BUSML 4382 - LOGISTICS ANALYTICS
Spring 2015
Instructor | Esen Andiç-Mortan
356 Fisher Hall
andic.1@osu.edu
Classes | M W F 8.00 AM – 8.55 AM in SB 3051
Office hours | By appointment only.
The course | BUSML 4382 can be described as a modeling course in logistics. We will
cover a variety of logistics issues and discuss modeling approaches for solving them. The
course is organized into five modules (Forecasting, Modeling, Routing & Scheduling,
Inventory Management, and Network Design). Each module will consist of a series of
lectures on modeling and solution approaches to a class of problems.
By the end of the course, you will:
 be familiar with several modeling problems commonly faced in logistics,
 understand the uses of, and the appropriateness of solving problems with heuristics,
optimization and simulation,
 be able to solve many of these problems using efficient heuristics (i.e. methods for
finding good solutions to a problem) or optimization techniques (i.e. methods for
finding the best solution),
 understand how companies address these problems in the “real world”.
Course Packet and Readings | There is an electronic course packet that will be used
towards the end of the course. Details will be posted on Carmen. All required readings
are available on-line through the OSU library system, or will be posted on the Carmen
site.
Evaluation | The final grade will be determined by the weighted average of the
following:
25%
25%
20%
10%
5%
10%
5%
100%
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Logistics Outside the Classroom
Total
1
Some sessions towards the end of the semester will be held in the lab. Please see the attached Lab
Schedule for details.
1
I will determine the exact cutoffs at the end of the semester. However, the following
are approximately what I expect the ranges to look like:
A
A-
B+
B
B-
> 86
[82, 86]
[80, 82]
[75, 80]
[73, 75]
C+
[68, 73]
C
C-
D+
D
E
[64, 68]
[62, 64]
[61, 62]
[60, 61]
< 60
LOGISTICS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
You have the opportunity to gain up to 5 additional points by learning about logistics
outside the classroom. The ways to do this are the following:
1. Reading Assignments | You can write a one page review of the readings assigned
throughout the class to earn some extra credit. Each write-up is worth 0.5 points.
Bullet points are okay.
2. TLA Meetings| The Transportation and Logistics Association (TLA) meets at 7:15 pm
on Tuesdays. You will receive 1 point each time you attend a meeting and then
submit a one-page write-up on what you learned.
EXAMS
All exams will be closed book and closed-notes. You will be provided a formula sheet
with all the required formulas on it for the exams. The exams are not cumulative
although some material will carry-over.
Should you be sick on an exam day, you must contact the professor before the starting
time of the exam and schedule a make-up exam that must be taken within a week. You
will also need to provide a doctor’s note.
CASES & TEAMS
There are 3 cases that you will work on during the semester. As a general rule, any case
that requires preparing a write-up will need to be turned in at the beginning of class on
the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted.
In the first two weeks of the semester, you will be asked to form teams of 3 or 4. These
will be your teams for the cases that require team work. Please choose carefully, as you
will not be able to change teams later on. Any individuals who have not joined any
teams by January 26th, will be assigned to teams by me. I will be posting the teams on
Carmen on January 26th.
Case 1 – Forecasting – Mahindra & Mahindra |
This case will require extensive use of Microsoft Excel and comparison of forecasting
techniques. You will work on the case with your teammates and hand in one report. I
will introduce the case and will answer questions as needed on January 26th, also the
2
deadline for you to form your teams. I will provide case questions and report guidance
also then. The case is available for purchase from Ivey publishing at
https://www.iveycases.com/ProductView.aspx?id=60877.
Only one case needs to be purchased per team. The report is due on February 6th at the
beginning of class.
Case 2 - Network Design – Al’s |
The primary goal for this case is to get you started on using Logic Tools, which we will
mainly be using for the Network Design Case 2. This case requires individual effort and
we will be doing the case in class, during our first lab session. You will need to prepare a
write-up regarding the results you get and what you make of the results. More detailed
instructions for the case will be uploaded on Carmen closer to the lab sessions. The
report is due on April 20th at the beginning of class.
Case 3 - Network Design – MetalWorks |
Lab time will be used to work on the Network Design Case using Logic Tools. I will
introduce the software on the first lab-day and you will have five lab days to work on
the case. As the software will also be available in the lab, you are free to work on your
projects on your own time as well. This case requires team-work and thus you will be
working together with your team and handing in one write-up. More detailed
instructions for the case will be uploaded on Carmen closer to the lab sessions. Lab
sessions will be held in the lab on some of the sessions, while our IT team will bring
laptops to our regular class on the other lab session days, due to the availability of the
lab on some of the days. Please see the lab schedule to make sure where the lab session
will be held for each lab session. The report is due on April 30th at the beginning of the
Final Exam.
Study Question Sets | Throughout the semester, there will be 7 study question sets that
will be uploaded to Carmen, along with their solutions. Each of these will be most useful
when you try to do them on your own and then check the solutions to see how you did.
On the class schedule under “Due”, they are noted as SQS 1, 2, etc. as a suggestion for
when it would be best to tackle these study questions. The main aim of these questions
is to get you used to the types of questions you could face in the exams, so use them
wisely. Although these will not be graded, you can ask me any questions you may have
by making an appointment with me.
Write-Up Tips | Use double-space and 1 inch margins, with 'normal' fonts (I give partial
credit for write-ups that are too short. Writing more than indicated is fine). Write about
logistics issues and draw your own conclusions on how events affect logistics. Don’t tell
me things that I can find on the company website. Don’t tell me about announcements
that were made at meetings, stick to the details about that particular meeting. I am
especially interested in reading what your take on the subjects covered is. Additional
information will be provided for some write-up assignments.
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GROUND RULES
Attendance | I do not take attendance in class, with the exception of the first two
weeks. However, I strongly advise you to attend class regularly. Students are responsible
for all material covered in class, in readings, and posted on Carmen. If you miss a class,
please ask for class notes from your fellow students. You may ask me questions on what
you have missed only after you have studied the material.
Nameplates | It is very important for me to be able to match your faces with your
names. So please help me by using a nameplate for each time we meet.
Recording | Audio, video, or still photograph recording of lectures on any media,
permanent or temporary, is not permitted without permission. The only exceptions will
be those authorized in writing by the Office for Disability Services (see above). The
presence, or even suggestion, of recording in a classroom discourages openness and
spontaneity in students and the instructor.
Course Disclaimer | This syllabus is an outline for the course and the instructor can
change it based on extenuating circumstances, class progress, or by mutual agreement
between the instructor and the students.
Grade Appeal Policy | Any re-grading request should be submitted in writing (e-mail)
within 1 week after receipt of the grading and should include a brief explanation of your
reasoning. I reserve the right to review the entire assignment or homework. Also note
that the review policy works both ways; that is, you may gain OR lose points. Be sure of
yourself before making an appeal.
Academic Misconduct | Never represent someone else’s work as your own. If I suspect
any violation of the Code of Student Conduct, I will bring it to the attention of the
Committee on Academic Misconduct who will determine and impose an appropriate
sanction. This can range from a formal reprimand to dismissal.
Other | All cellular phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices are to
be turned off during class.
Laptops or tablets are allowed for the purposes of note taking. However, at any point
the instructor reserves the privilege to ask that all devices be closed if these devices are
deemed a distraction.
4
Class schedule* |
* Subject to change with prior notice.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
W12
W13
W14
W15
Day
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
F
Date
Subject
Jan 12
NO CLASS
Jan 14
Introduction and Overview
Jan 16
Introduction to Forecasting
Jan 19
NO CLASS
Jan 21
Forecast Accuracy
Jan 23
Time Series I
Jan 26
Time Series II
Jan 28
Trend and Seasonality I
Jan 30
Trend and Seasonality II
Feb 02
Regression Techniques
Feb 04
Forecasting in Practice
Feb 06
Guest Speaker
Feb 09
Exam Review
Feb 11
EXAM 1
Feb 13
Introduction to Optimization
Feb 16
Linear Programming (LP)
Feb 18
Examples of LP problems
Feb 20
Integer Programming (IP) I
Feb 23
Integer Programming II
Feb 25
Integer Programming III
Feb 27
LP and IP using Excel
Mar 02 Introduction to Simulation
Mar 04 Simulation I
Mar 06 Simulation II
Mar 09 Heuristics
Mar 11 Exam Review
Mar 13 EXAM 2
SPRING BREAK
Mar 23 Inventory Management 1
Mar 25 Inventory Management 2
Mar 27 Inventory Management 3
Mar 30 Vehicle Routing 1
Apr 01
Vehicle Routing 2
Apr 03
Facility Location 1
Apr 06
Facility Location 2
Apr 08
Intro to Network Design
Apr 10
Readings Discussion
Apr 13
Lab Intro
Apr 15
Lab
Apr 17
Lab
Apr 20
Lab
Apr 22
Lab
Apr 24
Lab
Apr 27
Exam Review
April 30 FINAL EXAM
Reading
Due
SQS #1
#1
Case 1
SQS #2
SQS #3
#2, #3
#4
#5
SQS #4
SQS #5
#6
#7
#8
#9, #10
SQS #6
Case 2
SQS # 7
Case 3
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Lab schedule |
Date
Apr 13
Apr 15
Apr 17
Apr 20
Apr 22
Apr 24
Location
Regular class - SB 305
Regular class - SB 305
Regular class - SB 305
Lab - SB 219
Lab - SB 219
Lab - SB 219
Reading List:
1. Croxton, K. L., Lambert, D. M., García-Dastugue, S. J., & Rogers, D. S. (2002). The
demand management process. International Journal of Logistics Management,
The, 13(2), 51-66.
2. Bartolacci, M. R., LeBlanc, L. J., Kayikci, Y., & Grossman, T. A. (June 01, 2012).
Optimization modeling for logistics: Options and implementations. Journal of
Business Logistics, 33, 2, 118-127.
3. Optimization Methods in Management Science/Operations Research: Excel
Techniques – Tool for Solving a Linear Program (2013). MIT OpenCourseWare.
15.053/058
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sloan-school-of-management/15-053optimization-methods-in-management-science-spring2013/tutorials/MIT15_053S13_tut03.pdf
 Solver installation reference:
http://depts.washington.edu/mbaclub/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/Tutorial-Adding-Solver-Excel-2013.pdf
4. Evers, P. T., & Wan, X. (2012). Systems analysis using simulation. Journal of
Business Logistics, 33(2), 80-89.
5. Griffis, S. E., Bell, J. E., & Closs, D. J. (2012). Metaheuristics in logistics and supply
chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 33(2), 90-106.#3: Simulation in
Logistics: A Review of Present Practice and a Look to the Future, Bowersox &
Closs, JBL, Vol. 10, #1.
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6. Watson, M. (2013). Supply chain network design: Applying optimization and
analytics to the global supply chain. Pearson Education. Chapter 1 (in electronic
course packet).
7. Watson, M. (2013). Supply chain network design: Applying optimization and
analytics to the global supply chain. Pearson Education. Chapter 12 (in electronic
course packet).
8. Watson, M. (2013). Supply chain network design: Applying optimization and
analytics to the global supply chain. Pearson Education. Chapter 13 (in electronic
course packet).
9. Robinson, E. P., Gao, L. L., & Muggenborg, S. D. (1993). Designing an integrated
distribution system at DowBrands, Inc. Interfaces, 23(3), 107-117.
10. Cheung, W., Leung, L. C., & Wong, Y. M. (2001). Strategic service network design
for DHL Hong Kong. Interfaces, 31(4), 1-14.
Notes regarding the readings|


JBL is the Journal of Business Logistics, IJLM is the International Journal of
Logistics Management.
All articles can be found in the library or on-line through Business Source
Complete. To find them with BSC, go to http://library.ohio-state.edu/ and click
on "Find Articles by Research Database" on the right under “Other Searches”
title. When you see “Research Database List” go to "B" and click on "Business
Source Complete." From there you can conduct a search using any combination
of the author, the article title, or the journal title. Once you find the article, you
should be able to click on "PDF Full Text" to download the article in PDF format.
For reading #1, you will have to click on the Find It! Button.
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