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Noteworthy shifts in availability of raw materials, component parts and products have had a profound influence on customer service levels. Changes in these levels have dramatised the importance of and concern for effective management of customer service in distribution. As a result, adjustments in business procedure and organisational structure are necessary.

The ability to transmit and process voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) networks has important implications for technology managers. Many companies today are rushing to bring different VoIP products to market with a wide variety of features. Managers will need to understand the tradeoffs associated with VoIP as compared to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This paper measures the preference structures between IP telephony and PSTN services using conjoint analysis. The purpose is to suggest those VoIP technology attributes that best meet users’ needs.

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for parallel simulation that employs the discrete element method (DEM) and improves the cache performance using Hilbert space filling curves (HSFC).

The methodology is well suited for large-scale engineering simulations and considers modelling restrictions due to memory limitations related to the problem size. An algorithm based on mapping indexes, which does not use excessive additional memory, is adopted to enable the contact search procedure for highly scattered domains. The parallel solution strategy uses the recursive coordinate bisection method in the dynamical load balancing procedure. The proposed memory access control aims to improve the data locality of a dynamic set of particles. The numerical simulations presented here contain up to 7.8 millions of particles, considering a visco-elastic model of contact and a rolling friction assumption.

A real landslide is adopted as reference to evaluate the numerical approach. Three-dimensional simulations are compared in terms of the deposition pattern of the Shum Wan Road landslide. The results show that the methodology permits the simulation of models with a good control of load balancing and memory access. The improvement in cache performance significantly reduces the processing time for large-scale models.

The proposed approach allows the application of DEM in several practical engineering problems of large scale. It also introduces the use of HSFC in the optimization of memory access for DEM simulations.

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology of hybrid parallelization applied to the discrete element method that combines message-passing interface and OpenMP to improve computational performance. The scheme is based on mapping procedures based on Hilbert space-filling curves (HSFC).

The methodology uses domain decomposition strategies to distribute the computation of large-scale models in a cluster. It also partitions the workload of each subdomain among threads. This additional procedure aims to reach higher computational performance by adjusting the usage of message-passing artefacts and threads. The main objective is to reduce the communication among processes. The work division by threads employs HSFC in order to improve data locality and to avoid related overheads. Numerical simulations presented in this work permit to evaluate the proposed method in terms of parallel performance for models that contain up to 3.2 million particles.

Distinct partitioning algorithms were used in order to evaluate the local decomposition scheme, including the recursive coordinate bisection method and a topological scheme based on METIS. The results show that the hybrid implementations reach better computational performance than those based on message passing only, including a good control of load balancing among threads. Case studies present good scalability and parallel efficiencies.

The proposed approach defines a configurable execution environment for numerical models and introduces a combined scheme that improves data locality and iterative workload balancing.

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/eb038865. When citing the article, please cite: WILLIAM WAGNER, (1972), “Managing customer complaints in distribution”, International Journal of Physical Distribution, Vol. 2 Iss: 3, pp. 126 - 131.

“The customer service complaint is universal in physical distribution operations. It is inevitable that even the most efficient of distribution systems will occasionally have failures; it is equally inevitable that from these failures will emanate complaints. Only if an active and systematic effort is made to handle these complaints can they graduate … to become part of management's kit of tools in making its distribution system better and more responsive to the company's (and Its customers') needs.”

Analyses changes taking place within purchasing and its environment. Interpreting such trends wisely will be necessary to achieve an optimal relationship between purchasing and other organizational units. Addresses how changes in purchasing affect profit generation, securing of new and better suppliers, achieving higher “real value” in products bought, dealing with new and emerging forms of sales pressure (including related supplier strategies and tactics), improving price hike rationale assessment, and determining effective purchasing strategy relative to prevailing economic conditions‐all of which are leading to a broadened role and relevance of purchasing today. Discusses current, significant purchasing trends, how they will influence future decision making, and the need for purchasing to help establish and maintain strong cross‐functional ties with all relevant parties. Directs analysis and discussion towards all individuals and groups affecting or being affected by the purchasing function domestically and abroad.

Customer service is a prerequisite for both developing and maintaining lasting buyer‐seller relationships. Long‐term benefits have been proved over time. As a strategic element of the marketing mix, it is no longer dismissed on the basis of cost. Customer service issues involved, including the importance of evaluating the service price tag correctly, guarantee of supplies and transport are discussed, and actions required to provide industrial marketeers with a differential advantage and a strong hedge against competitive pressures at home and abroad are presented.

Industrial buyers must help keep prices down while securing better services: to buy more for less requires considerable discipline but may be a hedge against competition. A systematic approach is increasingly attractive.

An integral part of customer service revolves around distribution. With markets broadening geographically, technology advancing, economic conditions and interest rates more volatile, and deregulation of transportation a reality, the carrier is becoming more critical for corporate success. As a consequence, carrier services are essential to strategies designed to generate profit as well as provide for marketing system effectiveness. Although such services previously were optional, they are now required.