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A Goal Attainment Technique for Solving the Reliable Location and Allocation Problem

Original Research, B9

Bolkhari M., Heydari R.

Sci. J. Mech. Ind. Eng., 2(3): 39-49, 2013

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we develop a multi-objective programming approach for a reliable supply chain design.  Decisions include locating a number of facilities among a finite set of potential sites and allocating task assignment between facilities and customers to maximize profit. Demands, supplies, processing, transportation, storage and capacity expansion costs are all considered as the objective function. To develop the model, one additional objective function is added into the supply chain design problem. So, our multi-objective model includes (i) the minimization of the sum of current investment costs and the expected future processing, transportation, storage and capacity expansion costs, (ii) the maximization of the responsive level of the model for customers. Finally, we use the goal attainment technique to obtain the Pareto-optimal solutions that can be used for decision-making.
Keywords: Reliability, Supply Chain Network, Multi Objective Programming, Goal Attainment Technique, Location and Allocation

Step Fixed Charge Transportation Problems with Fuzzy Numbers

Original Research, B10

--Mahmoodirad A., Hassasi H., Tohidi Gh., Sanei M., Molla-Alizadeh-Zavardehi S.

Sci. J. Mech. Ind. Eng., 2(3): 50-56, 2013

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we focused on a technique which obtains a good solution of the step fixed charge transportation problem, where both the fixed cost and the unit transportation cost from each origin to each destination, have been expressed as generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. To do so, the present paper, first, tries to convert this problem into the fuzzy transportation problem, and then, tries to construct a fuzzy coefficient matrix to finding a good solution for step fixed charge transportation problem, by developing the earlier proposed formulae. Also, in addition to, being in line with these formulae tries to propose new formulae as alternative.  To the best our knowledge, till now there is no exact algorithm for solving the fuzzy step fixed charge transportation problem, so, any heuristic method which provides a good solution should be considered useful and the current paper propose one. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the proposed method.
Key words: Step Fixed Charge Transportation Problems, Generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers.

Differential Evolution Algorithm for Measuring Efficiency in DEA

Original Research, B11

Rahimian M., Mahmoodirad A., Molla-Alizadeh-Zavardehi S.
Sci. J. Mech. Ind. Eng., 2(3): 57-60, 2013

ABSTRACT: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is one of the successful evaluation methods for measuring the relative efficiency of Decision Making Units (DMUs) that utilizes techniques of mathematical programming. In DEA models, for measuring the relative efficiency of DMUs, for a large dataset with many inputs/outputs would need to have a long time with a huge computer. This paper proposed and developed the Differential evolution (DE) for DEA. DE requirements for computer memory and CPU time are far less than that needed by conventional DEA methods and can therefore be a useful tool in measuring the efficiency of large datasets. Since the operators have important roles on the fitness of the algorithms, all the operators and parameters are calibrated by means of the Taguchi experimental design in order to improve their performances.

Key words: Data Envelopment analysis, Differential evolution, Taguchi experimental design

Survey the effect of product knowledge، brand image, product involvement, and in explaining consumer purchase behavior of counterfeit products ; case study: perfume in Iran

Original Research, B12

Karami Fakhrabadi M., Nezhadali Lafmejani H.
Sci. J. Mech. Ind. Eng., 2(3): 61-67, 2013

ABSTRACT: Today, the importation of products with counterfeit brand is constantly increasing and, in some case, recognizing them is too difficult by customers. In some cases, people buy a product although they know that it is a counterfeit one. Presents paper looks for studying brand image, direct/indirect impacts of product contribution and product cognition on intent to buy products with counterfeit brand. The aim is to study the conceptual model and developed hypotheses based on current literature. In this paper, four groups are studied. Conceptual model and experimental hypothesis are evaluated by a hierarchical regression analysis through the data from 218 perfume consumers in Isfahan and Tehran provinces. Research findings indicate that brand personality plays a vital role in intent to buy products with counterfeit brand more than other factors. While product contribution and cognition play no vital role in intent to buy counterfeit brands. Therefore, products with counterfeit brand are not studied as a product but also, more importantly, as a brand (counterfeit brand). The value of present research compared to previous ones is that they have considered counterfeit products only in terms of a product while present study is a few one that has investigated the brand of counterfeit products. .
Keywords: Counterfeiting, Brand image , Consumer behavior, Counterfeit Branded Products, perfume