Operations Research - undergraduate options

Operations Research (OR) is the application of mathematical and scientific methods to solve certain classes of problems in the design and management of large or complex systems found in business, industry and government. Typical problems involve deciding how to make the most effective use of limited resources such as people, machines, money and time. Frequently mathematical and computer representations of problems are used to solve them.

OR courses teach the basic techniques used in solving resource management problems and discuss the most common areas of applications.

The basic techniques of OR can be grouped broadly into two classes:

1. Optimisation methods such as linear programming (which may be used to minimise costs, for example), and
2. Modelling techniques like computer simulation and forecasting.

Most of this modelling is probabilistic or statistical. Application areas include:

• Inventory control (what should a supermarket stock, in what quantities, when should goods be re-ordered and in what quantities)
• Transportation problems (how to manage a fleet of trucks)
• Scheduling problems (constructing duty rosters for airline crews)
• Games and competition (bidding for contracts, political campaigns)
• Production planning (eg, how often to produce batches of ice-cream, whether a single long production line is better than two parallel lines)
• Queueing problems (what sort of customer queueing system should be set up in a bank, number of tellers operating in various situations)
• Reliability (how long does equipment function, when should it be serviced or replaced), location problems (eg, where to place warehouses)
• Quality control (ensuring that good quality goods are produced).

Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Operations Research specialisation

First or single specialisation must include:

• 45 points: STATS 255, 320, ENGSCI 391
• at least 15 points from STATS 301, 310, 325, 326, 370, 380, COMPSCI 320
• at least 15 points from STATS 301–390, MATHS 326, 328, 361, OPSMGT 370, 371

Second specialisation must include:

• 45 points: STATS 255, 320, ENGSCI 391
• at least 15 points from STATS 301, 310, 325, 326, 370, 380, COMPSCI 320

Stage I courses

There are no formal Stage I requirements, but students wanting to study OR should take Mathematics at Stage I and II (including a Stage II course with calculus). They should also take Stage I Statistics (preferably including STATS 125), and also require some computing skills.

Operations research graduates work in a wide variety of businesses and industries, including health, transport, telecommunications, broadcasting, mining, and utilities. The aim is to turn data into meaningful information that can be used to increase the effectiveness or efficiency of systems, or to optimise resource allocation. As a result, analysts or consultants contribute to improvements in the design, performance, and management of large and complex systems. Graduates tend to work as consultants (for external clients) or as analysts (within a single organisation).

For further information, refer to the Statistics Handbook

Alternatively, staff in the Department of Statistics, located on Level 2 of Building 303 (38 Princes Street), can help you with general enquiries.

Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86893
Email: ugadvice-statistics@auckland.ac.nz
Web: www.stat.auckland.ac.nz

• How to apply
  
• General Education requirements for undergraduates
• Postgraduate Operations Research