We consider an appointment-based service system (for example, an outpatient clinic) for which appointments need to be scheduled before the service session starts. Patients with scheduled appointments may or may not show-up for their appointments. The service of scheduled patients can be interrupted by emergency requests that have a higher priority. We develop a framework which can be utilized i...

A new area in which passive WiFi analytics have promise for delivering value is the real-time monitoring of public transport systems. One example is determining the true (as opposed to the published) timetable of a public transport system in real-time. In most cases, there are no other publicly-available sources for this information. Yet, it is indispensable for the real-time monitoring of publ...

This paper provides model-based estimates of the value of oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The best estimate of economically recoverable oil in the federal portion of ANWR is 7.06 billion barrels of oil, a quantity roughly equal to US consumption in 2005. The oil is worth $374 billion ($2005), but would cost $123 billion to extract and bring to market. The difference, $25...

We present a methodology to design appointment systems for outpatient clinics and diagnostic facilities that offer both walk-in and scheduled service. The developed blueprint for the appointment schedule prescribes the number of appointments to plan per day and the moment on the day to schedule the appointments. Themethod consists of twomodels; one for the day process that governs scheduled and...

We consider queueing systems where a finite number of customers arrive over time to a service system, consisting of either a single or multiple servers. The arrival of customers is driven by appointments, with a scheduled appointment time associated with each customer. However, customers are not necessarily punctual and may arrive either earlier or later than their scheduled appointment times. ...

This paper investigates a fuzzy multi-objective vendor selection program under lean procurement based on cost minimization, delivery schedule violation minimization, and maximizing the quality level of the purchased quantity. Specifically, the paper incorporates the vendor production capacity uncertainty into the model to identify an appropriate selection policy for vendors under practical oper...

To have a productive sales force, firms must provide their salespeople with sales training. But from a profit-maximizing perspective, there are also reasons to limit training: Training is expensive, it has diminishing returns, and trained salespeople need to be compensated at a higher level since their value in the outside labor market has increased. Due to these reasons, the following inter-re...

The ̄eet replacement problem of a pro®t-maximizing manager is examined using an optimal control model that captures both utilization and replacement decisions. Conditions for optimal utilization of each vessel in the ̄eet and optimal vessel acquisition and retirement strategies are discussed. The results indicate that the optimal replacement schedule and ̄eet size are in ̄uenced by utilization s...

A system analysis approach is presented for investigation of train operations in railway stations based on network, timetable and train detection data. The estimated blocking times, buffer times and track occupancies are compared with real operations data recorded automatically by track circuits. Statistical analysis of train operations between two Dutch major railway stations in The Hague clea...

This work, a collaboration between Alstom Transport and the MIT Humans and Automation Laboratory (HAL), is focused on the development of an interactive in-cab scheduling interface for train operators. Currently, operators rely on a combination of paper schedules, paper speed charts, and rote memorization to meet the many demands of train operation. The separation of this information over multip...