Operations Research /

Management ScienceInformation MSc OR/MS

November 26, 2014

MSc Operations Research / Management Science

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• Operations Research (OR) / Management Science (MS)

… is a collection of techniques

based on mathematics and other scientific approaches

that seeks solutions to find

the “best” design or operation of a system.

• One distinguishing feature of Operations Research is that it is not application specific.

Wide variety of applications

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Examples of Master Thesis topics …

“Improving society by math and data”

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Goal

• To learn OR models and techniques

• To work with modern modelling software

• To formulate & solve practical decision problems

• To be aware of and to be able to handle non-quantitative

aspects of real-life problems

Master program (1 year)

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ECTS

Core courses (cluster A) 24

Elective 1 + 2 (cluster B) 12

Elective 3 (cluster C) 6

Master Thesis 18

total 60

Schedule

• Two entry moments: September and February

• Entry in September:

• Fall semester: 5 courses

• Spring semester: 2 courses + Master thesis

• Entry in February:

• Spring semester: 5 courses

• Fall semester: 2 courses + Master thesis

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7

Cluster A courses (24 ECTS)

• OR/MS in Practice

• Nonlinear and Robust Optimization

• Simulation

• Management Science

• Dynamic Real Investment

Cluster B+C courses (12 + 6 ECTS)

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B courses: two courses from:

• The core course, not selected above

• Games and Cooperative Behavior

• Financial Models

• Asset Liability Management

• Other courses, to be approved by the examination

committee (e.g. LNMB)

C courses: one course from:

• Other courses, to be approved by the examination

committee

Other interesting courses

Production Management

Purchasing Management

Business Intelligence & Data Warehouse

National OR-network courses (LNMB, Utrecht)

• Scheduling

• Queueing Theory

• …

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OR Mastermind

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• One session per month

• Contents:

• presentations by companies

• tips/tricks on successful OR/MS in practice

• important developments in the OR/MS field, e.g.

• business analytics

• Big Data

• possibility to get advice…

• On a voluntary basis!

• Interested 3rd-years BSc students are also welcome!

Examples of Master Thesis topics

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“Improving society by math and data”

Optimal cancer treatment

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Frank Steenbergen

Objective

Find optimal radiation plan such that

- tumor is targeted

- healthy organs are spared

Techniques

Nonlinear and robust optimization

Optimal flood protection

13

Chris Pustjens

Objective

Find optimal set of flood protection measures such that

- safety norms are satisfied

- total costs are minimized

Techniques

Integer optimization, shortest path

Optimal shift planning of Air Traffic Controllers

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Dori van Hulst

Objective

Find optimal shift planning such that

- all types of restrictions are satisfied

- total costs of under- and overcapacity are minimized

Techniques

Mixed integer optimization, robust optimization

Optimal manpower planning

15

Eline Slijkhuis

Objective

Find optimal manpower planning such that

- all types of restrictions are satisfied

- total contract costs are minimized

Techniques

Mixed integer optimization, forecasting

Optimal refinery planning

16

Harmen Boersma

Objective

Find production plan such that

- all types of restrictions are satisfied

- profit is maximized

Techniques

Nonconvex optimization

Optimal energy planning in Smart Grids

17

Robin Swinkels

Objective

Find optimal production/storage plan such that

- demand of heat/gas can be satisfied

- total costs are minimized

Techniques

Linear optimization, robust optimization

Job opportunities

A lot of opportunities:

• Consultant at an OR center or OR department of a large firm

• Management consulting

• Management support (manufacturing, service)

• Application providers (SAP, Oracle, etc.)• Application builders• Solution builders• Implementers

• Research institutes (TNO, Deltares, …)

Also in academia: Getting a PhD

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Many career opportunities

OR advice centres

OR departments

OR software

Incontrol

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Job descriptions

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Some job descriptions of recent OR/MS graduates:

Supply Chain Consultant OM Partners

Implementation Consultant ORTEC

Life Cycle Management Analyst Philips Healthcare

Optimization Algorithm Expert Quintiq

Quantitative Analyst Rabobank Nederland

Quantitative Researcher Robeco

Consultant Quintiq

Supply Chain Consultant ORTEC

Risk Manager Cardano

Supply Chain Specialist Bavaria

Consultant Fabory Group

Data Scientist Greenhouse

OR Specialist Dutch Railways

Future for ORMS is bright …

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Source: IDC

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160B

illi

on

US

D

Business Analytics Market Size

Future for ORMS is bright …

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50-60% shortfall in

business analysts in the

US by 2018

Only ⅓ of 4.4 million

global business analyst

jobs will be filled by 2015

Why studying OR/MS in Tilburg …

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• Wide variety of applications • also in job opportunities

• Improving society by math and data

• Quality of teachers:• World class researchers in OR/MS

• Strong connection to practice

• Extensive company network you can benefit from

(OR Mastermind)

• Many, many job opportunities...!

Program Coordinator

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• Program information

• Planning

• Electives

• Study skills

• Special

circumstances

• Study results

• Extra curricular

activities

Marion van Heijningen

m.m.m.vanheijningen@uvt.nl

You can visit the program coordinator

at the Information Market in the Mensa

from 17.45 to 19.00.

Admission & Application

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For all students:

• Enroll via Studielink

Non-TiSEM students (who want to enroll):

• In addition, submit an application for admission

For more information, go to

www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/admissionprocedure/feb/

Questions?

e-mail D.denHertog@uvt.nl

… or visit Dick den Hertog (K5.39)

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