Modeling, analysis, and design of supply chain networks with the integration of nonlinear Cost of Quality Functions

Due to the complexity of the supply chain, sourcing and distribution activities within the supply chain require a fair deal of orchestrating in order to eliminate delays and other inefficiencies. For this reason, researchers have worked effortlessly to incorporate a wide range of parameters in the modeling of the supply chain. The parameters integrated have touched many important issues. As important, issues pertaining to quality are of great importance in organizations. Some literature has discussed quality from the perspective of the supply chain and acknowledged the lack of a consistent vision pertaining to quality throughout the supply chain. With many industries today on the quest of improving their quality systems, finding ways to reduce nonconformities and failure of products is crucial. In industries such as the aerospace industry, the variable production cost is considerably high; hence producing extra parts to compensate for defectives would be a costly option. While Cost of Quality (COQ) is a very good indicator of how much poor quality is costing a company, the literature lacks a work that aims at integrating COQ into Supply Chain Network Design (SCND). This thesis aims at exploring the challenges in doing so and introduces a comprehensive supply chain model that minimizes a series of costs, in which COQ is integrated. The inclusion of COQ is done through the integration of quadratic quality function. The overall supply chain is mathematically modeled producing a nonlinearity in the objective function and in the constraints. Hence this thesis solves a constrained binary nonlinear programming problem. Further, this work integrates binary entities, to allow for assignable/set-up costs, into the model and introduces seven solution procedures to solve the model. A real life supply chain network is used to extract relevant results. The real life supply chain is in the domain of the aerospace industry and has an n level Bill of Material (BOM). Heuristics have been introduced to solve Binary Quadratic Programming (BQP) problems before. A majority of these heuristics are geared towards unconstrained problems where feasibility might not be a concern. Alternatively in the COQ model, constraints bind the objective function making feasibility a criterion for optimality. Therefore, the seven solution procedures entertain a feasibility check mechanism and one of the seven solution procedures is a hybrid solution procedure formulated to tailor for the special topography of the feasible solution region of the proble

The impact of relationship marketing strategy on customer loyalty at Taming Sari Tower, Malacca / Nurhafizah Shahru Alzaman

This research title is “The Impact of Relationship Marketing Strategy on Customer Loyalty at Taming Sari Tower, Malacca”. There is only one purpose of this study which is to determine what the best strategy that can be related to relationship marketing strategies towards customer loyalty at Taming Sari Tower. Besides that, there are involved two variables which are independent variable and dependent variable. Next, the independent variables consist of four relationships marketing which are trust, commitment, communication and conflict handling. In order to completing this research, the hypothesis was been constructed and focus on the objective to determine whether there has significant relationship between those independent variable with dependent variable (customer loyalty). Meanwhile, there are 140 of customers at Taming Sari have participated in this study as a respondents. The methodology used for this research was primary and secondary data collection. For primary data, the researcher was used the method of questionnaire to obtained and collect the data or information of data has completed, the researcher will continue with the analyzing and interpret the result of the data. Hence, there are several method that will be used to analyzed the data which are normality data, reliability analysis, frequency analysis, descriptive testing, Pearson`s Correlation Coefficient testing and Multiple Regression method. The result of the correlation testing was shows that all of the independent variable is significant and moderate with the customer loyalty (dependent variable) at Taming Sari Tower in Malacca. Thus, for the multiple regressions analysis shown that the most significant and has proven that there the impact of relation marketing strategy on customer loyalty which is trust and commitment compared to communication and conflict handling clearly shows that both independent variables is a weak factor towards customer loyalty. For the hypothesis, there are only two of hypothesis which including trust and commitment is accepted while the communication and conflict handling is not accepted

Business sustainability & understanding the role of agent relationship on multipurpose liquid fertilizer makes an impact towards the development of agriculture marketing product: perspective of RRAS Bakti (M) Sdn. Bhd. / Muhammad Faiz Shahru Alzaman

The slogan "Agriculture is Business" is used by Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry, Malaysia. In the larger context, agricultural activities are good not only as food security, but also helps to increase rural incomes through agricultural entrepreneurship and thus reduces income gap in the country. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of business sustainability and understand the role of agents in an impact to the development of marketing of agricultural products. Case studies derived from the RRAS Bakti (M) Sdn. Bhd. Data were drawn from interviews, observation and also supported by certificate and clinical proven. The study has proven that the good relationship between the agents will give motivation to them as a great incentive in achieving higher sales volume for company's product. This study will give guideline to assist the company in enhance their business sustainability and also identify utilize our company's appointed agents through good relationships in improving sales in general

Investigation of the effective factors on branding in cosmetic and hygienic products (Case study: Ladies consuming cosmetic and hygienic products with local brands)

Despite the long history of brands, this concept has been considered in marketing literature for a long time such that it has attracted many experts' attention to this field as one of the most important concepts of modern marketing literature. This concept has become so important that wherever loyalty is mentioned, brand is undoubtedly considered too. This research aims to investigate the effect of marketing mixture (7Ps) on making brands of local hygienic and cosmetic products whose statistical society is ladies consuming hygienic and cosmetic products in Mashhad. The sample under analysis of this research consists of 381 people. It was identified after the analysis of their data using SPSS software and testing the research's assumptions that marketing mixture's factors are effective on making brands. In addition, the severity of the effect of each factor was identified

Investigation of the effective factors on branding in cosmetic and hygienic products (Case study: Ladies consuming cosmetic and hygienic products with local brands)

Despite the long history of brands, this concept has been considered in marketing literature for a long time such that it has attracted many experts' attention to this field as one of the most important concepts of modern marketing literature. This concept has become so important that wherever loyalty is mentioned, brand is undoubtedly considered too. This research aims to investigate the effect of marketing mixture (7Ps) on making brands of local hygienic and cosmetic products whose statistical society is ladies consuming hygienic and cosmetic products in Mashhad. The sample under analysis of this research consists of 381 people. It was identified after the analysis of their data using SPSS software and testing the research's assumptions that marketing mixture's factors are effective on making brands. In addition, the severity of the effect of each factor was identified

Investigation of the effective factors on branding in cosmetic and hygienic products (Case study: Ladies consuming cosmetic and hygienic products with local brands)

Despite the long history of brands, this concept has been considered in marketing literature for a long time such that it has attracted many experts' attention to this field as one of the most important concepts of modern marketing literature. This concept has become so important that wherever loyalty is mentioned, brand is undoubtedly considered too. This research aims to investigate the effect of marketing mixture (7Ps) on making brands of local hygienic and cosmetic products whose statistical society is ladies consuming hygienic and cosmetic products in Mashhad. The sample under analysis of this research consists of 381 people. It was identified after the analysis of their data using SPSS software and testing the research's assumptions that marketing mixture's factors are effective on making brands. In addition, the severity of the effect of each factor was identified

Comparative Analysis of Intralesional Immunotherapy and Conventional Treatments for Non-Genital Warts: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Warts, benign skin growths caused by various human papillomavirus strains, are categorized as genital and non-genital. Non-genital warts often lack noticeable symptoms but can lead to psychological distress due to factors like embarrassment. Traditional treatments, including physical and chemical methods, show limitations, prompting the exploration of novel approaches like intralesional immunotherapy. The clinical challenge lies in selecting the most effective modality. Objective: In our study, we used the network meta-analysis (NMA) as a statistical tool to explore the most effective intralesional immunotherapy interventions. Methods: Comprehensive searches of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were conducted until December 2023. Eligible studies were analyzed for outcomes presented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Treatments were ranked using the P-score in an NMA performed with R software. Results: We included 68 RCTs in our study. For complete response, needling showed a significant difference compared to Candida albicans antigen (RR= 0.13, 95% CI [0.02; 0.99]) and Mw (RR= 0.12, 95% CI [0.02; 0.94]). In overall response, both bleomycin and furosemide with digoxin were significant compared to autoimplantation (RR= 0.46, 95% CI [0.24; 0.88]) and (RR= 0.40, 95% CI [0.18; 0.91]) respectively. Similarly, both were significant compared to cryotherapy (RR= 0.45, 95% CI [0.27; 0.76]) and (RR= 0.40, 95% CI [0.19; 0.82]) respectively. Conclusion: This NMA indicates needling, furosemide with digoxin, and PBP antigen stimulants as effective for non-genital warts, surpassing traditional treatments in complete and overall response. Direct comparisons in future research are warranted to confirm their superiority

Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with obesity amongst Libyan adults - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: There are a range of multifaceted behavioural and societal factors that combine to contribute to the causes of obesity. However, it is not yet known how particularly countries' cultural norms are contributing to the global obesity epidemic. Despite obesity reaching epidemic proportions in Libya, since the discovery of oil in 1959, there is a lack of information about obesity in Libyan adults. This study sought to explore the views of key informants about the risk and protective factors associated with obesity among Libyan men and women. METHODS: A series of qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with Libyan healthcare professionals and community leaders. RESULTS: Eleven main themes (risk and protective factors) were identified, specifically: socio-demographic and biological factors, socioeconomic status, unhealthy eating behaviours, knowledge about obesity, social-cultural influences, Libya's healthcare facilities, physical activity and the effect of the neighbourhood environment, sedentary behaviour, Libyan food-subsidy policy, and suggestions for preventing and controlling obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Key recommendations are that an electronic health information system needs to be implemented and awareness about obesity and its causes and consequences needs to be raised among the public in order to dispel the many myths and misconceptions held by Libyans about obesity. The current political instability within Libya is contributing to a less-active lifestyle for the population due to security concerns and the impact of curfews. Our findings have implications for Libyan health policy and highlight the urgent need for action towards mitigating against the obesity epidemic in Libya