By Maansi Shah, supervised by Keran Zhao📧 (Thesis Supervisor) and Saurabh Bansal📧 (Honors Advisor) (2024)
The purpose of this research is to understand how the launch of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted the customer experience on digital platforms. To explore the proposed research question, this thesis will define key terms, understand differences in customer reviews in pre and post AI periods, and determine the benefit of generative AI integration on digital platforms. This paper will discuss different types of digital platforms with a focus on streaming and social media. Spotify, Facebook, and TikTok will be used to examine broader trends in their respective industries. Through an analysis of customer reviews across the three platforms, the value of adding generative AI features will be investigated. Existing advancements have improved the user experience and a continued investment in generative AI can allow companies to stay ahead of the curve in their industries. As a result of the completed research, it is recommended that companies consider generative AI integration on their digital platforms and establish the most appropriate ways to use generative AI as an enabler to increase efficiency, productivity, and user interfaces.
Access the paper at Electronic Theses for Schreyer Honors College (ETDA) website here.
This thesis deals with the development and formulation of a standard framework to be used when analyzing a manufacturing relocation, regardless of company-owned or contracted manufacturer. In what can be a dynamic and complex concept with many stakeholders, the framework aims to create a clearer vision for a manufacturing relocation by separating its pieces and aligning them in a story that makes logical sense. Humans, alone, are irrational, conflicted by emotions, fallacies, and biases that oftentimes prevent the observation of reality. A structural framework provides the foundation for reality. The first part of the framework (Initiator) obeys to human nature and allows the eye-catching, news-headline, or conversation-starter to initiate the discussion of a manufacturing relocation. This initiator usually always catches everyone’s attention, and it’s supposed to. The initiator’s role is to promote the company’s growth and evolution. The second part of the framework (Checks & Balances) checks to see if the initiator is logical. It removes itself from the spotlight and steps back to take the most rational approach, analyzing reality for what it is and aligning company priorities with a decision. Within the writing, the most common examples of initiators are described and grouped into three categories: Government Policy, Operations, and Business Strategy. The most common example of checks and balances are also described and grouped into three categories: Financials/Shareholder Value, Business Continuity, and Risks. The data gathered that served as inputs in the framework came from industry leaders who have extensive experience in manufacturing relocation strategy. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences provided the basis for which the framework exists.
An academic view of a global economic crisis that occurred from 2020 through 2022, focused through the lens of the impact to ports on the West Coast of the United States of America, primarily those located in Los Angeles and Long Beach. A compilation of interviews, literature review, and analysis based on private and public financial impacts. The express purpose of this thesis is to identify areas where the U.S. economy was vulnerable to the crisis that occurred, to investigate whether these vulnerabilities still exist, and what actions have been or are being taken to prevent another economic disaster of this scale. It begins with the necessary context regarding the U.S port economy. Then it explains the major impacts had on said economy by Covid-19 and the subsequent congestion crisis that followed. Alongside the breakdown of events is an analysis of business strategies employed to attempt to mitigate the effects of the congestion, why most of them were unsuccessful, and what can be learned from them. The analysis and conclusion focus on current efforts to prevent a recurrence of the crisis and discuss why these efforts are important beyond the obvious reasons. The primary focus is on developing greater supply chain visibility to prevent the disconnects that amplified each aspect of the congestion crisis. There are also specific solutions presented to three key players in the congestion crisis, those being ocean carrier regulations, rail line infrastructure, and developing drayage driver benefits.
Social media has continued to sway consumer purchasing decisions as it grows on various platforms. When there is a change in consumer purchasing decisions, the supply chain is affected as a result of this. The growth of social media has caused the rise of influencers, who have the power to convince consumers to buy certain products. The platforms of TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest have served as a vehicle for influencers to post promotional marketing material about products for brands that they are partnering with. As a result, product demand fluctuates, which causes unknowns in inventory management and the supply chain. Supply chain managers need to be adaptable in their strategies for planning and demand forecasting. The purpose of this thesis is to give recommendations to businesses for how to best handle the impacts that paid influencers will have on inventory management and the supply chain. The research will consist of an in-depth background section pulled from outside sources due to the information being current. Case studies and an interview will also be used to illustrate certain examples of influencers posts, consumer reactions, and the resulting impact on the supply chain. The research revealed that the type of campaign, the social media platform used, the popularity of the influencer, and the timing all play a role in how a business should prepare for the launch of an influencer marketing campaign. Measuring sales lift and ensuring the marketed product is on time and in full is key for influencer marketing campaigns that target specific products in the promotion. On the other hand, influencer marketing campaigns that target brand awareness have an impact on inventory and demand. However, it is more challenging to directly tie this to one event. In this case, attaining increased mindshare of consumers will help to spur the halo effect and a return on investment. Maintaining a strong relationship between the supplier and retailer, collaborating cross functionally, and broadening supply sources are ways for a business to prepare its supply chain for the impacts of influencer marketing campaigns. Additionally, identifying the target demographic will help give the business direction for managing inventory and demand. Overall, influencer marketing will continue to impact inventory management and the supply chain, so identifying effective steps businesses can take to prepare for this will set them up for success in the future.
This thesis will provide an overview of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the possible use cases of it in the warehousing space. Within each use case, examples of the existing technologies, as well as the respective benefits and challenges associated with it, will be discussed. Previous research conducted in this space has primarily focused on a specific use case, or the IoT industry as a whole. This thesis aims to compile these ideas to share a holistic perspective of what future warehousing will look like once IoT is incorporated. The methodology for this research primarily consists of gathering information through publicly available sources. However, due to the newness of the technologies being discussed, there is a limited number of formalized research papers. As such, this thesis will supplement the Penn State Library sources with the websites of the providers of these technologies. This research produced an as-is (Figure 1) and to-be (Figure 15) process maps of IoT integration in warehousing. As demonstrated by these process maps and the accumulated research, IoT can be incorporated into nearly every aspect of the warehousing process, producing benefits that are rather significant and intriguing.
Efficient and safe gowning procedures are an essential components of productive medical device manufacturing practices within a supply chain, but without standardized process for gowning existing and best practices being unique to respective firms, businesses will expose themselves to an abundance of risks if they do not focus on this topic. Specifically, a weak gowning procedure leaves firms susceptible to quality issues during production, safety concerns for employees, high unit costs of equipment, and many more serious consequences. Another issue arises through the fact that there is no common best practice for gowning in the medical device manufacturing industry, so one company’s success with gowning procedures cannot be directly transferred to another due to unique needs for each business. This thesis will analyze how a leading player in the medical device manufacturing industry, Company A, manages their gowning procedures across their global sites as well as recommend how they can improve this specific area within their supply chain to benefit the firm as a whole. Six leaders from Company A were interviewed with a standard set of questions which were made to gain insight into Company A’s current issues with gowning and areas for potential improvement. These interview results, along with data collected of gowning procedures at every global site were combined to provide employee driven recommendations. The results were compared with the limited academic research in this space and deliverables were made for company A based on these results, explaining ways they can improve their supply chain through change. The final recommendations for Company A focus on improved communication and the formation of a harmonized gowning procedure. The key takeaway from this project and thesis is finding ways to improve gowning procedures specifically for Company A, which will lead to many benefits for their overall supply chain.
Company X, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, is seeking clarity on best practices for complying with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Additionally, they are looking to reevaluate current relationships with reverse distributor third-party logistics partners, as well as explore new entrants to the market. This thesis provides insight as to what two competitors are doing to meet compliance. It also includes a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (S.W.O.T.) Analysis of current RD 3PL partners, and compares the strengths and weaknesses of four additional entities. The methodology of thesis consists of reviewing publicly available sources, as well as expertise from representatives of Company X. The publicly available sources are found primarily through keyword searches, as well as reviewing online supply chain journals. Competitor practices and the RD 3PL S.W.O.T. analysis indicated that to stay competitive in the industry, investment in technological development is necessary. The information collected is intended to give Company X a broader view of the pharmaceutical returns industry, and assist them in creating a future request for proposal (RFP).
This paper traces the historical evolution of money from ancient bartering systems to the advent of digital currencies, highlighting the transformative journey of financial instruments through time. The study delves into the economic, technological, and social dynamics that have driven these changes by examining the transition from tangible assets like livestock and metals to sophisticated digital forms such as cryptocurrencies. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of these transformations on young adults. This demographic has shown a marked shift in financial behavior and perceptions, particularly towards cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The research underscores the dual nature of cryptocurrencies, balancing their potential for decentralization, financial inclusion, and transactional efficiency against challenges like volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and environmental concerns. Through a detailed literature review and empirical analysis, the paper explores how technological proficiency, economic perspectives, and societal influences intersect to shape young adults’ adoption and perception of digital currencies. It discusses the broader implications of this shift for the global financial system, considering both the opportunities and hurdles of digital financial innovations. This comprehensive exploration illuminates the historical and contemporary aspects of money’s evolution and anticipates the future trajectory of economic exchanges in an increasingly digitalized world.
When analyzing the most efficient ways to ship, store, and deliver inventory, there are a multitude of factors that dictate success. Considering the complexities found within the pharmaceutical industry, it is pivotal that companies strive to further optimize processes to reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. This thesis analyzes potential strategies a large manufacturer of pharmaceutical products – referred to as “Company A” – can pursue to consolidate inventory more effectively in one of their third-party distribution centers (DCs) located in Pennsylvania. The company that owns this storage location is referred to as “Company B.” In order to fully grasp the magnitude of the project, several actions were taken. First, a tour of Company B’s Pennsylvania facility was executed to pinpoint areas of opportunity. Then, a stagnant inventory report was analyzed to assess quantitative pain points, internal benchmarking was conducted to compare the two companies’ facilities, and various meetings were completed to clarify objectives and feasibility of solutions. Through the culmination of these actions, various recommendations were distinguished to increase cost savings and inventory optimization. If Company A reduces the amount of stagnant inventory held in Company B’s Pennsylvania DC, upwards of ten million dollars could be saved annually. In addition, pre-ordering of trial kits can help mitigate a primary bottleneck in the receiving process. Together, these recommendations will enhance the partnership between the companies and further optimize inventory levels.
Consumer demands are often changing, requiring organizations to routinely investigate new trends as well as creating a flexible and robust supply chain that can adapt to the changing demands. The purpose of this report is to uncover customer demands within the telecommunications industry and use this information to make supply chain recommendations to a company within that industry. The company, referred to as “Company A” in this report, specifically wished to understand customer expectations involving e-commerce, as well as hear recommendations about automation solutions, the role of third-party logistics providers, delivery time to customers, and costs of implementation.