My research can be roughly categorized as Applied Operations Research (method-wise) and Logistics/Supply Chain Management (application-wise). Under this general heading, I conduct research in all stages of manufacturing and service logistics decision-making process: Network Design – Inventory Management – Manufacturing Planning and Scheduling – Distribution. My latest research has focused on extreme weather resilience, preparedness and recovery logistics for critical infrastructure, including healthcare, power grid, and road networks.
From this perspective, the following is the summary of my research interests:
- Methodological Areas of Expertise:
- Integer Programming and Combinatorial/Discrete Optimization
- Game Theory and Multi-agent/Distributed Algorithms
- Applications:
- Extreme-weather Preparedness, Response and Recovery
- Multi-hospital and Nursing Home Patient Evacuation
- Power Grid Resilience, Preparedness and Recovery
- Integrated Road Network and Power Grid Recovery
- Temporary Housing Allocation
- “Uberization” of Emergency Rescue Operations
- Supply Chain, Distribution and Transportation Logistics
- Logistics Network Design
- Inventory Management
- Manufacturing Planning and Scheduling
- Transportation Planning
- Extreme-weather Preparedness, Response and Recovery
- Specialization Areas:
- Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery
- Post-sales Maintenance, Service and Service Parts Logistics
- Semiconductor Manufacturing
- Freight Logistics and Truckload Trucking
Four applications have had significant effect on my research:
- Extreme Weather Resilience, Preparedness and Recovery for Critical Infrastructure: This motivates my latest research on logistics of efforts before, during and after flood inducing extreme weather events such as hurricanes and heavy rainfalls. This collaborative effort between engineering and geosciences has attracted funding from UT’s Planet Texas 2050 program as well as NSF Coastlines and People (CoPe) Program.
- Service Parts Logistics: This motivates my logistics network design and inventory management research within my NSF CAREER award, NSF REU Supplement, my collaborations with IBM’s Service Parts Logistics Group.
- Manufacturing Planning and Scheduling: This motivated my M.S. and Ph.D. research, and my NSF/SRC Project on Disruption Management in Semiconductor Manufacturing, and my projects on Semiconductor Manufacturing Scheduling with AMD.
- Transportation Planning, Freight Logistics, and Trucking: This motivated my past Transportation Center projects and my collaborations with JB Hunt, ABF, and Caterpillar.