International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences (IRSPAS)

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Author: search.filters.author.Rupasinghe, T. D.

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    A simulation modelling approach for vehicle routing problem in cluster-based pharmaceutical supply chains.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Niwunhella, D. H. H.; Rupasinghe, T. D.
    Pharmaceuticals directly affect the health conditions of millions of people. It is important to find the most effective and optimized methods for pharmaceutical supply chains to provide a better quality product from manufacturers to the end-consumer. The supply chain process of the pharmaceutical products, when compared with the other commercial goods and services, is given higher priority since it costs high amount of money and time to produce and deliver pharmaceutical products, since the process is not well-managed. Furthermore, all the contributors in the pharmaceutical domain go through specific rules and regulations, uncertainty in demand, constraints such as biological factors in the process. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of the medical service level and technical level, people’s demand for drugs significantly improved year by year. Therefore, it is vital that the delivery of pharmaceutical products is conducted effectively and efficiently. In addition to quality, the routing and scheduling of vehicles represent an important component of many distribution and transportation systems’ costs. With the computational constraints of solving Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) which is NP-hard, a few optimization and approximation approaches have been introduced to successfully solve VRPs in the recent past. Thus, this study depicts a vehicle routing optimization with the objective of minimizing the cost based on the pharmaceutical product clusters using a simulation-based solution approach using SupplyChainGuru® modelling and simulation tool. Vehicle routing models are developed to simulate the pre-identified clusters (product families) using test cases from the literature and the benchmark instances listed on the repository of CVRPLib. Then the behavior and the nature of vehicle routing in pre-defined product clusters are identified and modelled via varying wide variety of variables. The baseline model is compared with the scenarios of each product cluster and the most optimized vehicle routing model will be identified and validated through simulation. The study concluded that the overall cost is minimized, when the pharmaceuticals are routed to better suit their product characteristics, rather than distributing the products without considering the inherent product characteristics, which are dynamically modelled and evaluated to provide better quality products to the patients. This product clustering-based simulation of VRP will indeed optimize the VRP in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains and will provide the platform to extend the cluster based optimization to related industries as well.
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    The strategic relationship building through value procurement: A systematic review of literature from the apparel industry.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Karunarathna, K. N. P.; Rasanjani, P. M. D.; Weerasekara, M. M.; Rupasinghe, T. D.
    In the midst of the dynamics in the domain of supply chain management, most of the businesses are forced to strengthen the strategic relationships with their supplier base. Therefore, companies tend to move away from the traditional supplier-buyer relationship to a longer-term collaborative strategic relationship with a limited number of key suppliers. Strategic relationship building symbolizes the importance of enterprise wide thinking where functional units inside the firms and key suppliers from the firm’s supply chain all work in concert to bring value to the marketplace. The purpose of this study is to explore how the strategic relationship building with suppliers in the procurement process enhances the overall operational performance of apparel industry. For an example, in apparel industry, quality and the productivity should be calculated at the initial stage of the production. Value procurement models allow firms on selecting the best quality, cost and other factors instead of selecting the lowest cost supplier. Consequently, the study identifies the set of appropriate procurement strategies to minimize impact of costs to the production processes to retain long term relationship among suppliers. This study is based on a comprehensive, systematic review of literature published in relation to the areas of strategic supplier relationship and value procurement applicable to the apparel industry. The findings of this research is based on reviews of 17 articles which describe different models, frames, processes and appropriate theoretical terms. Through the effective categorization and integrative analysis of the above findings, this paper expects to introduce an innovative conceptual model of how to develop strategic supplier relationships to maximize the effectiveness of the industry.
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    Applicability of adaptive machine learning algorithm for improving reading and comprehension capabilities of dyslexic patients.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Sathsara, G. W. C.; Rupasinghe, T. D.; Sumanasena, S. P.
    Dyslexia is a well-known reading disorder that involves difficulty in fluent reading, decoding, and processing of words despite adequate intelligence. This causes the reading speed of such patients to be lower than the healthy counterparts, because of slow processing of letters and words. Despite this disorder, a dyslexic person can be trained to read at normal speed. The literature has mainly described manual methods and some technical improvements can be reported such as the Live scribe smart pen, Dragon Naturally Speaking, Word processors, and Video Games. From literature, it is evident that minimal efforts have been mobilized into the aforementioned focus and there is no way other than the manual method to identify the actual reading speeds, and to improve the speed according to the ability of a particular person. Thus, this study produces a novel Machine Learning-based (ML) algorithmic application, which allows customization on the reading speed based on the capabilities of patients, using experiment-based approach with real patients. The study is conducted via three phases. In the first phase of the study, reading rate improvement and detection methodologies are reviewed systematically in order to identify important characteristics of dyslexic improvements. Second phase is focused on developing an ML-based algorithm to identify the improvement rate of the dyslexic patients and training them using Tensorflow and Python. In the third phase, the outcome of the ML based algorithm is tested with samples from different clusters (using iterative experiments with real dyslexic patients). This approach improves the reading speed per minute of the dyslexic patients and lays the foundation for future research in the areas of ML, healthcare applications and ML-based training tools.
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    Applicability of virtual billing on smartphone based applications for paper waste reduction.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Dissanayake, C.; Peiris, P.; Senevirathne, D.; Wijesooriya, K.; Rupasinghe, T. D.; Liyanaarachchi, N.
    The reception of a printed bill has been in global use as the proof of a transaction. Originating as a handwritten bill, the transaction billing has evolved with the advent of printers and computers, and are now an indispensable part of Point – of – Sales systems (POS). However, with the rapid expansion of business entities as well as the increase of wants of consumers, conventional billing consumes large volumes of paper, even in an organizational basis. Most of the bills generated as such are immediately disposed after an initial inspection. Hence, the paper used for billing has a very short usable lifespan and the paper along with the ink become waste. With the rapid advent of the smartphone providing an internet connected handheld portable computational device for the public, proposition of an internet-based virtual billing system has become timely. Although previous studies have been carried out on implementing virtual billing systems, the potential of smartphone has not been utilized in the practical implementation of such systems. The overarching goal of this study is to reduce reliance on paper for billing work. This outcome of the study aims to develop a virtual or a paperless billing system, with interfaces for the storefront user and consumer user. This virtual bill will directly appear on the smartphone application, which uses an Android operating system. In addition to the reduction of paper usage, this approach will also help the customers keep track on the expenditure for a certain commodity per vendor over a particular time period without manually having to calculate the expenses. The outcomes of this research will evaluate the feasibility of practically implementing such a paperless billing system in the context of Sri Lankan business entities.
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    Simulation-based modeling approach for collaborative supply chains from the perspective of apparel industry.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Lakmal, R. D. S.; Rupasinghe, T. D.
    Supply chain collaboration has become a widely spoken and researched topic in every industrial standpoint. The depth and the width of the chain partners and activities are rapidly increasing, and have become difficult to achieve the best efficiencies by performing as isolated partners. Although the word collaboration is easy to understand, achieving it practically has become a difficult and complex task. Numerous researchers have investigated in areas such as identifying collaborative enablers, barriers of collaboration, developing indexes to measure collaboration, collaboration vs performance. However, a very few research studies have focused on understanding the practical aspect of improving collaboration in supply chains. Therefore, in this study the authors have utilized a simulation-based approach to assess how collaborative practices among different partners in the supply chain affect the collaboration level of an industry and time dependent variants for an industry to achieve maximum benefits of collaboration. The simulation models were developed using Netlogo open source modelling platform, focusing on three types of agents in the supply chain where the suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and behavior of these different partners was modeled. The study utilizes the apparel industry as the tested and thus, the Netlogo simulation models determine the effects of collaborative practices across those aforementioned partners. The outcomes of this study will facilitate the identification of critical factors which the industry should focus on, in order to enhance the collaboration in supply chains in apparel industry, and that can be further improved to enhance the collaboration of various other industries as well.
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    Simulation-based solution approach for resilient supply chain network design for retail supply chains.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Silva, D. A.; Rupasinghe, T. D.
    The design of the supply chain network consists of making strategic decisions on the facility location, stocking location, production policy, production capacity, distribution, and transportation modes. This study models various resilient conditions with respect to design of the retail, supply chain network. According to literature, supply network design and redesign play a major role in cutting costs and creating efficient supply chain networks. However, there has been low level of consideration given to factors such as supply chain resiliency and reverse logistics. This study has been conceptualised to include the effects of these issues in the network design and optimise the design so that the solution would be able to withstand the volatility and the uncertainty in the present business environment. The main objective of this study would be to model resilience into the design of the supply chain network with the use of Supply Chain Guru® modelling and simulation tool. The modelling considerations will include parameters for location, demand and supply, and consist of a typical non-perishable retail good, rice, supply chain. The network will consist of collecting points and milling stations as tiers of suppliers and regional distribution centres and distribution centres as distribution locations. Collection points in upper stream of the chain will collect the harvest from nearby farmers and will send to the milling stations. Regional distribution centres will collect products from mills and distribute them to distribution centres scattered around the area, which will then be in charge of filling the stocks of retail outlets in each of its surrounding. The study consists of scenarios depicting environmental and other kinds of disruptions in various stages of the network, preventing it from operating in routine form. Hence, in the conclusion of the study, it proposes an optimal network design to suit each scenario, building the resilient design, which can be used to fulfil the demand requirement of each distribution centre. This can also be used to identify the nodes that are critical and the nodes that can withstand disruptions, making it easier for effective decision making.
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    Supply chain collaboration for sustainable Industry 4.0: A case study from the apparel industry.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Gamage, D. D.; Rupasinghe, T. D.
    Due to the advancement of technology and the dominance of the consumer economy, it has become important for businesses to adopt sustainable practices and innovative technologies to boost productivity in their business processes. The purpose of such sustainable practices is in bringing in balance between the economic, social and environmental spheres of a business. The advancement of technology has brought the 4th industrial revolution to the world in which businesses around the world are integrating the use of cyber-physical systems for improved outcomes. There are studies conducted on the impact of Industry 4.0 applications on collaborative supply chains. The focus of this is study is to simulate the applications of Industry 4.0 in supply chain collaboration in driving sustainability in the apparel industry using NetLogo – a programmable modelling environment. It will use an existing framework of collaboration characteristics supported through Industry 4.0 application and will consider the behavior of supply chain agents under varying conditions of certain specified characteristics. It will study how information sharing, sense making, resource pooling, goal congruency, empowerment and cross functionality of the collaborative supply chain impact on its sustainability in terms of carbon emissions with Life Cycle Assessment. This study shows that improved levels of collaboration through Industry 4.0 applications have a positive effect in reducing the carbon footprint of the supply chain of the apparel industry.