Due dates are shown for all of the course assignments, including the preparation of cases, group problem sets, take-home midterm exam, and group projects. A description of the group project, including examples of student work, is available on the projects page. Some assignments refer to the course textbook, which is Baker, Kenneth R., Optimization: A Spreadsheet-Based Approach, Duxbury Press, 2003.
| 1 | 1 | Introduction and Overview |  |   | 2 | LP (Linear Programming) - Introduction, Formulations and Geometry |  |   | 3 | LP (Linear Programming) - Example | Prepare Red Brand |   |  | Tutorial |  |  | 2 | 4 | Networks - Introduction |  |   | 5 | LP (Linear Programming) - Example | Prepare Filatoi Riuniti |   |  | Tutorial | Group Problem Set 1: LP (Linear Programming) (PDF) |  | 3 | 6 | LP (Linear Programming) - Example: Tony Palumbo, Ford | Prepare Ford Case |   | 7 | LP (Linear Programming) - Solution Methods and Sensitivity Analysis |  |   |  | Tutorial | Group Problem Set 2: LP (Linear Programming) (PDF) |  | 4 | 8 | Integer Programming - Formulations | Mid Term Due |   | 9 | Integer Programming - Algorithms |  |   | 10 | Integer Programming - Heuristics | Prepare TSP Challenge |   |  | Tutorial | Group Problem Set 3: LP (Linear Programming) & Networks (PDF) |  | 5 | 11 | Debriefing of Inventory Simulation (with 15.761) |  |   | 12 | Stochastic LP (Linear Programming) | Prepare Red Brand (B) |   | 13 | Optimization in Practice: John Bean, Intel |  |   |  | Tutorial | Group Problem Set 4: ILP (PDF) |   |  |  | Group Meeting with Instructor (between Sessions 13-14) |  | 6 | 14 | Introduction, Simulation Process and Stochastic Modeling | Prepare Questions 1 to 3 in ClearPicture |   | 15 | Monte-Carlo Theory and Examples (with Crystal Ball®) | Probability/Statistics Review 1 Checklist |   |  | Tutorial: Monte-Carlo Modeling and Crystal Ball® Tutorial | Book Report Due (PDF)
  Group Problem Set 5 (PDF) |  | 7 | 16 | Ontario Gateway Case Discussion | Ontario Gateway Case Write-Up |   | 17 | Discrete - Event Framework and Examples (with SIMUL8®) | Implement ClearPictures in SIMUL8®
  Question 5 in ClearPictures, Inc. |   | 18 | Theory of Constraints (Joint Session with 15.761) | Group Project Proposal |   |  | Tutorial: Discrete-Event Modeling and SIMUL8® Tutorial | Group Problem Set 6 |  | 8 | 19 | Discrete-Event Case Discussion | Human Genome Case Write-Up (Discrete Event Case) |   | 20 | Experimental Design and Simulation Analysis | Probability/Statistics Review 2 Checklist |   | 21 | Advanced Modeling, Simulation-Based Optimization |  |   |  | Tutorial: Experimental Design and Simulation Analysis Tutorial | Group Problem Set 7 |  | 9 | 22 | Non Linear Programming - Formulations |  |   | 23 | NLP (Non Linear Programming) - Examples and Algorithms | Prepare Apollo Paper Company |  | 10 | 24 | Project Presentations | Group Projects |   | 25 | Project Presentations | Group Projects |   | 26 | Project Presentations and Class Summary | Group Projects |   |  | Tutorial | Group Problem Set 8: NLP (Non Linear Programming) |  
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