Search results for "Operations Research"
showing 10 items of 1297 documents
Balancing Flexibility and Coherence: Information Exchange in a Paper Machinery Project
1999
The problem of balancing coherence and flexibility in collaborative information system design is approached here with two pairs of concepts. Boundary objects can support communication for perspective taking between communities of practice. Conscripting devices can support communication for perspective making within a community of practice. These theoretical lenses are used to study the uses of the technical specification in paper machine projects. Our study showed that as a boundary object it provided enough flexibility to allow negotiations, and sufficient local structure, for carrying out work in both communities of practice, the customer and the manufacturer. As a conscription device in …
General and flexible methodology and architecture for CAPP: GF-CAPP system
2003
Although all researchers insist on the need to develop computer-aided process planning (CAPP) systems, they agree that one of its most significant shortfalls is the low level of generality and flexibility present in current proposals. One of the outcomes of this low level of generality--apart from its limited application domain--is the low level of integration achieved with CAD, CAM and PP&C systems. To ensure optimized running of the production system, it is also important to stress the need to develop alternative process planning that enables it to adapt to disruptions in production. Several factors play an important role in implementing these features, among which the following may be hi…
Principles of scatter search
2006
Scatter search is an evolutionary method that has been successfully applied to hard optimization problems. The fundamental concepts and principles of the method were first proposed in the 1970s, based on formulations dating back to the 1960s for combining decision rules and problem constraints. In contrast to other evolutionary methods like genetic algorithms, scatter search is founded on the premise that systematic designs and methods for creating new solutions afford significant benefits beyond those derived from recourse to randomization. It uses strategies for search diversification and intensification that have proved effective in a variety of optimization problems. This paper provides…
Semiparametric stochastic frontier models: A generalized additive model approach
2017
Abstract The choice of the functional form of the frontier into a stochastic frontier model is typically neglected in applications and canonical functions are usually considered. This paper introduces a semiparametric approach for stochastic frontier estimation that extends previous works based on pseudo-likelihood estimators allowing flexibility in model selection and capability of imposing monotonicity and concavity constraints. For these purposes the present work introduces a generalized additive framework that moreover permits to model the influence of contextual/environmental factors to the hypothesized production process by the relative extension given by generalized additive models f…
Incentive System Design Based on Accrual Accounting: A Summary and Analysis
2009
ABSTRACT: This paper provides a formal analysis on how to design accrual-based incentive systems so that a manager's and owner's interests are properly aligned. We introduce a general framework to summarize the literature, provide various extensions to it, and point to some of its limitations. We characterize the entire class of goal-congruent and preference-similar incentive systems when the owner has perfect as well as imperfect information about the manager's preferences. This allows us to show how compensation functions and performance measures are interrelated and to demonstrate what information should be incorporated into compensation functions and performance measures. We illustrate …
Redesigning Computer-Supported Work Processes with Dual Information Systems: The Work Process Benchmarking Service
1999
The conceptual design of most computer-based information systems reflects a dualism of technology. During the development phase, part of the work-domain-related knowledge is formalized and encoded in the software, making it difficult for users to reflect on and use this knowledge. This design/use dualism contributes to the deterioration of the interpretive flexibility of information systems. We propose an information systems architecture called Dual Information Systems (DIS) that helps bridge the design/use dualism by providing organizations with a set of services that enable and reinforce both effective, institutionalized working and the questioning and (re)construction of computer-support…
To lead or to wait? An application to internationalization strategies under demand uncertainty
2019
We examine the exports versus foreign direct investment (FDI) decision under demand uncertainty for an asymmetric cost duopoly. One of the firms can lead entry before demand realization or retain flexibility enjoying an informational advantage. When the time value of information is small and for sufficiently low investment costs, follow‐the‐leader behavior in FDI arises. Relatively high investment (fixed) costs result in follow‐the‐leader exporting behavior. When the time value of information becomes significant, the potential leader will opt for a wait‐and‐see strategy. For intermediate values of investment costs, the efficient firm invests, while the rival chooses to export.
Stochastic multicriteria evaluation of district heating systems considering the uncertainties
2018
It is of great importance to choose a suitable district heating (DH) system for a specific DH area from the economics, environment and energy (3E) points of view. This is a multicriteria decision making problem, in which the criteria performance values (PVs) and weighting are characterized by uncertain or imprecise information. In this study, seven candidate DH systems are evaluated from the viewpoints of 3E by the stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA) method. SMAA is able to handle the uncertainties of the criteria PVs and the weighting at the same time. These uncertainties are very common and typical in real-life, but in most cases are not treated judiciously or just negl…
WITHDRAWN: Measurement of beam focus quality in biomedical nuclear microscopy.
2009
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
Using SMAA-2 method with dependent uncertainties for strategic forest planning
2006
Abstract Uncertainty included in forest variables is normally ignored in forest management planning. When the uncertainty is accounted for, it is typically assumed to be independently distributed for the criteria measurements of different alternatives. In forest management planning, the factors introducing the uncertainty can be classified into three main sources: the errors in the basic forestry data, the uncertainty of the (relative) future prices of timber, and the uncertainty in predicting the forest development. Due to the nature of these error sources, most of the involved uncertainties can be assumed to be positively correlated across the alternative management plans and/or criteria.…