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Communicating Optimization Results Authors: Drake Bailey and Daniel Skempton Advisor: Dr. Edgar Blanco Sponsor: Semiconductor Company MIT SCM ResearchFest May 22-23, 2013
Communicating Optimization Results
Authors: Drake Bailey and Daniel Skempton
Advisor: Dr. Edgar Blanco
Sponsor: Semiconductor Company
MIT SCM
ResearchFest
May 22-23, 2013
Research Objectives
Communication methods
Visualization approaches
New areas for improvement 2
Introduction and Objectives
Introduction
Global supply chain
Developed optimization solver internally
Decentralized planners and centralized experts
Version updates every 18-24 months
R B Adoption Desertion
Model Scope
Usability
Perceived utility of the tool
Business value created
Optimization Model
Potential Uses Complexity
38 surveys sent, 26 completed
Initial entry to senior level planners
21 questions; 7 sections Background (2)
Understanding Company X’s supply chain (2)
Training and Experience (4)
Complexity (4)
Effectiveness (4)
Visualization (2)
Open comment (3)
4
Survey of Solver Users
5
Training and Experience
0 00
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
The training I have had on
the Solver was adequate.
Additional training about
the Solver would be
helpful.
Additional experience with
the Solver would be
helpful.
N/A strongly agreeagree neither disagree nor agreedisagree strongly disagree
65.4%
Please rate the following questions on Training and Experience:
46.2%
15.4%
38.5%
42.3%
3.8%
38.5%
7.7% 3.8% 3.8% 3.8%
7.7% 7.7% 7.7% 7.7%
Visualization
00
2
4
6
8
10
12
The Solver displays only necessary
information for my role as a planner.
The outputs/results of the Solver are
not displayed effectively.
N/A strongly agreeagree neither disagree nor agreedisagree strongly disagree
.38.5%
30.8%
.26.9%
.34.6%
30.8% 30.8%
3.8% 3.8 %
Please rate the following questions on Visualization:
24 Responses
Complexity (9)
Training and Experience (5)
Visualization (3)
Effectiveness (2)
Other (5)
7
Challenges with the Solver? (Open Comments)
“Being able to explain why the solver gave certain results vs. the expected results”
“lack of training”
“Updated training materials”
“some reports show massive amount of data that is not relevant”
“GUI is hard to read”
“Lack of Excel functionality for input reports (copy/paste)”
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
8
Data Visualization
MIT SCM
ResearchFest
May 22-23, 2013
To convey information through graphical representations of data
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
9
…not just a software tool
“clutter & confusion are not attributes of information, they are failures of design”
E. Tufte
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
10
…but software can help
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
11
…supply chain visualization
MIT SCM
ResearchFest
May 22-23, 2013
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
12
…illustrating patterns
MIT SCM
ResearchFest
May 22-23, 2013
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver is very high; Current processes should stay in effect with only minor changes. Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented
13
…a world of possibilities
MIT SCM
ResearchFest
May 22-23, 2013
The understanding of, support for, and communication around the Solver was better than expected.
Initial and version-update user training should be robust and application-oriented.
Innovative data visualization techniques may help increase understanding and lead to better communication.
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Key Insights
