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.

14

Key Insights