APPLICATIONS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

This section will introduce Operations Research (O.R.) from an industrial engineer's point of view. The fundamental principles of O.R. and the so-called "O.R. approach" to addressing design and operational issues are the primary topics of discussion in this chapter, which is aimed towards industrial engineers. At its core, O.R. is a scientific method for finding the best possible solution to a problem by first modeling it and then applying analysis to that model to determine the best course of action. This chapter focuses on the methodology behind these models, rather than the oftencomplicated mathematics and methodologies that go into their construction and analysis. Following a short overview of O.R.'s historical roots, its approach is outlined in great depth. The chapter ends with several examples of O.R.'s effective use in the actual world.