The module introduces the operational research approach for modelling and solving engineering and management problems.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Syllabus
1. Discrete Event Simulation: design of a simulation model and programme, input modelling including random number generation and random variable generation, output analysis, design of simulation experiments, simulation modelling using the Simul8 software.
2. Production Scheduling: Types of scheduling models, various algorithms for single machine scheduling, list scheduling for parallel machine scheduling, Johnson’s algorithm for flow shop
scheduling, use of heuristic methods.
3. Project Management: Network representation of engineering projects, Critical Path Method for scheduling a project, project scheduling with limited resources, crashing project completion
time.
4. Queuing Theory: dynamics of a queueing system, modelling of some typical basic queues, evaluating average queue length and waiting time.
5. Decision Analysis: pay-off table for one-off decisions and discussion of decision criteria, use of decision trees for more complex environments, decision making based on sampling (with
Bayes Theorem used to calculate posterior probabilities).
6. Inventory Models: the Economic Order Quantity model, including sensitivity analysis, economic production lot size model, quantity discount models.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The module will be taught using a combination of lectures and computer workshops.
