INFORMS Annual Meeting Charlotte 2011: Tutorials in O.R.

 Simple Heuristics for Optimal Inventory Policies in Supply Chains

Presented by: Kevin Shang, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

Abstract: This tutorial summarizes recent development on simple heuristics for optimal inventory policies in supply chains. The considered policies are (r,Q) policies and (s,T) policies. The former (latter) policies are often implemented in a continuous-review (periodic-review) inventory system. The proposed heuristics share a common approach that solves a set of independent, single-stage problems, whose parameters are obtained from the original system data.

Dynamic Optimization in Radiotherapy

Presented by: Archis Ghate, University of Washington, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Abstract: The goal in radiotherapy is to maximize tumor-damage while limiting toxic effects on nearby healthy anatomies. This is achieved through spatial localization and temporal dispersion of radiation dose using static-deterministic optimization methods. In this tutorial, we review a recently proposed stochastic control framework, where the ultimate objective is to design treatment strategies that dynamically adapt to tumor-response, to deliver the right dose to the right location at the right time.