Introduction to Operations Research - Lehigh （运筹学导论里海）.pdf

Introduction to Operations Research Matthew Galati magh@ Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Lehigh University Service Parts Solutions, IBM Corporation Introduction to Operations Research – p.1 Outline What is Operations Research? Optimization Problems and Applications Personal Examples Introduction to Operations Research – p.2 What is Operations Reseach? Operations Research (OR) started just before World War II in Britain with the establishment of teams of scientists to study the strategic and tactical problems involved in military operations. The objective was to find the most effective utilization of limited military resources by the use of quantitative techniques. Following the war, numerous peacetime applications emerged, leading to the use of OR and management science in many industries and occupations. Occupational Outlook Handbook - /oco/ocos044.htm. Introduction to Operations Research – p.3 Definitions Model: A schematic description of a system,theory, or phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be used for further study of its characteristics. System: A functionally related group of elements, especially: The human body regarded as a functional physiological unit. An organism as a whole, especially with regard to its vital processes or functions. A group of physiologically or anatomically complementary organs or parts: the nervous system; the skeletal system. A group of interacting mechan