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Case Article—Swirltubs After-Market Product Inventory and Service Case

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  • Michael F. Gorman

    (Department of MIS, Operations and Analytics, University of Dayton School of Business, Dayton, Ohio 45469)

Abstract

In the Swirltubs case, students apply expected value decision making to a knapsack problem for appliance repairmen. The case is based on a published research paper on work that was actually implemented for a major appliance manufacturer. The case features three parts: (1) problem understanding and definition; (2) optimization results for a small, test problem; and (3) creation and testing of a heuristic for a large-scale implementation that exceeds the limits of Microsoft Excel®. Optionally, an instructor can add risk-analysis simulation and reoptimization under uncertainty in subsequent parts of the project, making it a total of five parts. The case is highly interactive, owing to the relatively unstructured nature of the problem. I have implemented the case over a two- and three-week period format, with upper-level master’s in business administration or master’s in analytics students who have been exposed previously to optimization methods. It has been administered to dozens of students with generally positive feedback.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael F. Gorman, 2023. "Case Article—Swirltubs After-Market Product Inventory and Service Case," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 149-151, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orited:v:23:y:2023:i:3:p:149-151
    DOI: 10.1287/ited.2021.0259ca
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen C. Graves, 1982. "Note---A Multiple-Item Inventory Model with a Job Completion Criterion," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(11), pages 1334-1337, November.
    2. Heeremans, D. & Gelders, L. F., 1995. "Multiple period repair kit problem with a job completion criterion: A case study," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 239-248, March.
    3. Michael F. Gorman & Sanjay Ahire, 2006. "A Major Appliance Manufacturer Rethinks Its Inventory Policies for Service Vehicles," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 36(5), pages 407-419, October.
    4. Shelby Brumelle & Daniel Granot, 1993. "The Repair Kit Problem Revisited," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 41(5), pages 994-1006, October.
    5. Stephen A. Smith & John C. Chambers & Eli Shlifer, 1980. "Note---Optimal Inventories Based on Job Completion Rate for Repairs Requiring Multiple Items," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(8), pages 849-854, August.
    6. Teunter, Ruud H., 2006. "The multiple-job repair kit problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(2), pages 1103-1116, December.
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