This dissertation delivers a framework to diagnose the Bull-Whip Effect (BWE) in supply chains and then identify methods to minimize it. Such a framework is needed because in spite of the significant amount of literature discussing the bull-whip effect, many companies continue to experience the...

In a typical decentralized supply chain, i.e., one with multiple loci of control, the dependencies between the entities are formalized through contracts. The parameters over which contracts are observed in a typical buyer-seller system include price, periodicity of ordering, quantity...

Energy plays a vital role in the world today, driving industry and allowing for technologies ingrained throughout the routines of daily life. The complex interactions, evolution, long time scales of change, and critical nature of the energy system makes modeling and analysis crucial to...

Due to the re-emergence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in recent years, many public health experts believe that the world is closer to a pandemic event than at any time since the 1968 Hong Kong flu (H3N2) outbreak. Thus, governmental and private organizations have invested significant...

The efficiency and the effectiveness of supply chain networks primarily rely on facility location decisions. However, these decisions are closely related to the other supply chain management decisions, i.e., inventory management and transportation decisions. Therefore, the main goal of this...

Over the past century the Pharmaceutical industry has evolved from an "outback garage" industry to a highly competitive, technology-driven, organized industry, churning out highly valuable drug products that have played a key role in vastly improving our quality of life and healthcare. But today...

In this thesis, we identify the critical operational characteristics for various distribution strategies, and then develop integrated distribution network design models by taking into account those operational factors. The first part of this thesis presents a crossdocking network design problem...

Recognising the learning styles of today's upper level engineering undergraduates, a multimedia educational tool is developed to supplement traditional instruction in courses related to Materials Handling (MH) and facility design. The CD-ROM based system teaches design and analysis principles by...

Recognising the learning styles of today's upper level engineering undergraduates, a multimedia educational tool is developed to supplement traditional instruction in courses related to Materials Handling (MH) and facility design. The CD-ROM based system teaches design and analysis principles by...