ISE 497-498 Senior Project Descriptions
Systems analysis: Modeling and Optimization
Students will gather data related to some factory (or plant), bank, or any economical
system. These data may involve production, transportation, assignment, queuing or other
operations research process in that system. After gathering data related to the system,
students together with their advisor will determine a problem type. Students are required
to develop a mathematical model for the problem identified, to solve it using GAMS
software and analyze solution results.
Advisor(s): Department staff
Classification Algorithms in Data Mining and Applications
Students will learn a mathematical programming based classification algorithm and are
required to apply this algorithm to one of the following cases:
 in some clinic for determining the stages of the illness without making hard
operations;
 in financial system for classifying customers in dependence on their credibility ratings,
and so on.
Students are required to write a GAMS code for solving the classification problem chosen,
find an optimal solution and make a final decision.
Advisor(s): Refail Kasimbeyli
Portfolio Optimization
Students will analyze different portfolio optimization models existing in the literature. These
models will be applied to a selected number of companies from Istanbul Stock Exchange.
By using the real life data for these companies, the project is required to make a decision on
the optimal investment. The optimal investment will be found as a solution of the
appropriate mathematical programming model by using GAMS software.
Advisor(s): Refail Kasimbeyli, Selin Özpeynirci
School Timetabling
Students will analyze different school timetabling models existing in the literature. These
models will be tried to be accommodated for applying to a real life data gathered from
the Izmir University of Economics. The students are required to solve the corresponding
mathematical model using GAMS software and compare results with the existing
scheduling in the university.
Advisor(s): Refail Kasimbeyli, Arslan Örnek
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An Algorithm for Integrated Production Planning and Scheduling System
Current production planning and scheduling approaches have lots of assumptions about
production environment to make decisions easier. However, an optimal, at least better
quality plans must consider the operational level of production.
The objectives of this project are to develop a hierarchical algorithm that takes into
account the tactical and operational levels of production planning and scheduling
problems and build a lot sizing and scheduling model and solution methods that use
dynamic lead times.
Advisor(s): Arslan Örnek, Selin Özpeynirci, Cemalettin Öztürk
Design and Scheduling of Flexible Mixed Model Assembly Lines
Until now, assembly line design and scheduling problems have been considered
separately in the literature due to different time frames of these problems. However,
today’s competitive market conditions force decision makers to handle former tactical
level design problems as operational. Hence, a combined approach that takes into
account both aspects of this problem simultaneously is required.
The objective of this project is to develop mathematical models and solution methods for
simultaneously designing and scheduling of flexible mixed model assembly lines.
Advisor(s): Arslan Örnek, Brahim Hnich, Cemalettin Öztürk
Variants of Bus Scheduling Problems
Both for achieving effective usage of public vehicles and increased citizen satisfaction,
there is a need for optimized routing and scheduling of public service vehicles. Current
studies about routing and scheduling of public service vehicles will be surveyed and an
application oriented algorithm which considers more realistic cases will be presented.
Advisor(s): Arslan Örnek, Cemalettin Öztürk
Performance Evaluation and System Design with Simulation Modeling
Simulation is a widely used technique in manufacturing and service firms to model and
analysis their current work flow. Furthermore, it is a powerful tool for a system analyst to
evaluate strong and weak aspects of processes. By using simulation modeling technique,
alternative work plans and system designs could be tested without disturbing ongoing
processes.
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In this project, a simulation modeling study will be implemented in a manufacturing firm.
Current work flow will be analyzed and required data for simulation database will be
collected first. Then, alternative work designs will be developed. The last step of the project
will be application of alternatives to the simulation model and reporting.
Advisor(s): Cemalettin Öztürk
Analysis and Design of a Manufacturing Firm Using Simulation Modeling
Simulation modeling is powerful technique to analyze the current state of ongoing
processes and developing alternative designs for better system performance. However, in
the local firms, this technique is not known and used well.
The objectives of this project are to analyze the current state of a manufacturing firm
and model its processes by using ARENA simulation language, to detect weak aspects of
the ongoing process by using simulation model and develop alternative redesigns using
operations research techniques, to apply proposed redesigns by using simulation and
report expected benefits.
Advisor(s): Cemalettin Öztürk, Erdinç Öner
Operation Assignment and Scheduling in Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Flexible manufacturing systems are integrated systems of computer numerically controlled
(CNC) machines and connected with automated material handling mechanisms. FMSs
basically aim to maintain flexibility and effective utilization of the CNC machines through
proper operation assignments and tool allocations. The objectives of this project are to
develop a model to assign the operations and their required tools to CNC machines and
determine the optimal schedule, and to build heuristic algorithms to solve large problems.
Advisor(s): Selin Özpeynirci, Arslan Örnek
Effective Allocation of Proposals to Panels
One of the key problems for funding agencies is to determine the proposals that are worth
funding through a peer review process. In this problem, there is a peer review system in
which proposals are divided into panels and reviewed by a panel of experts. A key problem
in this setting is to allocate proposals to a minimum number of panels under a certain set of
constraints.
Advisor(s): Selin Özpeynirci
Improvement of the Izmir University of Economics (IEU) Webpage Design from a Human
Factors Point of View.
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The project requires extensive literature review on the human factors and ergonomics
principles in webpage design and system design. Based on the literature and IEU webpage
user characteristics the current webpage design and usability will be evaluated and better
design will be recommended based on the human factors principles.
Advisor(s): Erdinç Öner
Analysis of Working Conditions at a Selected Service or Production Industry.
Establish current working conditions and environment from ergonomics point of view.
Determine and propose procedures that would improve working conditions and improve
workers satisfaction.
Advisor(s): Erdinç Öner
What can we do to decrease crash rates at traffic signals?
The analysis of the crash rates at urban traffic signal locations and the analysis of the effect
of the visibility of traffic signals in crash rates.
a. Data collection on the crash rate statistics at urban traffic signals.
b. Analysis of the literature and crash data to determine the effect of visibility problem
in crashes.
c. Literature review to determine the visibility requirements for traffic signals (traffic
signal regulations in Turkey, US and Europe).
d. Propose improved traffic signal designs from a human factors point of view that
would improve visibility of the traffic signals and decrease the number of crashes in
return.
Advisor(s): Erdinç Öner
Production Planning and Control for Poultry Production
Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
Load Determination and Vehicle Routing Problem for Freezer-Refrigerated Truck Fleet
Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
Multi Level Lot Sizing and Scheduling for Discrete Manufacturing
Multilevel lot sizing and scheduling is both a very practically important and academically
challenging problem. The main purpose is to determine lot sizes and scheduling of these lots
for orders to satisfy demand for the parts of a product with a multilevel BOM (Bill of
Materials), given the orders, due dates, product structure and machine compatibility and
capacities.
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Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
Production Planning and Scheduling of Flexible Assembly System in Apparel Production
Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
Hybrid Optimization Methods for discrete Manufacturing
Combining exact optimization methods (like Mathematical Programming, Lagrangean
Methods etc.) With heuristic approaches to solve real life size problems quickly.
Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
Advanced Planning and Scheduling in MRP Systems
How to determine machine/workcenter loads and schedule them in a MRP system
Advisor(s): Mahmut Ali Gökçe
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