Human Body Food Supply Chain and Inventory Models Analogy: An Empirical Validation

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to empirically validate or discard analogies between human body food supply chain and inventory flow in material management based on the paper titled ‘Inventory Models and Human Body Food Supply Chain: Some Managerial Insights’ by Vrat in which some conjectures were proposed by him. This paper is an attempt to take these conjectures forward to the level of postulates. This is an empirical study administered through two-phase surveys for determining shared perception of a wider group. This study also investigates the effect of age, gender and education on the perception of people on these conjectures. A-G-E (Age-Gender-Education) analysis is applied for this purpose. The findings indicate a strong parallel between Vrat’s conjectures and survey results. Findings of the A-G-E analysis indicate that the difference in the perception due to demographic factors is significant for many conjectures. It is hoped that this research will bring new insights for managers in handling various issues in a supply chain and also the scientific inventory models can help persons to gain better insights about food intake policies in human body.

  • Page Number : 63-79

  • Keywords
    Biomimicry, Human Body Food Supply Chain, Inventory Models, Push System, Fasting

  • DOI Number
    https://doi.org/10.15415/jtmge.2014.51004

  • Authors

    • Prem VratITM University, Gurgaon, India
    • Alpana AgarwalITM University, Gurgaon, India

References

  • Biology 101 (2012) ‘What Snow Tires and Tree Frogs Have in Common?’, Biology 101.Org, (online) (cited 23 July 2013) Available from URL: <http://www.biology101.org/archive/2012/12/what-snow-tires-and-tree-frogs-have-in-common/ >.
  • Creation Worldview Ministries (n.d.) ‘Biomimicry–God’s Designs and Man’s Imitations’, (online) (cited 23 July 2013), Available from URL:<http://www.creationworldview.org/articles_view.asp?id=119>
  • Daily Mail (2013) ‘A 15-minutes walk after eating cut diabetes risk’, Regional Business News, Daily Mail, 13 June, (online) (cited 30 June 2013) Available from Ebscohost database.
  • Geter, L., (2012) 47 Steps to Stress Management Real Help for Stress Relief and the Prevention of Premature Aging, Forward Enterprises LLC, (online) (cited 14 June 2013) Available from URL:< http://books.google.co.in/books?id=G8x9AzArCuIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=47+Steps+to+Stress+Management+Real+Help+for+Stress+Relief+and+the+Prevention+of+Premature+Aging+books&hl=en&sa=X&ei=c534UaPvEoHVrQegwYHQDQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=47%20Steps%20to%20Stress%20Management%20Real%20Help%20for%20Stress%20Relief%20and%20the%20Prevention%20of%20Premature%20Aging%20books&f=false>.
  • Gideon Hillman Consulting (2012)’ What is at the heart of your supply chain?, Supply Chain & Logistics Specialists, Gideon Hillman Consulting, (online) (cited 17 December 2013) Available from URL: < http://www.hillman-consulting.co.uk/articles/featured-articles/warehousing.html>.
  • Hampton, D. (2012) ‘The Mind And The Brain: What’s The Difference?, The Best Brain Possible’, (online) (cited 23 July 2013) Available from URL:<http://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/the-mind-and-the-brain-what-is-the-difference>.
  • Pakistan Today (2013) ‘Fasting is good for Heart: Study’, 9 July, Pakistan Today, (online) (cited 30 June 2013) Available from Ebscohost database.
  • Parks, E.J. and McCrory, M.A. (2005) ‘When to Eat & How Often?’, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81:1, pp. 3-4.
  • PR Newswire (2013a) ‘Hydroxycut: Sitting while Eating can assist Digestion and Weight loss’, PR Newswire, US, 8 January, (online) (cited 30 June 2013) Available from Ebscohost database.
  • PR Newswire (2013b), ‘Daily Intermittent Fasting is best for Calorie Restriction, Health and Weight loss’, PR Newswire, US, 5 April, (online) (cited 30 June 2013) Available from Ebscohost database.
  • Shah, J. (2009) Supply Chain Management: Text and Cases, New Delhi, Pearson Education.
  • Singh, S.S. (2012) ‘The “Most Important” Supply Chain Role 11’, Supply Chain Diary (Sanjeevs), (online) (cited 17 December 2013) Available from URL: <2013http://supplychaindiary.blogspot.in/2012/02/most-important-supply-chain-role.html>.
  • Stipp, D. (2013) ‘Is fasting good for you?’, Scientific American, 308:1, pp. 23-24.
  • Vrat, P. (2011) ‘Inventory Models and Human Body Food Supply Chain: Some Managerial Insights’, Industrial Engineering Journal, 2:2, pp. 8-16
  • Zhang, G., Xie, L. and Li, D. (2006) ‘A Study on Bionic Model of Knowledge Supply Chain in an Enterprise, Proceedings of I-KNOW ’06, pp. 126-133, 6-8, September, Graz, Austria.

  • Published Date : --