Describe in details th different scopes of application of operation research?

Answer 1

Scope of operations research

Examples of applications in which operations research is currently used include:

• critical path analysis or project planning: identifying those processes in a complex project which affect the overall duration of the project
• designing the layout of a factory for efficient flow of materials
• constructing a telecommunications network at low cost while still guaranteeing quality of service (QoS) or Quality of Experience (QoE) if particular connections become very busy or get damaged
• road traffic management and 'one way' street allocations i.e. allocation problems.
• determining the routes of school buses (or city buses) so that as few buses are needed as possible
• designing the layout of a computer chip to reduce manufacturing time (therefore reducing cost)
• managing the flow of raw materials and products in a supply chain based on uncertain demand for the finished products
• efficient messaging and customer response tactics
• robotizing or automating human-driven operations processes
• globalizing operations processes in order to take advantage of cheaper materials, labor, land or other productivity inputs
• managing freight transportation and delivery systems (Examples: LTL Shipping, intermodal freight transport)
• scheduling:
  • personnel staffing
  • manufacturing steps
  • project tasks
  • network data traffic: these are known as queueing models or queueing systems.
  • sports events and their television coverage
• blending of raw materials in oil refineries
• determining optimal prices, in many retail and B2B settings, within the disciplines of pricing science

Operations research is also used extensively in government where evidence-based policy is used.