General
An Introduction to Model Building
1.1
An Introduction to Modeling
Operations research (often referred to as management science) is simply a scientific approach to decision making that seeks to best design and operate a system, usually under conditions requiring the allocation of scarce resources. By a system, we mean an organization of interdependent components that work together to accomplish the goal of the system. For example, Ford Motor Company is a system whose goal consists of maximizing the profit that can be earned by producing quality vehicles. The term operations research was coined during World War II when British military leaders asked scientists and engineers to analyze several military problems such as the deployment of radar and the management of convoy, bombing, antisubmarine, and mining operations. The scientific approach to decision making usually involves the use of one or more mathematical models. A mathematical model is a mathematical representation of an actual situation that may be used to make better decisions or simply to understand the actual situation better. The following example should clarify many of the key terms used to describe mathematical models.
EXAMPLE
1
Maximizing Wozac Yield
Eli Daisy produces Wozac in huge batches by heating a chemical mixture in a pressurized container. Each time a batch is processed, a different amount of Wozac is produced. The amount produced is the process yield (measured in pounds). Daisy is interested in understanding the factors that influence the yield of the Wozac production process. Describe a model-building process for this situation.
Solution
Daisy is first interested in determining the factors that influence the yield of the process. This would be referred to as a descriptive model, because it describes the behavior of the actual yield as a function of various factors. Daisy might determine (using regression methods discussed in Chapter 24) that the following factors
1.1
An Introduction to Modeling
Operations research (often referred to as management science) is simply a scientific approach to decision making that seeks to best design and operate a system, usually under conditions requiring the allocation of scarce resources. By a system, we mean an organization of interdependent components that work together to accomplish the goal of the system. For example, Ford Motor Company is a system whose goal consists of maximizing the profit that can be earned by producing quality vehicles. The term operations research was coined during World War II when British military leaders asked scientists and engineers to analyze several military problems such as the deployment of radar and the management of convoy, bombing, antisubmarine, and mining operations. The scientific approach to decision making usually involves the use of one or more mathematical models. A mathematical model is a mathematical representation of an actual situation that may be used to make better decisions or simply to understand the actual situation better. The following example should clarify many of the key terms used to describe mathematical models.
EXAMPLE
1
Maximizing Wozac Yield
Eli Daisy produces Wozac in huge batches by heating a chemical mixture in a pressurized container. Each time a batch is processed, a different amount of Wozac is produced. The amount produced is the process yield (measured in pounds). Daisy is interested in understanding the factors that influence the yield of the Wozac production process. Describe a model-building process for this situation.
Solution
Daisy is first interested in determining the factors that influence the yield of the process. This would be referred to as a descriptive model, because it describes the behavior of the actual yield as a function of various factors. Daisy might determine (using regression methods discussed in Chapter 24) that the following factors
References: Klingman, D., N. Phillips, D. Steiger, and W. Young, “The Successful Deployment of Management Science Throughout Citgo Corporation,” Interfaces 17 (1987, no. 1):4–25. Makuch, W., J. Dodge, J. Ecker, D. Granfors, and G. Hahn, “Managing Consumer Credit Delinquency in the US Economy: A Multi-Billion Dollar Management Science Application,” Interfaces 22 (1992, no. 1):90–109. Taylor, P., and S. Huxley, “A Break from Tradition for the San Francisco Police: Patrol Officer Scheduling Using an Optimization-Based Decision Support Tool,” Interfaces 19 (1989, no. 1):4–24. 10 CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Model Building