implications o...

This paper examines how buying organisations can configure their supply networks to achieve supply chain flexibility. Supply chain flexibility can be rationalised by considering two key antecedents of flexibility, sourcing and vendor flexibility. Network co-ordinators can group their suppliers under three categories, framework agreement suppliers,...

This paper aims to develop the construct of transport flexibility within the context of supply chain strategy. We assess the role of flexibility in satisfying competitive opportunities while accommodating supply chain uncertainties. In this way, we may then determine the role of different transport flexibility types in delivering strategic outcomes...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to verify a transport uncertainty triad model taking a supply chain perspective, and determine which different forms of uncertainty impact on transport operations. The aim is to qualitatively evaluate the different types of uncertainty impacting on transport operations rather than estimating the risk that each o...

This article aims to examine the cost or benefit implications of employing postponement in the manufacturing environments characterised by non-negligible changeover times incurred when switching production from one product to another. Four manufacturing configurations are distinguished based on the choice of manufacturing technology and on whether...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to refine a logistics triad uncertainty model taking a supply chain perspective, to determine and assess the different causes and sources of supply chain uncertainty that impact on the sustainability of the UK road freight transport sector. Design/methodology/approach To clarify the link between sustainability...

Relatively little attention has been given to methodological issues in the logistics literature. In logistics, ‘we need to take more account of the views of practitioners in the field by supporting quantitative data with qualitative data’ [New, S.J. and Payne, P. (1995). Research frameworks in logistics: three models, seven dinners and a survey. In...

Flexibility is an issue widely studied in the manufacturing literature, but only recently has attention been paid to flexibility in logistics and supply chain management. Flexibility is taking prominence due to the uncertainties and disruptions created in the production and distribution processes of an organisation and its respective supply chains....

Product proliferation as a result of meeting ever increasing customer demand preferences is well documented. In addition, customisation has been promoted as a source of competitive advantage. Despite these factors, most of the published research in operations and supply chain management has neglected the needs of the 'engineer-to-order' (ETO) secto...

'Bullwhip' is the phenomenon experienced in practice, signifying the propagation and amplification of orders as they pass upstream in a supply chain pipeline. 'Bullwhip' creates uncertainty for managers who then create stock and/or maintain excess capacity leading to increased total costs. A well known descriptor of the phenomenon is the MIT Beer G...

Supply chains face varied disturbances which affect their efficiency and customer service provision. An endemic disturbance which has a significant impact on both upstream as well as downstream supply chain operations arises from capacity constraints in one or more echelons. This study uses a dynamic simulation model of the Beer game (four echelon...

Traditionally, the uncapacitated facility location problem (UFLP) is solved as a single-objective optimization exercise, and focuses on minimizing the cost of operating a distribution network. This paper presents an exploratory study in which the environmental impact is modelled as a separate objective to the economic cost. We assume that the envir...

In this paper we analyse the use of form postponement based on the positioning of the differentiation point and stocking policy. Six classes of manufacturing configurations are identified based on the choice of whether or not form postponement is employed and the decision regarding the stocking policy for the final product configurations as well as...

Uncertainties affecting supply chain operations are recognised as significant obstacles to achieving value for customers. One strategy for coping with uncertainty is to build flexibility into the supply chain, but this has rarely been discussed in the context of construction. Two key research questions are considered: "what are the sources of suppl...

One way in which companies can obtain competitive advantage is through customising their logistics operations to particular market segments. A challenge for businesses pursuing this strategy is to develop a performance measurement (PM) system that enables the differing objectives of divergent distribution channels to be met. However, this issue has...

Purpose Much of the recent research on supply chain uncertainty has focused on relationships between manufacturers and suppliers and existing models have therefore been based on this dyadic structure. The aim is to establish a supply chain uncertainty model that explicitly incorporates transport operations and hence the logistics triad; supplier, c...

Purpose – Outsourcing of non-core activities and the subsequent vertical disintegration within manufacturing organisations have necessitated the need for process integration in the supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to develop a maturity scale to assess supply chain integration and hence improvement in supply chain performance. Design/metho...

Using a real-life data set, we investigate the benefit of sharing market sales information in a setting where a theoretical model argues there is no benefit from such a collaboration scheme. The set of real Electronic Point Of Sales (EPOS) data and the orders that were placed by a retailer to a suppler was used. We have focused on products that ope...

Over several years, the construction industry in the UK, including the housebuilding sector, has had many opportunities to modernize and innovate supply chain practices. This paper presents a national survey of major UK private housebuilders in 2003 that assesses and evaluates the current status of supply chain awareness in the housebuilding indust...

Disturbances in supply chains may be either exogenous or endogenous. The ability automatically to detect, diagnose, and distinguish between the causes of disturbances is of prime importance to decision makers in order to avoid uncertainty. The spectral principal component analysis (SPCA) technique has been utilized to distinguish between real and r...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate electronic logistics marketplaces (ELMs), especially closed systems based on long‐term relationships between shippers and carriers. It aims to establish likely operational models and investigate their relationship with tailored logistics. Design/methodology/approach Multiple case‐studies with shippe...

This paper shows the impact of using the net present value (NPV) on parameter selection in the ordering policy of a production planning and control system. Using a well understood and documented model, the net present value is used as an objective function to determine the discounted future variance costs resulting from the model's dynamics. The NP...

Based on a literature review of previous research and case studies, this paper develops a conceptual model that traces and categorises different interorganisation information coordination and control mechanisms in the logistics domain. The conceptual model is referred to as the B2B E-business Reference Architecture (ERA). Studies in system architec...

In this paper, we define the boundaries of a port cluster system and make an attempt to analyse how port cluster companies engage in the port logistics process. In order to visually present the intra-port clusters, we have used the ‘Structured Analysis and Design Technique’ (SADT). SADT was chosen, as it provides a robust structured method to model...

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the main business models used for airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities and determine the activities to which these relate. Design/methodology/approach A critical literature review is used to develop a conceptual model of MRO activities. This is evaluated through a SWOT analysis before an e...

The purpose of this paper is to compare supply chain operations of a number of construction related organisations against lean and agile constructs outlined in the literature. An exploratory case study approach is used in this study. This involves a researcher 'embedded' in a 'design and build' construction company. A number of product suppliers ar...

This paper analyses China’s current battery recycling logistics practices. The aims are to identify the possible obstacles and weaknesses in the existing system and then, more importantly, to recommend better and more practical approaches for battery recycling logistics in China. The methodology adopted uses the soft system methodology to illustrat...

Customer specific requirements is one of the key drivers in a supply chain strategy based on mass customization. At the same time there are intense pressure on price and short delivery lead times providing a complex environment for managing the supply chain. The complexity can be reduced by introducing the concept of a customer order decoupling poi...

People with seafaring experience and skills are employed in the maritime sector of the UK economy in land-based jobs as well as in seagoing ones. This paper examines the balance of supply and demand in the land-based jobs market. It then considers the likely effects of a shortfall in the supply of British ships' officers to fill net vacancies in jo...

Infrastructure modelling is a strategic level activity to make one or more decisions on the optimum location, number and allocation of service providers. This problem has been intensively researched in academic literature and traditionally focuses on minimizing total logistics costs or maximizing profit. But in many cases the optimum may involve de...

Despite the wealth of literature on e-marketplaces, research on electronic logistics and/or transport marketplaces, is scarce. Electronic Logistics Marketplace (ELM) refers to an electronic hub using web-based systems that link shippers and carriers together for the purpose of collaboration or trading. Via an international scoping study, our resear...

We wish to establish the potential logistics uncertainties hindering sustainable freight transport. The literature indicates that there are many factors that influence sustainable transport. We aim to determine the key factors that impinge practice. Based on a literature review, we develop a conceptual model to categorise the different factors that...

In this paper we study a hybrid system with both manufacturing and remanufacturing. The inventory control strategy we use in the manufacturing loop is an automatic pipeline, inventory and order based production control system (APIOBPCS). In the remanufacturing loop we employ a Kanban policy to represent a typical pull system. The methodology adopte...

Ocean transportation has been mainly studied from an economic and strategic point of view. This paper adopts an operations management approach aiming at the identification of the value-adding attributes that characterize the ocean transportation industry. This is achieved by using Johansson et al.'s 1 four value metrics—service, quality, cost, time...

Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that rationalises transport flexibility into different types. In this way the role of the flexibility types in delivering specific strategic logistics outcomes can be determined. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertake a synthesis of available literature related to flexibility to determine w...

This paper shows the impact of using the net present value (NPV) on parameter selection in the ordering policy of a production planning and control system. Using a well understood and documented systems dynamics model of a supply chain, the NPV is used as an objective function to determine the discounted future variance costs resulting from the mod...

Variability in the information flows within a supply network requires production companies to either track the variations, hence leading to increased production on-costs, or to buffer themselves via the use of inventory which leads to stock holding costs.Customer demands generate variability, often in the form of seasonal patterns, but must be sati...

Purpose The design of distribution networks is prone to risks due to the uncertainties associated with factors that change over time. The purpose of this paper is to present a new method to identify those factors that the structure of a distribution network is most sensitive to. Design/methodology/approach A new method presented in this paper comb...

The decline of the British shipping industry has had a significant impact on those sectors of the UK economy which have traditionally relied on ex-seafarers as a source of skilled labour. An in-depth study of the impacts of this problem was undertaken in 2003 to consider the implications of developments which have taken place in the industry since...

The Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) is a supply chain business diagnostic. The QSAM has both an Action Learning and a Management Theory stream. The former is concerned with evaluating the operating characteristics and performance of specific value streams. The latter builds on codi fied data emanating from a sample of QSAM outputs to statistica...

Vehicle supply has traditionally been based on forecast-driven production, and a large fraction of cars has been sold from stock—a practice which incurs considerable cost in terms of stock holding and sales incentives. Derived from successes in other industries, the benefits of responsive supply systems capable of providing customized vehicles in s...

Ocean shipping transportation has been studied mainly from an economic and management point of view. This article follows an operations management approach, adopting a Business Systems Engineering methodology with the assistance of process modeling. It aims to identify, understand, and document the factors or activities within the ocean shipping ma...

A combined manufacturing/remanufacturing system is modelled and its dynamic behaviour is investigated using a control engineering approach. The model is an extension of the automated pipeline, inventory and order based production control system (APIOBPCS), which is well understood from a dynamic perspective. It is assumed that the remanufacturing p...

In recent years, Supply Chain Management has gained greater attention from academics and managers concerned to improve process efficiencies; and take best advantage of information technology and inter-organizational networks and relationships. This book brings together leading experts to provide a reference point for developments and issues in the...

Supply chain management techniques have proved to be a competitive weapon for many companies in a broad range of sectors. Up until recently, published examples of these companies have been based in the developed world. Increasingly, these techniques are being transferred to the developing world to improve competitiveness, particularly within domest...

The Quick Scan Methodology is a diagnostic tool used to identify improvement opportunities in supply chains. It has been applied to a number of industries around the world including the; Automotive industry in Europe and USA, the Manufacturing industry in Thailand and the Dairy and Forestry industry in New Zealand. Much of the published work on the...

There is little published work regarding value and waste in UK housebuilding supply chains. In this paper, we review the current status of research in supply chains generally and housebuilding supply chains specifically. The “wastes” and “values” within housebuilding supply chains are identified and categorized and some key potential improvement me...

Develops a theoretical taxonomy that can be used by management to strategically assess their current capabilities and identify areas of change to move towards a mass customization environment. Although many of the components have been previously published, this paper brings them together as a unified whole. The classification is applied to case stu...

The Internet and related information and communication technologies (ICT) have recently enabled the cost-effective dissemination of information between disparate parties in the supply chain. New supply chain strategies, such as vendor managed inventory (VMI), collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) and efficient consumer respon...

Time compression is a widely accepted approach to improving customer service levels while minimizing total costs. However, few applications within the construction sector exist, especially in relation to the early stages of program development and design. These stages are of paramount importance because of the resultant ramifications on the total c...

Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the sector. Although these provide snapshots of the structure of the supply chain, the evolution that has occurred is less well understood. This paper studies, primarily using process mapping techniques, the evolution of a case study steel supply chain withi...

From the arguably poor platforms described by the Egan, Latham, and Royal Academy of Engineering reports on the construction sector, there is now evidence that the supply chain revolution experienced over the last decade in the electronics products and automotive sectors is impacting on housebuilding in the UK. This case study describes how a first...

There has recently been considerable interest in construction research in paradigms developed for the manufacturing sector. Using lean thinking and agile production as examples of innovative organizational and business process design, this paper explores their commonalities and differences. In this way, it is possible to judge which paradigm is the...

Using the example of Japan's factory-based housing industry where firms supply customized homes which are pre-assembled from standardized components or modular systems, it is argued that 'mass customization' can be supported by several generic supply-chain models. The paper discusses these models and provides a case study of a Japanese housing supp...

High-speed vessels offer the opportunity for faster and more frequent delivery of smaller quantities of goods over shorter sea crossings. This paper reviews the role of high-speed vessels in the context of the total supply chain based on Fisher's product categorisation model. A mode choice process is presented here within the context of supply chai...