Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Adaptive Scheduling For Operating Room Management, Honghan Ye

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The perioperative process in hospitals can be modelled as a 3-stage no-wait flow shop. The utilization of OR units and the average waiting time of patients are related to makespan and total completion time, respectively. However, minimizations of makespan and total completion time are NP-hard and NP-complete. Consequently, achieving good effectiveness and efficiency is a challenge in no-wait flow shop scheduling. The average idle time (AIT) and current and future idle time (CFI) heuristics are proposed to minimize makespan and total completion time, respectively. To improve effectiveness, current idle times and future idle times are taken into consideration …

Forecasting The Workload With A Hybrid Model To Reduce The Inefficiency Cost, Xinwei Pan

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Time series forecasting and modeling are challenging problems during the past decades, because of its plenty of properties and underlying correlated relationships. As a result, researchers proposed a lot of models to deal with the time series. However, the proposed models such as Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) only describe part of the properties of time series. In this thesis, we introduce a new hybrid model integrated filter structure to improve the prediction accuracy. Case studies with real data from University of Kentucky HealthCare are carried out to examine the superiority of our model. Also, …

Analytical And Boundary Element Solutions Of Bulk Reacting Lined Ducts And Parallel-Baffle Silencers, Jundong Li

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Lined silencers of various configurations are used to attenuate the noise from building HVAC equipment, gas turbines, and other machinery. First-mode analytical solutions are presented for sound attenuation along rectangular lined ducts, parallel-baffle silencers, and circular lined ducts. The sound absorptive lining is treated using a bulk property model. The analytical solutions entail solving a nonlinear characteristic equation in the transverse direction after the rigid-wall boundary condition is applied. The solution is compared to the boundary element solution and a local impedance analytical solution for several test cases.

An Efficient Heuristic To Balance Trade-Offs Between Utilization And Patient Flowtime In Operating Room Management, Feidi Dang

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Balancing trade-offs between production cost and holding cost is critical for production and operations management. Utilization of an operating room affects production cost, which relates to makespan, and patient flowtime affects holding cost. There are trade-offs between two objectives, to minimize makespan and to minimize flowtime. However, most existing constructive heuristics focus only on single-objective optimization. In the current literature, NEH is the best constructive heuristic to minimize makespan, and LR heuristic is the best to minimize flowtime. In this thesis, we propose a current and future deviation (CFD) heuristic to balance trade-offs between makespan and flowtime minimizations. Based on …

Adaptive Multi-Objective Operating Room Planning With Stochastic Demand And Case Times, Vivek Reddy Gunna

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The operating room (OR) is accountable for most hospital admissions and is one of the most cost and work intensive areas in the hospital. From recent trends, we discover an unexpected parallel increase in expenditure and waiting time. Therefore, improving OR planning has become obligatory, particularly regarding utilization, and service level. Significant challenges in OR planning are the high variations in demand, processing times of surgical specialties, the trade-off between the objectives, and control of OR performance in long-term. Our model provides OR configurations at a strategical level of OR planning to minimize the tradeoff between the utilization and service …

Investigating The Impact Of Levels Of Experience On Workload During Nuclear Power Plant Operations, Jonathan Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human-machine interface (HMI) of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Main Control Room (MCR) is complex. Understanding HMI factors that influence Reactor Operator (RO) performance and workload when controlling an NPP is important. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) began a program of research known as the Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) with the goal of collecting human performance data to better understand cognitive and physical elements that support safe control room operation. The HPTF team developed an experimental methodology to evaluate workload using perceived ratings, performance measures, and physiological correlates. This methodology focuses on tasks commonly performed during operations in …

Design Of A Framework For Sharing And Generating Combat Damage Assessment(Cda) Of A Hla/Rti Federation, Hongseon Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, a new framework for sharing Combat Damage Assessment(CDA) is proposed to find out the differences of each CDA system between military combat units belonging to their own federate in a HLA/RTI federation. When there are engagements in a battle among combat units belonging to their own federate in the HLA/RTI federation, each result of damage assessments is very different. This affects the HLA/RTI federation’s confidence and needed to be overcome because it is also one of the major issues to generate reliable engagement data. Also, a RTI can generate only qualitative data about combat damage while quantitative …

A Framework For Lean Transformation In Developing Countries: The Case Of Saudi Arabian Industry, Murad Andejany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lean is a dynamic, knowledge-driven, and customer focused philosophy that continuously eradicates waste and generates value, with a goal to improve a company's productivity, efficiency, and quality. Successful implementation of lean does not only offer cost reduction and improved quality and productivity, but also provides efficient guidance for organizations to attain significant and continued growth. Although its adoption by companies has proven successful in developed countries, there is no sufficient evidence of its successful implementation in developing countries such as Saudi Arabia. A review of the literature indicates that there is a need to study lean transformation in developing countries …

Dynamic Job-Shop Scheduling Program (Djsp) Analysis For Preventive Military Helicopter Maintenance System (Pms), Kyungjin Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Republic of Korea Army(ROKA) has been founding new attack helicopter troops since last year by adopting US main attack helicopter, AH-64E Apache, and peripheral system like pilots and mechanics training systems and their organization. The AH-64E Apache is a major attack helicopter of the US Army and all of its systems are verified in terms of the effectiveness in real operations for several decades. However, ROKA still needs their own version of systems including tactics, template, and maintenance which are suitable for Korean terrain, climate, personnel, and so on. At least ROKA needs to have a chance to verify that …

การวิเคราะห์รูปแบบการพัฒนา และการระบุความสำคัญของสถานีในเครือข่ายขนส่งมวลชนทางรางในกรุงเทพมหานคร, พิชญา ณ บางช้าง

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

เครือข่ายขนส่งมวลชนทางรางในกรุงเทพมหานครเป็นเครือข่ายขนส่งมวลชนทางรางในเมืองเครือข่ายแรกของประเทศไทย ซึ่งในปี พ.ศ. 2572 เครือข่ายดังกล่าวจะมีจำนวนสถานีทั้งหมด 285 สถานี และจะเป็นหนึ่งในเครือข่ายขนส่งมวลชนทางรางที่มีขนาดใหญ่ติด 5 อันดับแรกของโลก ในงานวิจัยนี้ผู้วิจัยได้ทำการศึกษารูปแบบการพัฒนาของเครือข่ายดังกล่าวตั้งแต่เปิดให้บริการในปี พ.ศ. 2542 จนถึง พ.ศ. 2572 ในทุกลำดับการขยายผ่านทฤษฎีเครือข่ายซับซ้อน โดยอาศัยตัวชี้วัดเครือข่ายทั้งหมด 7 ชนิดในการอธิบายปรากฎการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้นจากรูปแบบการพัฒนาเครือข่ายในช่วงเวลาดังกล่าว นอกจากนี้ผู้วิจัยยังได้ทำการพัฒนาตัวชี้วัดรวบยอดเชิงประสิทธิภาพเครือข่าย และเชิงการเป็นจุดแพร่กระจายผลกระทบ เพื่อระบุสถานีที่มีความสำคัญ ซึ่งสามารถนำไปใช้ในการเสริมสร้างความแข็งแรงให้กับเครือข่ายในอนาคตได้ จากผลการวิจัยพบว่า ตัวชี้วัดระดับเครือข่ายโดยภาพรวม อันประกอบไปด้วย ค่าเส้นผ่านศูนย์กลางเครือข่าย ดัชนีแกมมา และค่าเอนโทรปีมาตรฐานของเครือข่าย มีแนวโน้มเพิ่มขึ้น และมีค่าเฉลี่ยของค่าความเป็นศูนย์กลาง Degree อยู่ในช่วง [1.91,2.27] สถานีที่มีค่าความเป็นศูนย์กลาง Closeness สูงมักอยู่บริเวณกึ่งกลางของเครือข่าย ในขณะที่สถานีที่มีค่าความเป็นศูนย์กลาง Betweenness สูงมักอยู่บนเส้นทางรัศมีที่เชื่อมต่อระหว่างกึ่งกลางเมืองและชานเมือง สำหรับผลจากตัวชี้วัดรวบยอดที่ใช้เพื่อระบุความสำคัญของสถานีนั้น พบว่าสถานีที่มีความสำคัญเชิงประสิทธิภาพเครือข่ายสูงมักจะอยู่บริเวณสถานีที่มีค่า Degree สูง และเน้นไปในเส้นทางที่เป็นทางผ่านระหว่างจุดเชื่อมต่อออกไปทางชานเมือง โดยมีการกระจายอยู่หลายจุดทั่วทั้งเครือข่าย ในขณะที่สถานีที่มีความสำคัญเชิงการเป็นจุดแพร่กระจายผลกระทบสูงมักอยู่บริเวณใดบริเวณหนึ่งของเครือข่ายเพียงเท่านั้น

Micro-Grid Implementation Of A Rooftop Photovoltaic System, Pranav Nitin Godse

Masters Theses

"In recent years, solar power has been a popular form of renewable energy. This research conducts a cost analysis in implementing a rooftop photovoltaic system as part of an energy management schema for a university campus. The proposed system would be installed on the roof of one of the largest buildings on campus at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Toomey Hall; the objective function of the research involves reducing dependence on conventional energy sources on campus. Toomey Hall houses the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and is the largest academic unit on campus. Considering the vast expanse …

Data Analysis Of Lane Merge And Lane Shift Sign Configurations In A Freeway Workzone, Satwinder Singh Thind

Masters Theses

"In this study, driver responses to alternative lane shift and lane merge signs are analyzed and compared using a driving simulation system. In particular, driver responses to the lane merge signs proposed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) are compared to the current lane merge signs recommended by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and driver responses to the lane shift signs proposed by MoDOT are compared to current lane shift signs recommended by MUTCD. The driving simulation system is composed of a driving simulator and a PC with data recording program such that the position coordinates, …

Shortest-Distance And Minimum-Cost Self-Charging Path Problems: Formulations And Application, Marc Monroe Teeter

Masters Theses

"In this study, self-charging paths for an electric bus are analyzed. Wireless-power-transfer technologies, when integrated on a road network, enable dynamic charging of electric vehicles. Roads implemented with a wireless-power-transfer technology are referred to as electric-roads in this study. Electric vehicles traversing on electric-roads, therefore, can be dynamically charged. This can further eliminate the need for static charging, i.e., the electric vehicle will not need to stop for charging.

This thesis analyzes the design of transit routes for an electric-bus so that the electric-bus is charged by only electric-roads. Specifically, the focus is on designing a path, which passes through …

Developing Restoration Schemes For A Road Transportation Network In The Event Of A Disaster, Ebin Antony

Masters Theses

"Transportation systems such as rail, road, and waterways are key component of critical infrastructure systems, providing connectivity between other components to enable the production and distribution of goods and services. During large scale disasters such as earth quakes and floods, this connectivity is disrupted, restricting or completely halting the flow of goods and services. To ensure that the connectivity between the different modes of transportation are restored in an aftermath of these disruptions, the interdependence between them and the importance of individual elements to the overall connectivity have to be studied and formulated to develop a system-level restoration plan. This …

Scheduling Strategies For Construction Project Managers Toward On Time Delivery, Paul Shamp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Construction management projects involve complex, dynamic environments resulting in uncertainty and risk, compounded by demanding time constraints. Research indicated project managers have struggled to identify best practices for scheduling construction projects via critical path methodologies while searching for tools to increase timely job completions and budget profits. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that construction project managers used to manage scheduled construction project delivery on time. The constructivist philosophical worldview was used as the framework for this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews from 7 project managers from 5 different construction companies selected …

การหาสัดส่วนที่เหมาะสมของการใช้หินฝุ่นเป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตคอนกรีตผสมเสร็จโดยวิธีซิกซ์ ซิกมา, วีระชัย อารีรักษ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์ เพื่อหาสัดส่วนที่เหมาะสมของการใช้หินฝุ่นเป็นส่วนผสมในการผลิตคอนกรีตผสมเสร็จกรณีศึกษาของโรงงานผลิตคอนกรีตตัวอย่าง โดยนำแนวทางซิกซ์ ซิกมามาประยุกต์ใช้ ซึ่งแนวทางซิกซ์ ซิกมาจะมีระยะการทำงาน 5 ระยะ ได้แก่ ระยะนิยามปัญหา (Define Phase) ระยะตรวจวัดปัญหา (Measurement Phase) ระยะการวิเคราะห์ปัญหา (Analysis Phase ) ระยะการแก้ไขปรับปรุง (Improvement Phase ) และระยะสุดท้าย คือ ระยะการควบคุมกระบวนการ (Control Phase ) ในงานวิจัยนี้จะดำเนินการตามขั้นตอนตามระยะการทำงาน 5 ระยะ ดังนี้ 1.) ระยะการนิยามปัญหา ทำการพิจารณาการปัญหาคุณภาพคอนกรีตที่ต่ำกว่ามาตรฐานทำให้เพิ่มสัดส่วนเผื่อของปูนซีเมนต์ให้มากขึ้นจากมาตรฐานในการผลิตคอนกรีตประมาณ 30 กิโลกรัมต่อลูกบาศก์เมตร คิดเป็นต้นทุนส่วนเผื่อปูนซีเมนต์จากสูตรมาตรฐานประมาณ 1 ล้านบาทในช่วง 6 เดือน ทางโรงงานมีความต้องการลดส่วนเผื่อปูนซีเมนต์ลงโดยมีความต้องการที่จะนำหินฝุ่นซึ่งเป็นวัสดุทดแทนที่สามารถนำมาใช้เป็นส่วนผสมกับมวลรวมละเอียด 2.) ระยะตรวจวัด จะเริ่มด้วยการทำการตรวจสอบระบบการวัดซึ่งได้ผลการตรวจสอบผ่านเกณฑ์การยอมรับ จากนั้นทำการวิเคราะห์หาปัญหาด้วยแผนภูมิก้างปลาจนได้ 17 ปัจจัย และทำการคัดกรองปัจจัยต่าง ๆ ด้วย Cause and Effect Matrix ทำให้เหลือปัจจัย 4 ปัจจัย 3.)ระยะของการวิเคราะห์ปัญหา ทำการวิเคราะห์ปัจจัยทั้ง 4 ด้วยวิธีการทางสถิติ ทำให้สรุปได้ว่า ปัจจัยเหล่านี้มีผลต่อค่ากำลังอัดคอนกรีตอย่างแท้จริง 4.) ระยะการปรับปรุงแก้ไข ใช้วิธีการออกแบบการทดลองแบบแฟคทอเรียล ทำการทดลองซ้ำ 2 ครั้ง ทำให้ได้ค่าที่เหมาะสมของแต่ละปัจจัย 5.)ระยะควบคุม จะดำเนินการโดยนำสัดส่วนหินฝุ่นที่เหมาะสมไปเป็นส่วนผสมในคอนกรีตผสมเสร็จ หลังจากการปรับปรุงได้ทำการเปรียบเทียบต้นทุนวัตถุดิบที่ใช้ในการผลิตคอนกรีตระหว่างก่อนการปรับปรุงและหลังการปรับปรุง พบว่าหลังการปรับปรุงส่งผลให้ลดปริมาณส่วนเผื่อปูนซีเมนต์ลงได้ คิดเป็นต้นทุนวัตถุดิบที่ลดลงได้ที่ 67 บาทต่อลูกบาศก์เมตร

Supplier Evaluation And Selection In Automotive Industry Using Conditional Probability, Anand Raj

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Supplier evaluation and selection is one very important factor for the success of a company. There are many supplier evaluation and selection tools and software available in the market. But this approach is different from the others. Here a comprehensive list of suppliers selection criteria is selected and they are divided in 3 supplier selection group. This group of criteria is done based on the relationship among them. All the suppliers are evaluated based on these 3 supplier selection group. The supplier with the highest value is selected. The probability associated with that factor is assigned and at the end …

Development Of Post-Pareto Optimality Methods For Multiple Objective Optimization, Juan Valentin Fernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the past years, multiple objective optimization has been considered, as an important research area since in many real life problems there exists multiple criteria that need to be optimized simultaneously. The use of evolutionary algorithms or metaheuristic methods as solution methodologies lead to a large number of Pareto solutions rather than a single unique optimum. This Pareto-optimal set most of the time tends to be very large and the decision maker now faces the challenge of reducing its size to analyze a feasible number of solutions, thus deciding the best possible solution. In this work, two methods will be …

A Cubesat Communication System Development For Gto Mission, Ashiqur Rahman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) systems on traditional small satellites have advanced significantly in last few decades. The capabilities, requirements and expectations of the communication system have been increased significantly for the smaller satellites. Small satellites are now performing the tasks near to the bigger satellites which increases the dependency on the communication system in terms of reliability and data management. This Thesis paper will focus on development of the communication system of a 1U cube Satellite named Orbital Factory II (OFII). The satellite will be launched into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) onboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas …

Risk Mitigation In The Supply Chain Caused By Multitple Phase-In And Phase-Out Components Using Simio Simulation, Anabel Renteria Marquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Manufacturing is constantly changing, adapting to new technologies and making improvements on their products design, while dealing with engineering design changes can represent an improvement or savings to the company it can also end up as a huge risk of disruption in the Supply Chain if there is not a safety phase-in and phase-out components transition because the network became more complex and affected processes needs to be revalidated, here comes the importance to set up an strategy to mitigate any possible risk and maximize total revenue.

A case study for a two tiers level Supply Chain system is evaluated …

Image Data Mining For Quality Control Of Nanofiber Reinforced Piezoelectric Nanocomposites Based On Sem Images, Zhonghua Hu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Recently, portable and wireless nano-scaled devices have been widely used in environmental monitoring, medical implants, defense technology, industrial safety, and personal electronics, such as the nanowire-based gas and chemical sensors and programmable nanowire circuit for nano-processors. There has been an increasing demand for high energy density capacitors that can be engineered for various applications in advanced devices. In it, piezoelectric nanofiber materials play critical role in producing new products. A piezo-ceramic polymer composite contains a polymer of high dielectric strength and high permittivity ceramic inclusions, making it well suited as a high energy density capacitor. Furthermore, the research shows that …

Renewable Energy Systems Optimization Using Monte Carlo Simulation And Evolutionary Algorithms, Nicolas Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Dissertation explores the Renewable Energy Integration Problem, and proposes a Genetic Algorithm embedded with a Monte Carlo simulation to solve large instances of the problem that are impractical to solve via full enumeration. The Renewable Energy Integration Problem is defined as finding the optimum set of components to supply the electric demand to a hybrid

microgrid. The components considered are solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, electric batteries, connections to the power grid and converters, which can be inverters and/or rectifiers. The methodology developed is explained as well as the combinatorial formulation. In addition, 2 case studies of a …

Attitudes Towards Face-To-Face Meetings In Virtual Engineering Teams: Perceptions From A Survey Of Defense Projects, Lawrence R. Blenke, Abhijit Gosavi, William Daughton

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modes of communication used in virtual defense projects have changed dramatically over the years with tools such as email and video-conferencing dominating face-to-face (FTF) meetings. We conducted a survey at a defense firm with an aim to test current attitudes towards FTF meetings – with respect to significant problems faced, project success, transfer of technical requirements, preference for FTF vis-à-vis virtual meetings, differences between virtual and co-located environments, criticality of various forms of communication, and whether FTF meetings were scheduled as often as desired. Our survey participants, about one hundred in number, were experienced engineers, technicians, and program managers – …

Implicit Leadership And Followership Theories: Does Congruency Matter?, Daniel Bashore

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Leadership research largely has ignored the extent to which followers influence leaders and the leadership process. Even fewer studies have examined the effect of Implicit Leadership Theories (ILTs) and Implicit Followership Theories (IFTs) on performance and affective outcomes. In prior research, there is an implicit assumption that ILTs and IFTs are compatible, but little research has examined the presence of incongruent ILTs and IFTs and potential effects incongruence might have on organizational outcomes. The current study examined the effect of ILT/IFT congruence on organizational outcomes (performance, satisfaction, and perceived leader effectiveness) in two different samples: a student sample (N = …

Chocolate Bar Wrapping Machine, Austin M. Hoff, Daniel R. Trepke, Caleb B. Krichbuam

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Gilbert Chocolates has proposed to manufacture a machine to wrap chocolate bars. This machine is intended to replace two people wrapping the chocolate bars by hand, which is a time consuming method. This is especially apparent between October and January when the workers are working long hours in preparation for the Christmas rush of customers. Currently wrapping a bar takes about a minute and Gilbert Chocolates wants this time reduced down to 20-30 seconds. The budget for this project is set at $1000, and is being funded by the company. This machine needs to fit in a cubic foot of …

A Methodology For Internet Of Things Business Modeling And Analysis Using Agent-Based Simulation, Mohammed Basingab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Internet of Things (IoT) is a new vision of an integrated network covering physical objects that are able to collect and exchange data. It enables previously unconnected devices and objects to become connected using equipping devices with communication technology such as sensors and radio frequency identification tags (RFID). As technology progresses towards new paradigm such as IoT, there is a need for an approach to identify the significance of these projects. Conventional simulation modeling and data analysis approaches are not able to capture the system complexity or suffer from a lack of data needed that can help to build a …

The Value Of A Collegiate Far Part 141 Jeopardy-Crew Resource Management (Crm)-Simulation Event, Samuel M. Vance

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This article explores the viability of using a FAR Part 141 collegiate crew resource management (CRM) flight simulator scenario event as a jeopardy event (a graded, syllabus item) in an upper-level professional pilot curriculum course. Ultimately, the objective is to suggest this approach as a value-added curriculum consideration for other collegiate professional pilot programs. The selection of four CRM criteria to be examined was made by the course professor. Using the four principles, the students assembled the grading rubric for their event. The simulator scenario placed students in airspace, geography and weather dissimilar to that in which they were training …

Program Requirements: Complexity, Myths, Radical Change, And Lean Enablers, Bohdan W. Oppenheim

Systems Engineering Faculty Works

This paper presents a comprehensive discussion on the difficulties of formulating good and stable requirements early in complex engineering programs and the consequences on program execution. Formal classical systems engineering and program management (CSEPM) methodology is based on the assumption that the knowledge to anticipate all interfaces and create good requirements exists early in the program, and that it is a matter of working out the details to build extremely complex devices such as satellites, aircraft, refineries, nuclear power plants, and high-speed rail. The author argues that classical systems engineering and program management works well only for well-understood systems, but …

Assessing Effectiveness Of Information Presentation Using Wearable Augmented Display Device For Emergency Response, Sriram Raju Chandran

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Small screen wearable devices are becoming ubiquitous in the medical field; especially in the fields of surgery and trauma care. Technological intervention that supports data transfer of sending summary of the patient vitals through the transfer of care would be of great benefit to trauma care department. This research focuses on information presentation for wearable augmented reality device to improve human decision making during transfer of care for emergency response, and to improve user experience and reduce cognitive workload. Google Glass ™ device acts as heads up display for users, in this case being medical responders in hospital trauma care. …

A Framework For Centralizing Inventory In Pharmaceutical Supply Chains, Kerry Kathleen Ward

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Effectively choosing the location of inventory in a pharmaceutical supply chain is central to the mission of pharmaceutical distributors. These supply chains are a critical backbone to the healthcare delivery process: the distributors must deliver products to pharmacies, hospitals and retailers at low cost and with a high level of reliability. This thesis provides a method for analyzing demand data to gain insight on the value of centralizing the inventory into either a hub-and-spoke or national network for a pharmaceutical distribution company. Demand data is analyzed using an off-the-shelf analysis tool as well as a new tool developed in SQL …