This volume brings out recent developments and current activity in different areas of operational research. The topics covered include the following major areas: mathematical programming, queuing theory, reliability and maintenance, inventory and production control, statistical methods, networks and sequencing, and information technology. Recent Developments in Operational Research will be of considerable value and interest to operational researchers, both theoreticians and practitioners, as well as a reference source for research workers.

Developments in Operational Research reviews developments in operational research (OR) and includes numerical examples to illustrate techniques and applications. Topics covered include some of the most widely used OR ""techniques"", such as mathematical programming and simulation, together with the contribution of OR methodology to specific application areas, such as capital investment appraisal and purchasing. This book is comprised of seven chapters and begins with an introduction to the state of mathematical programming systems, along with the relevance of other optimization algorithms to OR and techniques for handling certain types of nonlinearity. The discussion then turns to network optimization techniques and their applications for the New Zealand Justice Department as well as for the wheat and dairy industries. The following chapters focus on computer simulation as applied in OR, with emphasis on various approaches to discrete event modeling; application of OR to industrial maintenance and replacement; financial appraisal methods, including discounting methods; and the use of Bayesian decision analysis to decision making. This text concludes by looking at the purchasing function and the limitations of classical stock control theory in practice. Models and procedures are developed to cope with real situations. Materials requirements planning, quantity discounts, price inflation, commodity purchasing decisions, and blending problems are considered. This monograph will be of interest to planners, decision makers, and others involved in operations research.

Further Developments in Operational Research is a collection of articles on fields such as behavioral science, corporate planning, and artificial intelligence. Subjects in forecasting, risk analysis, and network analysis are likewise reviewed. The book discusses statistical forecasting in detail. Graphs, networks, and uses of such networks are provided. A chapter of the book covers the creation and implementation of expert systems. Risk engineering is an integrated approach to all aspects of risk analysis. It identifies and quantifies uncertainty and advances methods in order to modify associated risks through effective and efficient decisions. A review of the models used in forecasting is then provided. This section includes concepts such as hypergraphs, network flows, and tools of graph theory. The historical background and developments in artificial intelligence are also featured in the book. Statistical forecasting is presented completely. The book can serve as a useful tool for programmers, forecasters, statisticians, psychologists, students, and researchers.