Search results for "Operations"
showing 10 items of 1692 documents
A graph colouring model for assigning a heterogeneous workforce to a given schedule
1996
Abstract We analyze a heterogeneous workforce assignment problem in which the minimum number of workers required to carry out a machine load plan is calculated. The problem is formulated as a restricted vertex colouring problem and a branch and bound algorithm is presented. The special characteristics of the graph to be coloured allow an efficient implementation of the branch and bound. Computational results show that the algorithm can solve problems of 50 activities, 5, 10 and 15 machines and between 2 to 15 different types of workers in just a few seconds.
Task-based visual analytics for interactive multiobjective optimization
2020
We study how visual interaction techniques considered in visual analytics can be utilized when implementing interactive multiobjective optimization methods, where a decision maker iteratively participates in the solution process. We want to benefit from previous research and avoid re-inventing ideas. Our aim is to widen awareness and increase the applicability of interactive methods for solving real-world problems. As a concrete approach, we introduce seven high-level tasks that are relevant for interactive methods. These high-level tasks are based on low-level tasks proposed in the visual analytics literature. In addition, we give an example on how the high-level tasks can be implemented a…
Health and the war. Changing schemes and health conditions during the Spanish civil war
2008
This paper focuses on the health reforms during the republican Spain (1931-1939) and the crisis derived from the three-year of civil war. It considers how the war affected the health system and the impairment of health conditions of the population during the late 1930s, considering the changing conditions caused by the conflict. Some of the specific topics analysed are the changing healthcare system, the adaptation of health organization after the outbreak of the war, the impact of the war on the health of the population and epidemiological changes, the problem of the refugees and the clinical studies by experts, mainly on undernourishment.
A multi-objective approach to solid waste management
2010
The issue addressed in this paper consists in the localization and dimensioning of transfer stations, which constitute a necessary intermediate level in the logistic chain of the solid waste stream, from municipalities to the incinerator. Contextually, the determination of the number and type of vehicles involved is carried out in an integrated optimization approach. The model considers both initial investment and operative costs related to transportation and transfer stations. Two conflicting objectives are evaluated, the minimization of total cost and the minimization of environmental impact, measured by pollution. The design of the integrated waste management system is hence approached i…
Trends in Research and Publication: Science 2.0 and Open Access
2009
This paper considers current trends in academic research and publication, in particular as seen from the control community. The introduction of Web 2.0 applications for scientists and engineers is currently changing the way research is being conducted. In the near future, participants in the research community will be able to share ideas, data and results like never before. They will also be able to manage the rapidly increasing amount of scientific information much more effectively than today through collaborative efforts enabled by the new Internet tools. However, an important premise for such a development is the availability of research material. Many research results are currently shie…
Communication in new technology based‐firms
2013
PurposeThe paper aims at identifying the main social media applications used by new technology based‐firms (NTBFs) and at calculating the volume of followers they have in each application. It also focuses on the amount of activity generated by the firms in those social networks, identifying the key thematic content of their social media activity, analyzing the ability to create dialogue with their stakeholders and clarifying which style of communication they use.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an exploratory study of the use of social media tools by NTBFs, located in Spanish Science Parks, as an important resource network for firms in the corresponding sector. A total of 432 n…
Context DataModel Framework: semantic facilities management
2008
Facility management is the practice of coordinating the physical workplace with the people and work of the organisation. It integrates the principles of business administration, architecture and the behavioural and engineering sciences. Software dedicated to facility management are usually limited to spreadsheet software. With the development of the Industry Foundation Class (IFC; a new object-oriented standard to model buildings) and web-based networks, a new generation of methods and tools dedicated to facility management are required. To deal with these requirements, we have developed a framework based on Semantic Web technologies: RDF, Ontology Web Language (OWL), Semantic Web Rule Lang…
Two ways to handle dependent uncertainties in multi-criteria decision problems☆
2009
Abstract We consider multi-criteria group decision-making problems, where the decision makers (DMs) want to identify their most preferred alternative(s) based on uncertain or inaccurate criteria measurements. In many real-life problems the uncertainties may be dependent. In this paper, we focus on multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problems where the criteria and their uncertainties are computed using a stochastic simulation model. The model is based on decision variables and stochastic parameters with given distributions. The simulation model determines for the criteria a joint probability distribution, which quantifies the uncertainties and their dependencies. We present and compare two…
The role of internal resources in the competitive positioning of Sicilian wine cooperatives
2019
The paper is an original article that uses accounting frameworks to determine what creates a competitive advantage in a cooperative business model. In particular, it investigates the influence of tangible, intangible and financial resources on the business performance of cooperatives operating in the Sicilian wine industry, with the RBV of the firms as a theoretical background. Using a linear regression model, our results show that tangible and financial resources are a source of a sustained competitive advantage. This study fills the gap existing in the strategic management literature related to the role of resources, tangible and intangible, in the cooperative system, providing both theor…
Fundamentals on Decision-Making Behavior
2011
This introductory chapter describes the fundamentals for later analysis, modeling and discussion of choice tasks and behavior. Figure 2.1 depicts the basic elements of the choice process which are relevant for the present work. On the left hand side, we see the general problem the decision makers are faced with: the choice task. Generally speaking, a choice task defines the problem of choosing the preferred out of a discrete and finite set of alternatives. The decision makers’ preferences determine what the preferred alternative is. Thus, in Sect. 2.1, we define both choice tasks and preferences.