This study aims to objectively measure the efficiency of nanotechnology R&D programs by systematically evaluating the inputs and outputs of nanotechnology R&D activities and to find implications for improving the efficiency of nanotechnology R&D programs. Data on input factors such as R&D investment, R&D manpower, R&D period, and output factors such as paper, patent, and commercialization for R&D projects which started from 2008 or afterwards and ended by 2011 are gathered through National Science and Technology Knowledge Information Service, which are used for efficiency evaluation. In this study, we analyzed R&D efficiency in detailed technology units in depth. The process taken in this study is as follows. First, the basic statistics of input and output factors to compare and analyze R&D investment, R&D manpower, R&D period, paper, patent, and commercialization status by technology unit are analyzed. Next, DEA models are utilized to derive the overall efficiency, pure technology efficiency, and scale efficiency by conducting the efficiency evaluation for each technology unit, from which implications for strategic budget allocation are derived. In addition, partial efficiency evaluation is conducted to identify advantages and disadvantages of each technology unit. In turn, cluster analysis is performed to identify similar technology units, from which implications for efficiency improvement are derived.

In many inventory situations, items for sales are generally stocked in a multiple of variations called stockkeeping units, such as size, color, style, and so on. For better management performance on sales items, proper and effective management is necessary for the stockkeeping units. In dealing with many items and those stockkeeping units, individual inventory analysis for each stockkeeping unit needs large amount of time or cost. Also the individual approach in inventory planning increases the demand variation of an item as the result by combining of demand variations of all stockkeeping units, accordingly the inventory turnover ratio and profitability are dropped down. This research suggests an effective method of systematic control of total stockkeeping units by generating from the total item basis, and shows how to reduce the safety stock and the average inventory with attaining a planned customer fill rate of the item and each stockkeeping units.

This paper deals with the economic value analysis of meteorological forecasts for a hypothetical inventory decision-making situation in the pharmaceutical industry. The value of Asian dust (AD) forecasts is assessed in terms of the expected value of profits by using a decision tree, which is transformed from the specific payoff structure. The forecast user is assumed to determine the inventory level by considering base profit, inventory cost, and lost sales cost. We estimate the information value of AD forecasts by comparing the two cases of decision-making with or without the AD forecast. The proposed method is verified for the real data of AD forecasts and events in Seoul during the period 2004~2008. The results indicate that AD forecasts can provide the forecast users with benefits, which have various ranges of values according to the relative rate of inventory and lost sales cost.

The study analyzes those relations of customer service level of each sales branch, level of cooperations among branches, and overall system-wide service level for an item. Under the continuous review method, each sales branch places an order to the outside supplier, and the each branch receives the order quantity after elapsing a certain lead time. Under these circumstances, those branches with stockout condition may be supplied by other branches with keeping stocks to cover the shortages. This policy generally increases the system-wide customer service level for an item throughout cooperations for the safety plan among branches. Therefore, in the context of inventory policy, the decision rules to determine the proper branch levels of service and cooperation levels of service are important goals in terms of attaining desired system-wide service level. This research has suggested the method and procedure to reach above goals.