Causes of Restocking Delays in Absence of Real Time Inventory Tracking of Airtel Airtime

The purpose of this research was to ascertain causes of Restocking Delays in a Distributor Company of Airtel Airtime (AA) that give justification for benefits of using Real Time Inventory Tracking (R.T.I.T) in an attempt to mitigate Restocking Delays. From a study out at the Private Marketing and Trading Services (PMTS) an Authorized Distributor of Airtel Products undertaken in 2017 evidenced by Airtime scratch card and Electronic, E-Recharge Airtime among other forms to encourage R.T.I.T among other products in Telecom Companies and other Business Enterprises. The research comprises of the following areas among which included a detailed focus on a Qualitative and Quantitative approach in obtaining different categories of Restocking Delays in form of Themes and Sub Themes encountered in the Distribution Supply Chain (SC) of AA that is contained in this paper. This research continues to capture an in-depth explanation of the Managerial and Operational causes of restocking delays in respect to AA. Similarly, fast consumer products and services other than AA require a solution to Restocking Delays through implementation of Real Time Inventory Tracking Model (R.T.I.T.M) of AA among Distributor Companies (DCs). This paper also elaborated on Literature, Methodology and Findings obtained from the study. The results were obtained from regression analysis by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) that showed a higher significance of Stock Turnover Period and Airtime Denomination as a contributor to Restocking Delays whereas Messages from Airtel Head office to the Distributor had a non-significant contribution to restocking Delays as in Figure 9. The research recommends a Model for R.T.I.T in Telecom Distribution SC of AA and Omnichannel Inventory Management (OIM) as a significant contributor to timely reliable inventory restocking and promotes higher sales among DCs and retailers through minimized Restocking Delays. It shows that the forces of Demand and Supply change over time with different tastes and preferences of customers. The imbalance in AA stock levels changes at given times due to unforeseen forces of consumer demand experienced by DCs, explained by the “Bullwhip Effect” due to information distortion in the Supply Chain (SC).

Fluid-based Slotting Optimization for Automated Order Picking System with Multiple Dispenser Types

Slotting strategy heavily influences the throughput and operational cost of automated order picking system with multiple dispenser types, which is called the complex automated order picking system （CAOPS）. Existing research either focuses on one aspect of the slotting optimization problem or only considers one part of CAOPS, such as the Low-volume Dispensers, to develop corresponding slotting strategies. In order to provide a comprehensive and systemic approach, a fluid-based slotting strategy is proposed in this paper. The configuration of CAOPS is presented with specific reference to its fast-picking and restocking subsystems. Based on extended fluid model, a nonlinear mathematical programming model is developed to determine the optimal volume allotted to each stock keeping unit （SKU） in a certain mode by minimize the restocking cost of that mode. Conclusion from the allocation model is specified for the storage modules of high-volume dispensers and low-volume dispensers. Optimal allocation of storage resources in the fast-picking area of CAOPS is then discussed with the aim of identifying the optimal space of each picking mode. The SKU assignment problem referring to the total restocking cost of CAOPS is analyzed and a greedy heuristic with low time complexity is developed according to the characteristics of CAOPS. Real life application from the tobacco industry is presented in order to exemplify the proposed slotting strategy and assess the effectiveness of the developed methodology. Entry-item-quantity （EIQ） based experiential solutions and proposed-model-based near-optimal solutions are compared. The comparison results show that the proposed strategy generates a savings of over 18% referring to the total restocking cost over one-year period. The strategy proposed in this paper, which can handle the multiple dispenser types, provides a practical quantitative slotting method for CAOPS and can help picking-system-designers make slotting decisions efficiently and effectively.

Development and characterization of novel microsatellite markers for the Common Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus)using RAD-seq

Background: The Common Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus) Linnaeus, 1758 is the most widespread pheasant in the world and widely introduced as a game bird. Increasing needs for conservation genetics and management of both wild and captive populations require permanent genetic resources, such as polymorphic microsatellites in order to genotype individuals and populations.Methods: In this study, 7598 novel polymorphic microsatellites for the Common Pheasant were isolated using a RAD-seq approach at an Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform. A panel of ten novel microsatellites and three existing ones from the chicken genome were multiplexed and genotyped on a set of 90 individuals of Common Pheasants(representing nine subspecies and ten individuals each) and 10 individuals of the Green Pheasant(P. versicolor).Results: These 13 microsatellites exhibited moderate to high levels of polymorphism, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 8 and expected heterozygosities from 0.049 to 0.905. The first analysis of the genetic structure of subspecies/populations using a Bayesian clustering approach, implemented in STRUCTURE, showed two genetic clusters, corresponding to both the Green and the Common Pheasant, with further evidence of subpopulation structuring within the Common Pheasants.Conclusion: These markers are useful genetic tools for sustainable uses and evolutionary studies in these two Phasianus pheasants and probably other closely related game birds.

Restoration of Stocks of the Sea Cucumber <i>Holothuria fuscogilva</i>in the Red Sea with Transplanted Wild Juveniles

Over the last decade, holothuroid sea cucumbers in the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea have been the target of continuous fishing. This has severely depleted sea cucumber stocks, especially the high-value species such as Holothuria fuscogilva. The present work demonstrates that restocking populations of H. fuscogilva that are at critically and chronically low levels by transplanting wild-captured juveniles can be effective. Juveniles were translocated from a robust population at Pharoan Island and released into two sites (Wadi Quny and Hidden Bay). Population density, growth rate and mortality at the original and two release sites were monitored for 2 yrs. The Pharoan population density was highest, with H. fuscogilva showing a strong preference for sandy habitat (21.3 - 18.4 ind./100m2), over seagrasses (3.6 - 2.5 ind./100m2) and corals (0.9 - 1.7 ind./100m2). The restocked population at Wadi Quny increased from 2.6 to 9.8 ind./100m2 from 2013-2015. In contrast, density at Hidden Bay decreased from 2.8 to only 0.1 ind./100m2 in the first year. Sea cucumbers in the restocked population at Wadi Quny had higher growth rates (0.65 - 1.29 cm/month) compared to the original population at Pharoan Island (0.21 - 0.45 cm/month), while Hidden Bay showed a negative growth rate. Mortality was low at Pharoan Island (1% - 2%) and Wadi Quny (0.5% - 0.75%), but high at Hidden Bay (49% - 100% in the first year). There was a negative relationship between mortality and size (P = 0.003). The restocking of H. fuscogilva populations using wild-captured juveniles was very successful at Wadi Quny but a failure at Hidden Bay.

Historic,pre-stock enhancement,demographic conditions of exploited populations of dusky flathead,Platycephalus fuscus,in eastern Australia

Responsible stock enhancement initiatives require baseline data of wild population demographic conditions that can be used in testing management outcomes.This study provides the first fishery-independent assessment of length-and age-based biological characteristics of exploited populations of Platycephalus fuscus in eastern Australia prior to stock enhancement.Sampling was conducted over seven estuaries spanning seven degrees of latitude and the geographical range of proposed stock enhancements.Populations in all estuaries showed evidence of length and age truncation,especially those subject to commercial fisheries where young individuals of both sexes dominated populations.Maximum longevities were 12 and 11 years for females and males respectively,but few females>5 years and males>3 years were generally sampled.Females dominated populations,and on average,the mean lengths and ages of females were greater than males within each estuary and across all age classes.Sexually dimorphic variation in growth was evident across all estuaries,with females attaining greater maximum lengths than males.Estuary-specific differences in individual growth were not identified.On average,over 50%of females sampled in each estuary were>the minimum legal length(MLL),but the opposite was evident for males.In contrast,over 25%of males in each estuary were>the mean length at maturity(L50),whereas in all but one estuary<13%of the females were>the L50.Stocked male and female P.fuscus should recruit to the fishery in 2 and 3 years,and contribute to the spawning stock in 1.5 and 4.5 years,respectively.This study provides important historical baseline data that can contribute to testing stock enhancement outcomes on populations.