HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roush, W. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Roush, W. B.

An Operations Research Approach to Leveraging New Technology Opportunities

Department of Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; Phone: 814-863-0655; FAX: 814-865-5691

Correspondence: W. B. Roush, E-mail:wbr{at}psu.edu

Operations research, the science of decision-making, offers a logical structure to management decisions. Operations research is known by several synonyms including systems analysis, quantitative analysis, and management science. Systems decisions can be classified as allocation, scheduling and routing, competition, queuing (waiting) lines, inventory control, searching, replacement, and maintenance. Operations research offers tools such as linear programming, nonlinear programming, decision analysis, neural networks, genetic algorithms, etc., to approach those decisions in an efficient and effective manner. An example from operations research literature is given for the successful application of systems analysis to optimize products and profits at Sadia, the largest poultry producer in Brazil.

Key Words: Broilers • decision-making • management science • operations research • poultry production • systems analysis