• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2015

Purpose: This study evaluates a new banana bulk packaging method under the real transport conditions of Sri Lanka. Methods: A field evaluation of optimized 8-mm thick Styrofoam sheets used as the cushioning material was applied. A trial transport was conducted from Thambuttegama to Colombo using a medium-sized open truck, with banana leaves as the control material. Data were recorded at the farmer, transporter, retailer, and consumer stages of the supply chain. Mechanical damage, physiological loss in weight, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, ripeness index, visual quality ratings, and the physical damage index of the bananas were measured at each stage. A cost-benefit analysis was also conducted for both packaging methods. Results: The 8-mm styrofoam sheets significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the mechanical damage from 26.3% to 12.9% compared to the conventional method for long-distance transport, and the physiological loss in weight showed a decrease of 2.88%. The loss of firmness of the fruits followed a simmilar pattern for both methods until reaching the retailer, but at the consumer was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the control. However, the physical damage index at the retail stage for the control showed symptoms of physical injury, whereas the bananas transported using the cushioning materials exhibited only minor symptoms. Further, the visual quality of the fruits after transport from the farmer to the consumer was preserved, which is one of the main factors affecting consumer preference and retail price. The proposed method increases the profit margin by 51.2% for Embul bananas owing to the reduced postharvest losses. Conclusion: The 8-mm thick Styrofoam sheets reduced the physical damage to the bananas, with the quality parameters maintained at the prefered level. Moreover, profits may be increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean DIstribution Association Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.71-92
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• 2003

Specialty stores, which have been major channels of Korean cosmetic industry, are bringing out a lot of problems in current distribution channel systems because of its repeated depression of sales. Especially, inefficiency in distribution channel systems is caused by cannibalistic price-off competition between specialty stores, too many launchings of new products, excessive sales promotion, absence or surplus of stock, and so on. Using qualitative methods such as in-depth interview and group discussion, the authors attempt In diagnose fundamental problems of the cosmetic specialty store distribution channels in three viewpoints； achievement of goals, marketing flows in channels, and relationship management. In addition, this paper suggests core strategies for building up the competitiveness of both of the maker and the retailer, The competitive strategies are mainly about securing profitability of retailers, smoothening of marketing flows in channels, and building-up trustful relationships between distribution channel members.

• IE interfaces
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2008

Normally, suppliers have to decide on what, how much, and when to replenish stocks of goods based on a data flow generated by a vendor managed inventory(VMI) system. But information from supply chain is often misleading. It is common for such data to be distorted by a lack of coordination and synchronization across several business entities managing different supply chain operations. This phenomenon is called the 'bullwhip effect(BwE)'. Many researchers, working over many years, have studied the reasons for the BwE. They have proposed various remedies, but this phenomenon persists. Though overlooked in previous research, this paper reveals that the 'lot size' of a supply chain of distribution is indeed the main cause of the BwE. In addition, some problems in the existing methods of measuring the BwE are identified and a revised much improved method of measurement is suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2012.06c
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• pp.286-288
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• 2012

Facing the counterfeiting acts towards various products, many manufacturers implement ePedigree system to secure their supply chain. Using ePedigree, a distribution history including a valid product identifier from the manufacturer until the final retailer is recorded. And this ePedigree is signed by each involved supply chain party using digital signature. With this digital signature, any unauthorized alteration to the ePedigree document would generate a failed verification process. If there is a counterfeit product using a fake ePedigree document, it wouldn't be able to pass the verification process either. Hence, there wouldn't be any counterfeit product that could enter the legal supply chain and bought by the consumer. We are proposing to use ECDSA instead of RSA since it has faster performance and shorter key size. At a certain same security level, ECDSA only needs 163 bits, while RSA needs 1024 bits.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.15-28
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• 2017

Purpose - Many researchers analyze VMI as a supply chain collaboration program to reveal its true value. Most of them focus on the dyadic relationship in two stage supply chain systems. This study examines the effect of VMI when it is applied to the different parts of three stage supply chain systems. Research design, data, and methodology - Based on three stage supply chain, this study compares three different systems including full VMI, partial VMI, and non-VMI by using mathematical models. The performances of three systems are compared with the numerical examples of the proposed supply chain models. Results - The numerical examples reveal that full VMI where the manufacturer controls inventories at all stages outperforms any other systems in terms of the system profit and enables all individual members to gain greater profits than non-VMI. Meanwhile, under partial VMI where VMI is implemented between the wholesaler and retailer, only these two members improve their performances and the manufacturer who does not belong to VMI makes less profit than even under non-VMI. This study also examines the impact of market size and profit margin on the system performance. Conclusions - The result of this study supports the common belief that VMI secures the best result when it is applied to the entire supply chain system. The additional findings from the numerical analysis are discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.49-68
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to introduce brand alliance to private brand context. The conventional concept of the wheel of retailing hypothesis explains the limitation of private brand growth. Retailers, therefore, has made an effort to adopt brand alliance with national brand to solve the potential problem of private brand. The conjoint analysis was used to identify the importance of brand alliance. The importance of the general variable extracted from part worth presented there was significant benefit in an alliance between a private brand and a national brand. Additionally, the results showed that there were moderating effect of 1) familiarity with private brand, 2) evaluation of specific retailer and vendor and 3) usage amount on part worth structures.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

Purpose - This study investigates shopping behaviors and effects focusing on the seniors in 50s and 60s based on their buying satisfaction in online shopping. The study investigated causal relation between effects having influence upon online shopping behavior to give theoretical base on the use of online shopping. The study gave implications of consumption attitude of silver generation as well as senior consumers in aging society. Research design, data, and methodology - The subject was senior consumers who have experienced online shopping to be sensitive to the fashion and to have active and reasonable consumption pattern and to be active and to have positive value. Results - This study investigated the mediating effect on purchase satisfaction of the 50s and the 60s upon online shopping to examine online shopping use and effects. The subject was the ones in their 50s and 60s in Gyeonggi and Chungnam who had experienced online shopping. All of hypotheses of models at PLS analysis were supported. Conclusions - Both information innovation and self-satisfaction showed positive influence upon the ease of and also access of the use. In addition, the access to the use had positive influence upon the purchase intention in retailers' online shopping.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways of improving Korean apparel firms' competitiveness by examining the Korea's number one trading partner U.S. apparel industry. Especially, the Los Angeles area apparel industry which is the second largest and the primary market center on the west coast was analysed. The following strategies are suggested to Korean apparel firms to function more effectively in incleasingly competitive U.S. markets: l)Basics can be produced in lower wage countries meanwhile quick turnaround and high quality works can be produced either in Korea or U.S. 2)Manufacturers might try to have direct relationship with powerful retailers who have their own private labels of store-brand lines. 3)Apparel companies can open market showrooms in the California Market Center. For small firms they can contact with independent representatives who receive commissions for showing lines for manufacturers or rent space for showing the lines during market weeks. 4)Apparel firms can contact buying offices to introduce their products to retail buyers. 5)Korean firms can contact Korean-American apparel firms to gain easy access to U.S.Market.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.51-57
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• 2013

Purpose - This study investigates the effect of visual merchandising display (VMD) of local specialty retailer of private label apparel (SPA) brands, such as space, display, and presentation on brand awareness, brand image, and purchase intention. It investigates consumers' VMD awareness and purchase intention of SPA brands to help business activities of local SPA enterprises. Research designs, data, methodology - This study uses SPSS 18.0 to study eight local SPA brands and has 193 effective usable copies from a sample of 200. Results - The display and presentation of VMDs of SPA brands had a positive influence on brand awareness and brand image, which in turn had a positive influence on purchase intention. Conclusions - As SPA brands are increasingly located in supercenters, they face space constraints and find it difficult to display their facade and signs effectively. Therefore, decisions pertaining to display, presentation, and space should consider whether these SPA brands are launched as independent specialty shops or in supercenters. The space for VMD is considered important in independent shops. However, shops that open in supercenters should pay more attention to presentation rather than space.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.35-45
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• 2018

Purpose - The study investigates the impact of consignment on the economic performance in the supply chain with three stages. Through the analysis on distinct forms of consignment application, this study intends to answer to the question of how the consignment should be used in the multi-stage supply chain. Research design, data, and methodology - The proposed mathematical model represents the supply chain system with a manufacturer, a wholesaler, and a retailer. Three different forms of consignment application are considered depending on which stages adapt the consignment, and their system profits are compared with the traditional non-consignment system in numerical examples. Results - The numerical examples show that the serial consignment application performs better than any other forms of consignment as well as the non-consignment system. The additional analysis indicates that the system profit is significantly sensitive to the consignment rate. Conclusions - The outcome of this study implies the potential of consignment to improve the system performance even in the multi-stage supply chain system. Meanwhile, each supply chain member's preference to the specific form of consignment application could be different depending on which stage he has. All the supply chain members should jointly determine the appropriate consignment rates to obtain the best system performance.