In this study, we improved the variable neighborhood search (VNS) algorithm for solving uncapacitated multilevel lot-sizing (MLLS) problems. The improvement is twofold. First, we developed an effective local search method known as the Ancestors Depth-first Traversal Search (ADTS), which can be...

Remanufacturing is a process of recovering used products to a like-new condition. It can potentially achieve considerable economic, environmental and social benefits in many applications. However, its economic benefit varies for different products and remanufacturing processes. This research...

Most of the current attempts for business process optimisation are manual without involving any formal automated methodology. This paper proposes a framework for multi-objective optimisation of business process designs. The framework uses a generic business process model that is formally defined...

Purpose – The demand for contracts on assets availability has increased. Recently published papers show that the use of asset health monitoring technologies is being encouraged to improve the asset performance. This is based on reason rather than analysis. This paper aims to understand and...

Purpose – This paper aims to present a framework that will help manufacturing firms to configure their internal production and support operations to enable effective and efficient delivery of products and their closely associated services. Design/methodology/approach – First, the key...

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present a new process for the evaluation of an automotive organisation’s suppliers by corporate social responsibility (CSR) measures. Design/methodology/approach – A methodology for socially responsible purchasing is detailed along with a case study...

The design of business processes often ignores detailed consideration of service cost. With competitive market pressure, this has become a key factor for the service sector. The ideas discussed in this paper are a result of research into automating the re-engineering of business processes. This...