The study of operations research (OR) is concerned with mathematical methods and tools for solving problems relating to the allocation of scarce resources subject to constraints. Frequently these problems have to do with determining the least cost or greatest profit possible for a cost or profit function subject to constraints such as capacities and required amounts over a very large number of variables. Important problems within this space include minimum cost routing problems, network maximum flow or minimum cost flow problems, and machine scheduling problems. The growing trends in OR increasingly utilize applications of more than one technique and involve individuals from other disciplines. Moreover, they involve a blend of "hard" and "soft" as well as a mixing of different "hard" or "soft" techniques with the increasing use of multiple methods within one piece of analysis. A creative thinking must look in detail at how those from disciplines outside of OR can come to work in the organizations on multi-disciplinary studies. Those who have come from such backgrounds, clearly share their perspectives and experiences. The field of OR is always changing. Its changes are driven by the technology it uses and that it extends, and the applications that it affects.
Subcategories 6
Related categories 5
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- Decision Tree for Optimization Software Identify potential solution algorithms for your problems.
- Global (and Local) Optimization Archive of information on global and local optimization.
- Principles of Forecasting Provides practical guide for forecasting.
- A Collection of Modelling and Simulation Resources Annotated index.
- Logistics: The WWW Virtual Library All the logistic links you ever need.
- WORMS World-wide-web for OR/MS.
- Software Surveys A collection of surveys of OR/MS software.
- Forecasting and Time Series on the Web Includes a collection of publications links.
- Optimization and Operations Research A list maintained by Henry Wolkowicz.
- Unsolved Problems in OR A good collection.
- OR-Library A library of problem instances covering various OR/MS areas.
- Michael Trick’s Operations Research Blog Thoughts, opinions, and pointers on the world of OR/MS.
- Global Optimization Links to global optimization.
- TORSCHE Scheduling Toolbox for Matlab It performs various off-line and on-line scheduling.
- Operations Research by the Beach Comments, ideas and analysis of real-life problems from the perspective of an operations researcher.