on the literature divergences of the humanitarian supply chain
TRANSCRIPT
On the Literature Divergences of the Humanitarian Supply Chain
Hossein Baharmand1
Laura Laguna Salvado1,2
Tina Comes1
Matthieu Lauras2
1 CIEM, University of Agder
2 Mines d’ Albi, University of Toulouse
30.10.2015
THE NEED FOR RESEARCH ON HUMANITARIAN SUPPLY CHAIN (HSC):
• Raise of number of humanitarian disasters
• The gap between appeals and funding
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MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT RESPONSE
30.10.2015 Baharmand et al.: On the literature divergences of the humanitarian supply chain
Research on humanitarian response comprises a large
variety of expertise and knowledge. It demands for
integration across disciplines, like business-engineering
science (BS) and operations research (OR):
• BS looks at HSC management as a whole to keep track
of all included processes and at the same time attempts
to align them appropriately according to each other.
• OR decomposes HSC into separate problems (like facility
location, inventory management, transportation, etc.)
and use modeling and simulation approaches to optimize
their output.
3
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HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS
• Logistics deals with efficient and effective delivery; the challenge is to
deliver the appropriate emergency supplies in sufficient quantities exactly
when and where they are needed.
• Humanitarian logisticians are forced to make quick vital decisions in a
highly dynamic and uncertain environment where time pressure is high
and resources are scarce due to strict budget limitations.
• Challenges like network design, facility layouts, fleet planning, etc.
• Humanitarian relief organizations are more focused on ‘getting the job
done’ and have forgot about performance measurement!
• There is a need for flexible ICT solutions that support relief operations.
“Logistics is the part [of any disaster relief] that can mean the difference between a successful or failed operation.” Van Wassenhove, 2006
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METHODOLOGY AND FORMULATED QUESTIONS
• BS and OR study HSC from different angles: holistic view vs.
detailed simulations and modeling.
• Four joint areas of interest are identified by reviewing recent
survey papers in both disciplines: HSC structure; flow
control mechanisms; time frames; dynamic uncertainty.
• Research questions formulated referring to four frequently
addressed topics in relation with BS and OR:
• What is the state of the art in HSC?
• What are future research directions in HSC?
• HSC encompasses all activities involved in sourcing,
procurement, conversion and logistics.
• Its different attributes in comparison to commercial
supply chains ask for balance between aims in efforts:
• Application of commercial process
modeling in humanitarian sector is limited.
• Furthermore, the use of simulation
tools to evaluate modifications of the
HSC and analysis of ongoing response
processes is still needed.
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HSC STRUCTURE (BS VIEW)
Effectiveness Efficiency
• Three categories that OR has focused on:
(a) facility location problems, (b) distribution problems,
(c) inventory decision problems.
• Survey papers propose that previous research assumptions and
constraints leave the field still interesting for further research.
• To understand the situation better, there is a need for ground
up research:
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HSC STRUCTURE (OR VIEW)
Before field study After field study
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FLOW CONTROL
Developing software for HSCM Performance Management
Performance Indicator
OR
Challenges: • Zero lead-time, • Reliable
commodity flow • Material
convergence
BS
HSC
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TIME FRAMES
Literature concentrate on response mainly because
• BS: Time frames appears because HSC experience transitions
from agility to leanness. Sometimes it is called leagile.
• OR: Literature shows challenges in making and solving multi-
period models.
• BS & OR: During different time frames, objectives may become
different: moving from effectiveness to efficiency.
• BS & OR: To reflect real situations in the aftermath of disasters,
we need multi-period and multi objective models. These
models need to be solved timely efficient.
It`s about saving lives
Logistics plays a significant role
Media coverage is huge
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DYNAMIC UNCERTAINTY
• Lack of efficiency and misalignment of the response with the
real situation are common implications of uncertainty.
• BS suggests:
• short term forecast and prediction;
• focus on the beneficiaries’ needs;
• the simulation of the HSC system.
• A decision support system that enable decision makers to have
a clear vision of the on-going situation and future of demand
can help in facing uncertainties.
• Shifting from deterministic modelling to stochastic modelling is
required in OR. Furthermore, efficient solution for these models
are necessary.
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RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
• Demand for ground up research in both
BS and OR to use in modeling and
simulations.
• Information flow is insufficient and
there is a need for identifying
performance indicators for HSC which
benefits both BS and OR.
• Referring to time frames, BS is looking
for leagile management system and OR
needs dynamic modeling.
• Predictive decision support systems and
stochastic modeling can help relief
organization in dealing with
uncertainties.
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SUMMARY ARCH DIRECTIONS
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INTEGRATED DISTRIBUTION PLANS
• Integrated = Location + Allocation + Transportation
• Literature review reveals rare efforts in integrated
approaches in OR.
• This research outcome will be a model that focuses on
strategic and tactical decisions in response.
• Stochastic and dynamic approach will be used for
mathematical modeling.
• Model parameters are driven by insights from a recent
field study in Nepal (model development phase).
• The developed model can be a part of a potential
decision support system.
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Rekik et al. 2013
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DECENTRALISED SUPPLY NETWORK
• Develop a DSS to orchestrate the supply network response
with “leaglity” approach.
• It focuses on operational decisions in response.
• This research is based on the International Federation of the
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Today:
3 main global hubs Not economically sustainable
Tomorrow (?):
Use the Red Cross National Societies potentialities as logistic
Network
• It will have a direct interface and connection with the
“distribution planes”.
Thank you all for participating in this session
Contact us!
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ciem.uia.no www.mines-albi.fr
www.disasterresiliencelab.org