Using DEA models to jointly estimate service quality perception and profitability – Evidence from international airports

With increasing competition between airports and a growing share of non-aeronautical revenues, particularly at large international hubs, perceived quality and consumer satisfaction have not only become a key focus of management but potentially the most important tool to achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. However, in the long run stakeholders aim for profit maximisation and it has been shown for other parts of the aviation supply chain that quality does significantly impact on profitability. In this paper we aim to investigate whether perceived airport quality has an impact on airport profit margins. We further apply two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to estimate a single efficiency measure that combines the potentially conflicting indicators of perceived service quality and profitability for the airport context. We also identify determinants of the jointly estimated single quality/profitability measure.     

Evaluating sustainability of supply chains by two-stage range directional measure in the presence of negative data

Assessing sustainability of supply chains is a critical and increasingly complex problem. In recent years sustainability has received more attention in supply chain management (SCM) literature with triple bottom lines including social, environmental, and economic factors. Conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models consider decision making units (DMUs) as black boxes that consume a set of inputs to produce a set of outputs and do not take into consideration internal interactions of DMUs. Two-stage DEA models deal with such DMUs. However, existing two-stage DEA models are applicable only in technologies characterized by positive inputs/outputs. This paper aims to build and present a new two-stage DEA model considering negative input-intermediate-output data. Some numerical examples along with some theorems and properties are given to show capability of proposed method. The proposed ideas are used in a case study where 29 Iranian supply chains producing equipment of expendable medical devices are evaluated in terms of sustainability.     

Comparative performance analysis of European airports by means of extended data envelopment analysis

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has become an established approach for analyzing and comparing efficiency results of corporate organizations or economic agents. It has also found wide application in comparative studies on airport efficiency. The standard DEA approach to comparative airport efficiency analysis has two feeble elements, viz. a methodological weakness and a substantive weakness. The methodological weakness originates from the choice of uniform efficiency improvement assessment, whereas the substantive weakness in airport efficiency analysis concerns the insufficient attention for short‐term and long‐term adjustment possibilities in the production inputs determining airport efficiency. The present paper aims to address both flaws by doing the following: (i) designing a data‐instigated distance friction minimization (DFM) model as a generalization of the standard Banker–Charnes–Cooper model with a view to the development of a more appropriate efficiency improvement projection model in the Banker–Charnes–Cooper version of DEA and (ii) including as factor inputs also lumpy or rigid factors that are characterized by short‐term indivisibility or inertia (and hence not suitable for short‐run flexible adjustment in new efficiency stages), as is the case for runways of airports. This so‐called fixed factor case will be included in the DFM submodel of the DEA. This extended DEA—with a DFM and a fixed factor component—will be applied to a comparative performance analysis of several major airports in Europe. Finally, our comparative study on airport efficiency analysis will be extended by incorporating also the added value of the presence of shopping facilities at airports for their relative economic performance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A data envelopment analysis model for evaluating the performance of taxi operators: a case study in Harbin,China

ABSTRACT

This paper measures the performance of taxi operators using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the improvement of performance based on benchmarks. This includes basic DEA models and a cross efficiency model. In the present work, a sample set of 20 taxi operators are considered, and an evaluation indicator framework is constructed, which mainly involves the identification of decision-making units (DMUs) and the determination of input-output variables. The combined results of multiple DEA models are used to evaluate the performance of taxi operators in a case study of Harbin. The results highlight the significance of the combined application of multiple DEA models, especially a cross-efficiency model that can obtain more objective efficiency values. Finally, the benchmarking method is used to capture the achievements of best-performing operators and provide valuable improvement recommendations for inefficient operators. Conclusions provide a suitable basis for the operation and management of the taxi market.     

Build-to-order supply chain network design under supply and demand uncertainties

Supply chain disruptions are unintended, unwanted situations resulting in a negative supply chain performance. We study the supply chain network design under supply and demand uncertainty with embedded supply chain disruption mitigation strategies, postponement with downward substitution, centralized stocking and supplier sourcing base. We designed an integrated supply-side, manufacturing and demand-side operations network in such that the total expected operating cost is minimized. We modeled it in a deterministic equivalent formulation. An L-shaped decomposition with an additional decomposition step in the master problem is proposed. The computational results showed that parallel sourcing has a cost advantage against single sourcing under supply disruptions. In addition, the build-to-order (BTO) manufacturing mitigation process has its greatest impact with high variations on demands and is integrated with the component downward substitution. Lastly, the manufacturer needs to order differentiated components to cover its requirement for maximal product demand to prevent the loss of sale, even with fewer modules in stock.     

A multiple criteria approach to two-stage data envelopment analysis

Two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) models are commonly used in the evaluation and benchmarking of sustainable operations and processes across multiple research fields. To date, however, little attention has been given to the unrealistic weight distribution and weak discrimination power in the modeling and evaluation of the two-stage sustainable operations when using two-stage DEA models. In order to overcome this methodological weakness, we use the multiple criteria DEA (MCDEA) approach in the evaluation of the two-stage processes. The outcome is a multiple criteria two-stage DEA model which yields more realistic weights for the inputs and outputs and thus has better discrimination power than traditional two-stage DEA models. The developed model is tested and validated by assessing the sustainable design performances of a sample of car product designs.     

Assessing carbon footprint and energy efficiency in competing supply chains: Review - Case studies and benchmarking

This article compares the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of supply chains in Belgium, France and UK looking in particular at, jeans, yogurts, apples, tomatoes and furniture. We use a generic methodology that allows comparability across the supply chain of products, supply chains, and countries. Our benchmarking show relatively high emissions for maritime transport and the consumer leg, while logistics activities such as storage and road freight exhibit relatively low emissions. The influences of distance, retail type, area density and consumer behaviour are also examined.     

Measuring supply chain risk: Predicting motor carriers’ ability to withstand disruptive environmental change using conjoint analysis

Supply chain risk measurement is an expanding research stream that considers the ability of networked firms to anticipate and respond to significant environmental risks, including major disruptions and unexpected events. However measuring and quantifying supply chain risk has proved an enormous challenge and this research contributes to this goal by developing a risk assessment scorecard, using conjoint analysis, for motor carrier firms. The resultant motor-carrier scorecard has been scaled from 300 to 900, to resemble the well-known FICO score for assessing consumer creditworthiness. Our scoring model enables motor carriers – and the firms that depend upon them in intermodal supply chains – to assess carriers’ ability to withstand major disruptive events, which are broadly defined as events which might lead to a significant drop in carriers’ income and profitability (e.g., such as that which occurred on September 11, 2001). Carriers with weaker risk scores (<600, on a 300–900 scale) are more likely to experience financial distress (and as a result possibly exit the industry itself); those with scores above 600 are less likely to depart. The model correctly identified 77 percent of motor carriers that ultimately exited the trucking industry following the significant environmental disruption caused by 9/11. Our computational experience indicates that the model accuracy, quantified in terms of Type I and Type II errors, compares favorably to prior results reported in the credit scoring literature.     

Eco-design of transportation in sustainable supply chain management: A DEA-like method

This study addresses the issue of eco-design for transportation in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is adopted and extended to construct a model for this application. This proposed model, together with the tractable algorithm developed in this research, can provide stakeholders with a Pareto Optimal transportation strategy. This derived transportation strategy can help stakeholders realize certain transportation goals with less resource consumption and pollution emission. The discussion presented leads to a heuristic Joint Transportation Policy and concludes with two useful suggestions for putting the strategy into practice. The proposed model was used in an empirical study of design sustainable transportation mechanism for one air-condition manufacturer in China to transport its products as well, the analysis further demonstrating the theoretical and practical value of this research.     

Towards a common measure of greenhouse gas related logistics activity using data envelopment analysis

Monitoring company emissions from freight transport is essential if future greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions are to be realised. Modern economies are characterised increasingly by lower density freight movements. However, weight-based measures of freight transport activity (tonne-kilometre, tonnes lifted) are not good at describing volume-limited freight. After introducing the need for performance measurement, the problem of benchmarking is outlined in more detail. A context-dependent undesirable output data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, designed to be sensitive to business context, is then tested on a simulated set of fleet profiles. DEA can produce more consistent measures of good-practice, compared to ratio-based key performance indicators (KPI), providing emission reduction targets for companies and an aggregate reporting tool.     

Management's role in U.S. rail passenger decline, 1920–1941

Opinions vary as to whether the decline of American railroad passenger service can be attributed primarily to consumer choice or partly to structural impedances to the supply. Results are reported from testing the hypothesis that railroad management supplied service inappropriate in the new motor era: that management catered to a small, high-priced market, whereas it should have catered to a mass, low-priced market. An aggregate demand model with non-linear elasticity characteristics is estimated on railroad traffic between a sample of American cities for 1933. The model is sensitive to speed, fare and headway variables under the control of railroad management and reveals that there was a unique fare for a service of a given speed that maximized gross revenues. The observed fare for most of the 187 cases in the study was near or below the optimal fare, showing that rail managers judged their markets well, at least in the short run.     

一种智能无线遥控型恒电位仪

该智能无线遥控型恒电位仪是一种应用于阴极防腐保护的大功率直流电源。通过GSM短消息业务方式实现对恒电位仪主要运行参数和阴极保护电位的远程遥测控制,能够在阴极保护工程管理中实现分散控制、集中管理,具有智能化、系统化、网络化特点,极具推广价值。     

浅析高速公路供配电节能技术

供配电系统是高速公路中的重要组成部分,近年来随着我国高速公路建设的迅速发展,供配电系统的电力支出费用越来越大。高速公路的供配电节能技术既要保证公路电力设施的安全性又要保证其节能性,文章针对我国高速公路供配电系统的运营现状,分析供配电节能技术,希望可以有效促进我国高速公路经济效益的增长。     

Elasticities of fuel and traffic demand and the direct rebound effects: An econometric estimation in the case of Norway

We estimate the elasticities of fuel and travel demand with respect to fuel prices and income in the case of Norway. Furthermore, we derive the direct rebound effects that explain the degree to which a fuel price increase is “offset” in the form of greater fuel use and/or travel due to improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency. For this purpose, we use and compare two alternative econometric approaches: the error correction model (ECM) and the dynamic model. Our initial assumption is that one should not be indifferent with respect to the approach used to derive elasticities. The data used are for the period 1980–2011. Our results indicate the following: (1) the dynamic model fits the data better than the ECM model does; (2) the estimated elasticities of fuel demand with respect to price and income are −0.26 and 0.06 in the short run and −0.36 and 0.09 in the long run. For travel demand, the respective elasticities are −0.11 and 0.06 in the short run and −0.24 and 0.13 in the long run, implying inelastic demands for fuel and travel demand; and (3) rebound effects indicate that 0.26% and 0.06% of fuel savings as a result of fuel price increase will be offset in the form of more fuel use in the short run and in the long run, respectively, if fuel efficiency increases by 1%. Our policy recommendations are that policies should not be indifferent to the methods used to derive elasticities. We contend that it is crucial to seriously consider rebound effects in policy making because basic elasticity estimates exaggerate the impact of fuel price increases.     

Estimating fuel demand elasticities to evaluate CO2 emissions: Panel data evidence for the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

This paper estimates fuel demand models for the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) and uses the demand elasticities obtained to predict future levels of road transport CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions. Data for the municipalities constituting the AML and the period 1993–2010 are analysed using static and dynamic panel data models to measure the relative importance of fuel price, income, vehicle stock, the price of public transport, and the availability of urban and suburban rail networks on fuel demand. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the Portuguese context to produce fuel demand elasticities for a specific metropolitan area, as opposed to the estimation of country-level aggregate elasticities. Our findings indicate that the elasticity of fuel demand with respect to fuel price ranges between −0.48 and −0.72 in the short run and between −1.19 and −1.82 in the long run. Income elasticities are found to range between 0.51 and 0.54 in the short run and between 1.26 and 1.37 in the long run. The elasticity of fuel demand with respect to vehicle stock (keeping population constant) is 0.57 in the short run and 1.43 in the long run. There is only weak evidence of a reduction in fuel demand as a result of a decrease in the price of public transport, and no effect of greater availability of rail networks. Based on the elasticities estimated, we predict road transport CO₂ emissions for the AML according to different macroeconomic scenarios. The results indicate that the emissions target is only achieved in the scenario of poor economic performance. In the presence of medium and strong economic growth, fuel prices would need to increase by about 7% and 11% per year respectively in order to meet the emissions target.     

基于水锤模拟的长输管道运行薄弱段分析

结合国内某长距离输水管道工程实例,通过水锤模拟对输水管道进行典型工况分析,确定输水管道易发生爆管的薄弱地段,并判断其危险等级。结果表明：对长距离输水系统进行典型工况水锤模拟可有效判断管道薄弱位置,通过对爆管事故内因、外因分析可预测管道薄弱段发生事故时危害程度。针对不同工程特点进行长输管道运行薄弱段分析,可提高供水可靠性,为管道安全运行管理提供依据。     

The Shanggongshan Tunnel Kunming Zhangjiuhe River Water Diversion and Water Supply Project

Kunming is the political and economical centre of the Yunnan Province in the south -west of China and one of the most beautiful historical and cultural cities in China. It is also one of the 14 cities in China that are severely short of water. In order to solve the supply problem and to allow for future development of the local society and economy, the "Kunming Zhangjiuhe River Water Diversion and Water Supply Project" was implemented. The total investment for the project is about USD 476 million.The objective is to establish a water supply system with a capacity of 0.6 million tons of water per day.Major parts of the project are:capacity by 0. 442 billion m3 and an annual water supply of 0. 245 billion m3;tunnels, but also some siphons);pacity of 0.4 million tons per day in the initial stage and 0.6 million tons per day once completed;length of 93.43 km;sons.Project completion is planned for the end of 2006.     

Comparison of car ownership models

Car ownership models found in the academic literature (with a focus on the recent literature and on models developed for transport planning) are classified into a number of model types. The different model types are compared on a number of criteria: inclusion of demand and supply side of the car market, level of aggregation, dynamic or static model, long‐ or short‐run forecasts, theoretical background, inclusion of car use, data requirements, treatment of business cars, car‐type segmentation, inclusion of income, of fixed and/or variable car cost, of car quality aspects, of licence holding, of sociodemographic variables and of attitudinal variables, and treatment of scrappage.     

Strategies for customer service level protection under multi-echelon supply chain disruption risk

We model a multi-echelon system where disruptions can occur at any stage and evaluate multiple strategies for protecting customer service if a disruption should occur. The strategies considered take advantage of the network itself and include satisfying demand from an alternate location in the network, procuring material or transportation from an alternate source or route, and holding strategic inventory reserves throughout the network. Unmet demand is modeled using a mix of backordering and lost sales. We conduct numerical analysis and provide recommendations on selecting strategic mitigation methods to diminish the impact of disruptions on customer service. We demonstrate that the greatest service level improvements can be made by providing both proactive inventory placement to cover short disruptions or the start of long disruptions, and reactive back-up methods to help the supply chain recover after long or permanent disruptions.     

标杆管理在高速公路工程项目管理中的应用

文章介绍了标杆管理的特点及类型,并结合高速公路工程项目的特点,提出将标杆管理应用于高速公路工程项目管理的方法步骤及应注意的一些问题。