Optimal customization of supply chains in dynamic environments

在21世纪取得成功需要利用供应链，而不是单个公司，以获得可持续的竞争优势。在目前的市场情况下，管理供应链的主要问题之一是不断变化的商业环境。另一方面，技术的进步现在使经理们能够准确地跟踪这些变化，然后可以用于更有针对性的决策。在这个研究计划中，我们的目标是开发和分析模型，以提高加拿大公司的动态决策能力，并使他们做好在全球市场上有效竞争的准备。具体地说，我们希望开发集成的运营-营销模式，帮助我们了解供应链应该如何：i)针对不同的客户群定制他们的决策；ii)随着时间的推移动态地(以敏捷的方式)调整他们的决策；iii)调整连锁合作伙伴的激励，以实现他们的利润最大化。我们的研究计划将包括四种不同的模式，其特点是不同的产品/市场特征，以满足各种不同的商业环境。在研究计划的第一阶段，我们希望研究创新的按库存生产的产品(例如笔记本电脑、时尚服装)的最优动态定价和库存控制策略，同时牢记这些产品的市场特征(例如需求变异性、价格弹性)在其生命周期中变化迅速。在第二阶段，我们计划探索耐用产品(如家用电器、汽车)的最优动态决策策略。我们最感兴趣的是了解企业如何为这类产品选择最优的动态定价策略，以及运营选择如何影响最优策略。在第三阶段，我们将研究在竞争框架下基于时间和价格的MTO/服务细分(例如，快递、递送服务)的最佳产品差异化，并解决相关的能力管理问题。本研究计划的最后阶段将开发模型，以研究动态、分散环境下供应链成员的最优激励结盟政策。

Success in the 21st century requires harnessing supply chains, rather than individual firms, for sustainable competitive advantage. One of the primary problems of managing supply chains in the present market scenario is the constantly evolving business environment. On the other hand, advances in technology now enable managers to accurately track these changes, which can then be used for more focused decision-making.  In this research program our aim is to develop and analyze models that can improve the dynamic decision-making capability of Canadian firms and prepare them to compete effectively in the global marketplace. Specifically, we would like to develop integrated operations-marketing models that will help us understand how supply chains should: i) customize their decisions for diverse customer niches, ii) adapt their decisions dynamically (and in an agile fashion) over time, and iii) align the incentives of the chain partners, in order to maximize their profits. Our research program will comprise of four different models characterized by distinct product/market features to address a wide variety of business environments. In the first phase of the research program we would like to examine the optimal dynamic pricing and inventory control policy for innovative make-to-stock products (e.g., laptops, fashion garments), keeping in mind that the market characteristics (e.g., demand variability, price-elasticity) for these products change rapidly during their lifecycles. In the second phase we plan on exploring the optimal dynamic decision policy for durable products (e.g., appliances, automobiles). We are most interested in understanding how firms select an optimal dynamic pricing policy for such products, and how operational choices might affect the optimal policy. In the third phase we will study the optimal time-and-price based product differentiation for MTO/service segment (e.g., courier, delivery services) in a competitive framework, and address the related capacity management issues. The last phase of this research program will develop models to investigate the optimal incentive alignment policy for supply chain members in dynamic, decentralized environments.