• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2016

As supply chains are globalized, multinational companies are trying to optimize distribution networks using a hub and spoke structure. In this hub and spoke network structure, multinational companies locate regional distribution centers at hub airports, which serve demands in their corresponding regions. Especially when customers put higher priority on the service lead-time, hinterlands of international hub airports become ideal candidate locations for the regional hub distribution centers. By utilizing excellent airport and logistics services from hub airports, regional distribution centers in the hub airports can match supply with demand efficiently. In addition, regional hub distribution centers may increase air cargo volume of each airport, which is helpful in the current extremely competitive airport industry. In this paper, we classified locational preferences into three primary categories including demand, service and risk and applied the analytic hierarchy process methodology to prioritize factors of locational preferences. Primary preference factors include secondary factors. Demand factor contains access to current and prospect markets. Service factor comprises airport and logistics perspectives. Service factor in terms of airport operations includes secondary factors such as airport service and connectivity. Service factor in terms of logistics operations contains infrastructure and logistics operations efficiency. Risk factor consists of country and business risks. We also evaluated competitiveness of Asian hub airports in terms of candidate location for regional hub distribution centers. The candidate hub airports include Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Narita and Incheon. Based on the analytic hierarchy process analysis, we derived strategic implications for hub airports to attract multinational companies' regional hub distribution centers.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

The most important function in distribution automation system (DAS) is the service restoration. KEPCO's current service restoration provides a very effective restoration service. However, it has been developed without the consideration of unexpected abnormal conditions that may occur while processing the sequence of switching operations. The objective of this paper is to provide practical service restoration schemes under consideration of abnormal conditions. The proposed service restoration schemes have been integrated to a branch office (B/O) in KEPCO. The proposed method strongly supports the conventional service restoration and adds to its value.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2015

Purpose - This study plans to adopt a more sophisticated approach toward service recognition by customers in general supermarkets in order to revise the service quality measurement methods that suit the context of Korean distribution channels. In particular, in general supermarkets, where much of the shopping process is in the form of self-service, there is high reliance on the service recognized by the consumers; therefore, it is highly likely that consumers would make their purchasing decisions based on their recognition of service quality or guarantees. It also utilized service quality elements of a basic level in the KD-SQS development model in order to indicate that the quality recognized by consumers impacts their loyalty to the stores with financial value and abstract value. Research design, data, and methodology - The study suggested a theoretical model comprising 13 hypotheses on relations between theoretic variables, and conducted surveys with consumers using discount stores in Seoul and Gyunggi Metropolitan area in order to verify the hypotheses, while using SPSS 20.0, AMOS 21.0 as the verification program. The survey sheets used amounted to 332, and a structural equation model was used to analyze the reliability and validity of constituent elements and to verify the suggested hypothesis. Therefore, this study analyzes the interrelations between service quality and guarantee factors in the distribution channel and their relations with the loyalty to stores as a dependent variable. Results - First, the results of the hypotheses tests helped identify the relations between service quality, service guarantees, service value, and customer loyalty, providing an opportunity to define the relations between constituent elements. In particular, service convenience in service quality has no impact on financial values. Further, stores' service policy had no impact on abstract values. Service recognition by service convenience has an impact on abstract values such as good image, comfort, and usability, while mileage systems promote financial values for consumers. In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Conclusion - In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Further, as service guarantee systems have a significant and direct impact on customer loyalty, rather than customer value recognition, service guarantees should be used to encourage customers to re-visit the stores. Finally, this study applied the findings of preceding studies in terms of service quality measurement; it had limitations in referencing preceding studies in a comprehensive manner. It also had limits in expanding upon various preceding studies because it was difficult to apply new measurement tools due to the lack of service quality measurement tools for general supermarkets. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies on service quality to measure service quality and develop measurement tools by incorporating various industry characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.188-198
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• 2015

Both employee satisfaction and loyalty play an important role in increasing the business performances of organizations in the service industry. However, the influence of TQM practices on employee satisfaction and employee loyalty has not been examined in the ICT service supply chain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of five total quality management (TQM) practices on employee satisfaction and employee loyalty in Korean ICT customer service and retail distribution organizations. Based on an empirical study of 578 respondents in a Korean ICT service company, the study examined the hypothesized relationships among TQM practices, employee satisfaction, and employee loyalty. Using structural equations modeling, it is found that TQM practices are significantly related to employee satisfaction, whereas the latter in turn influences employee loyalty. The results of analysis suggest that the ICT customer service and retail distribution organizations should concentrate on enhancing employee satisfaction of their TQM practices and creating a people-satisfied job environment.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.117-129
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• 2024

Purpose: This research aims to explore the ramifications of job stress on cabin crews within the air service distribution sector, specifically examining its impact on service quality through mediating variables such as job satisfaction and engagement during the pandemic era. Research design, data and methodology: The study is based on a sample size of 312 individuals, exclusively comprising cabin crews employed in the airline industry. Methodologically, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were employed for statistical analysis. Results: The findings reveal that both performance evaluation and job responsibility exerted a significant impact on both job satisfaction and job engagement. Furthermore, job engagement demonstrated a substantial influence on service quality. However, in contrast, factors like unstable employment and the working environment showed no significant impact on either job satisfaction or engagement. Additionally, job satisfaction did not exert a significant influence on service quality. Conclusions: These insights will offer the valuable guidance to the airline industry in preparing for unforeseen external environments that may affect the industry. As the aviation sector navigates the challenges posed by the pandemic, understanding and addressing the intricate relationships among job stress, satisfaction, engagement, and service quality will be crucial for effective industry resilience and adaptation.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

Purpose - Currently, the distribution environment has been changing rapidly because of the advent of super-supermarkets (SSM),which adopt the "price break" and "lowest price" strategies. Specifically, a diversification of the distribution environment allowed customers to reasonably decide where to shop. With a broadened range of criteria governing the choice of a store, determining changes in the distribution environment should be based on customer satisfaction surrounding the service levels of SSMs. This study examines the effects of service quality and product quality of SSMs on customer satisfaction levels, and analyzes whether these factors affect customers' revisit intention directly. Research design and methodology - A survey method was used and 127 SSM customers responded to the questionnaires that were developed to measure service quality, product quality, customer satisfaction, and store revisit intention. A multi-regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Results - Except hypothesis 2, the other seven hypotheses were supported. Hypothesis 2 suggested a positive relationship between product factors and customer satisfaction. Conclusions - This study found a systematic effect of service factors and product factors on customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth, and consequently on store revisit intention.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.71-82
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to not only measure the elderly welfare supply index but investigate spatial patterns and determinants of local elderly welfare services in South Korea. Research design, data, and methodology: The index for local elderly welfare services is measured by employing standardized scores for critical variables related to elderly welfare. The present study utilized the GIS technique and Moran's I index to examine spatial patterns of elderly welfare services. The determinants of local elderly welfare service are analyzed by a series of regression models using R. Results: Spatial imbalance and asymmetric distribution were serious in the supply of elderly welfare service. It was also confirmed that the factors affecting the level of welfare services for the elderly vary depending on the type of service. In particular, the higher the proportion of the elderly population and the social welfare budget, the lower the level of welfare services for the elderly. Conclusions: Given the circumstance of spatial mismatch between supply and demand for elderly welfare services, it is necessary to consider and provide policy tactics about how the economic benefits and welfare budgets generated in the region can contribute to strengthening the welfare service system for the elderly.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.375-387
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• 2005

This paper presents an application of parallel Genetic Algorithm-Tabu Search (GA-TS) algorithm to search an optimal solution of a service restoration in distribution systems. The main objective of service restoration of distribution systems is, when a fault or overload occurs, to restore as much load as possible by transferring the do-energized load in the out of service area via network reconfiguration to the appropriate adjacent feeders at minimum operational cost without violating operating constraints, which is a combinatorial optimization problem. This problem has many constraints with many local minima to solve the optimal switch position. This paper develops parallel GA-TS algorithm for service restoration of distribution systems. In parallel GA-TS, GA operators are executed for each processor. To prevent solutions of low fitness from appearing in the next generation, strings below the average fitness are saved in the tabu list. If best fitness of the GA is not changed for several generations, TS operators are executed for the upper $10\%$ of the population to enhance the local searching capabilities. With migration operation, best string of each node is transferred to the neighboring node after predetermined iterations are executed. For parallel computing, we developed a PC cluster system consists of 8 PCs. Each PC employs the 2 GHz Pentium IV CPU and is connected with others through ethernet switch based fast ethernet. To show the validity of the proposed method, proposed algorithm has been tested with a practical distribution system in Korea. From the simulation results, we can find that the proposed algorithm is efficient for the distribution system service restoration in terms of the solution quality, speedup, efficiency and computation time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.23 no.60
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• pp.11-22
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• 2000

The main objective of this research is to analyze an order point and an order quantity of a distribution center and each branch to attain a target service level in multi-level inventory distribution system. In case of product item, we use the item with low volume of average monthly demand. Under the continuous review method, the distribution center places a particular order quantity to an outside supplier whenever the level of inventory reaches an order point, and receives the order quantity after elapsing a certain lead time. Also, each branch places an order quantity to the distribution center whenever the level of inventory reaches an order point, and receives the quantity after elapsing a particular lead time. When an out of stock condition occurs, we assume that the item is backordered. For considering more realistic situations, we use generic type of probability distribution of lead times. In the variable lead time model, the actually achieved service level is estimated as the expected service level. Therefore, this study focuses on the analysis of deciding the optimal order point and order quantity to achieve a target service level at each depot as a expected service level, while the system-wide inventory level is minimized. In addition, we analyze the order level as a maximum level of inventory to suggest more efficient way to develop the low demand item model.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2021

Purpose: This study explores the types of relational benefits that generate loyalty to room-sharing services among Chinese customers based on the relationship marketing literature. The study also examines the moderating effect of alternative attractiveness on this relationship. Research design, data and methodology: Based on research hypotheses, questionnaires with items measuring the proposed constructs in three dimensions, including relational benefits, alternative attractiveness, and customer loyalty, were designed to test the hypotheses. Data were collected via an online questionnaire of 220 room-sharing service customers in China. Results: Results verify the effects of relational benefits on customers' loyalty to room-sharing services and the mediating effect of alternative attractiveness. More specifically, confidence, social, and safety benefits positively affect customer loyalty to room-sharing services, and alternative attractiveness moderates only the effect of social benefits. Conclusions: The results suggest that room-sharing service providers should concentrate on providing confidence, social, and safety benefits to maintain long-term relationships with customers. This study also provides practical implication for building relationships between channel members in service distribution channels. The study concludes that without customer relationships marketing for managing collaborative and social communication channels, the entire distribution channel might lose out eventually.