ABSTRACT
Operations research is a discipline on applied mathematics for quantitative system analysis, optimization, and decision making. The myriad applications include scheduling, routing, elimination of bottlenecks, workflow improvements, inventory control, business process reengineering, site selection, or facility and general operational planning. During World War II, linear programming was developed as a mathematical model to help plan expenditures and returns while reducing costs for the army and increasing losses for the enemy. Additionally, mistakes do not cost us money, unlike airplane crashes, lost sales, and other anomalies. Critical path method (CPM)/Project evaluation and review technique (PERT) have been useful in planning costs and in scheduling manpower and machine time. Both techniques, CPM and PERT are based on the idea that a small set of activities, which make up the longest path through the activity network, control the entire project. The systems group had generated a number of ideas that could work to meet the customer demands.
