This textbook is comprised of detailed case studies covering challenging real world applications of OR techniques. Among the overall goals of the book is to provide readers with descriptions of the history and other background information on a variety of industries, service or other organizations in which decision making is an important component of their daily operations. The book considers all methods of optimum decision making in order to improve performances. It also compares possible solutions obtained by different approaches, concluding with a recommendation of the best among them for implementation. By exposing students to a variety of applications in a variety of areas and explaining how they can be modeled and solved, the book helps students develop the skills needed for modeling and solving problems that they may face in the workplace. Each chapter of "Case Studies in Operations Research: Applications of Optimal Decision Making" also includes additional data provided on the book’s website on Springer.com. These files contain a brief description of the area of application, the problem and the required outputs. Also provided are links to access all the data in the problem. Finally there are project exercises for students to practice what they have learnt in the chapter, which can also be used by instructors as project assignments in their courses.

The field of operations research provides a scientific approach to managerial decision making. In a contemporary, hypercompetitive ever-changing business world, a manager needs quantitative and factual ways of solving problems related to optimal allocation of resources, profit/loss, maximization/minimization etc. In this endeavor, the subject of doing research on how to manage and make operations efficient is termed as Operations Research. The reference text provides conceptual and analytical knowledge for various operations research techniques. Readers, especially students of this subject, are skeptic in dealing with the subject because of its emphasis on mathematics. However, this book has tried to remove such doubts by focusing on the application part of OR techniques with minimal usage of mathematics. The attempt was to make students comfortable with some complicated topics of the subject. It covers important concepts including sensitivity analysis, duality theory, transportation solution method, Hungarian algorithm, program evaluation and review technique and periodic review system. Aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of mechanical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering and production engineering, this book: • Discusses extensive use of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and formulas in solving operations research problems • Provides case studies and unsolved exercises at the end of each chapter • Covers industrial applications of various operations research techniques in a comprehensive manner • Discusses creating spreadsheets and using different Excel formulas in an easy-to-understand manner • Covers problem-solving procedures for techniques including linear programming, transportation model and game theory

This book includes case studies that examine the application of operations research to improve or increase efficiency in industry and operational activities. This collection of “living case studies” is all based on the author’s 30-year career of consulting and advisory work. These true-to life industrial applications illustrate the research and development of solutions, as well as potential implementation and integration problems that may occur when adopting these methods into a business. Among the topics covered in the chapters include optimization in circuit board manufacturing, Decision Support System (DSS) for plant loading and dispatch planning, as well as development of important test procedures for tyre and pharma industry with shelf life constraints. In particular, the study on deckle optimization should be of great help to managers in paper industry and consultants for development of deckle optimization software. The application of operations research throughout the industry makes it an ideal guide for industrial executives, professionals and practitioners responsible for quality and productivity improvement.

This book presents contributions to the 50th Annual Conference of the Operations Research Society of South Africa (ORSSA), which was jointly hosted with the African Federation of Operations Research Societies (AFROS) at North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa from 12 to 15 September, 2021. Focusing on innovative case studies and recent applications of Operations Research models and algorithms in African countries, each chapter highlights findings emerging from the countries in question and explains the lessons learned. As such, the book offers an up-to-date overview of Operations Research practices and developments in Africa. AFROS is a “not for profit” organization that aims to promote Operations Research in Africa. Its affairs are regulated by an Executive Committee consisting of representatives/alternates of all its member societies. The members of the Federation undertake to co-operate in the advancement of knowledge, interest and education in Operations Research by appropriate means, particularly the exchange of information, the holding of meetings and conferences, and the awarding of prizes.

Fierce competition, globalisation and the permanent liberalisation of markets have changed the face of supply chains and operations drastically. Companies, which want to survive in a hostile environment, must establish the optimum combination of supply and operations. This book provides a holistic and practical approach to operations management 4.0 and supply management 4.0. It combines operations and supply best practices across the value chain. It explains comprehensively, how these new paradigms enable companies to concentrate on value-adding activities and processes to achieve a long-term sustainable and competitive advantage. The book contains a variety of best practices, industry examples and case studies. Focusing on best-in-class examples, the book offers the ideal guide for any enterprise in operations and supply in order to achieve a competitive advantage across all business functions focusing on value-adding activities.

This book focuses on real time management of distribution systems, integrating the latest results in system design, algorithm development and system implementation to capture the state-of-the art research and application trends. The book important topics such as goods dispatching, couriers, rescue and repair services, taxi cab services, and more. The book includes real-life case studies that describe the solution to actual distribution problems by combining systemic and algorithmic approaches.

The only case study research textbook written exclusively for students of Business and related disciplines. Using a step-by-step approach, Case Study Research for Business takes you right through the case study research process from research design and data collection using qualitative and quantitative methods, to research analysis, writing up and presenting your work. Key features: - Takes a multidisciplinary approach to case study research design by drawing on research philosophies to improve student understanding of these critical research traditions and hence provide firmer theoretical foundations for their research - Coverage of contemporary topics such as research ethics and access - Packed with practical examples from all areas of business - Pedagogical features include vignettes, exercises and ′cases′ which directly relate to business research Case Study Research for Business will prove a valuable resource for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students of business and related disciplines.

This book adopts a case study based research approach to examine the contemporary issues in the fashion industry. It documents real-world practices in fashion business from production, marketing to operations. Founded on an extensive review of literature, these case studies discuss the challenges that are pertinent to the current business environment in this important industry, provide benchmarks and generate insights to practitioners as well as suggest future directions to researchers. The book serves as a nexus of the theories and the industrial practices that advances knowledge for both the academia and the private sector in fashion business.

This book constitutes revised selected papers from the 7th International Conference on Operations Research and Enterprise Systems, ICORES 2018, held in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, in January 2018. The 12 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 59 submissions. They are organized in topical sections named: methodologies and technologies; and applications.