Karen Smilowitz

Home
Teaching
Research
Publications
Students
Education
Curriculum Vita

Research

In my research, we consider the opportunities and challenges of introducing operational flexibility in freight transportation. With more flexibility, it is possible to significantly improve system efficiency (greater utilization of employees and equipment, reduction in empty miles traveled, etc.). At the same time, increasing flexibility expands the set of operational choices (possible vehicle routes, load assignments, etc.) which complicates already difficult routing and scheduling problems. Often analysis of these complex freight transportation systems requires approximations and simplifications in modeling and solution methods to obtain solutions with acceptable computational effort (i.e., computer time and memory).

Period Vehicle Routing Problem with Service Choice: Extending the Period Vehicle Routing Problem to consider service choice endogeneously. Our work has introduced the PVRP with service choice (PVRP-SC) to allow visit frequency to become a decision of the model;
developed an exact solution method for the PVRP which can solve the PVRP-SC
as well; and created the first set of quantitative measures of the operational
complexity for the PVRP. Joint work with Michal Tzur and Peter Francis. We are currently exploring the trade-offs between operational flexibility and complexity with UPS, focusing on local pick-up and delivery operations.

Multi-resource routing problems: Developing new modeling and solution techniques for large-scale routing and scheduling problems involving multiple resources. Joint work with Ph.D. student Guangming Zhang. We are currently working on dynamic extensions with Alan Erera.

Inventory and Routing Problems in food distribution: Working with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to improve their Food Rescue Program, which FRP distributes perishable food from donors (e.g., supermarkets and restaurants) to agencies (shelters and soup kitchens). The aim of this project is to develop mathematical models and solution methods for related vehicle routing problems (assigning donors and agencies to routes and sequencing stops within each route) and inventory allocation problems (determining the amount to distribute to each agency). Joint work with Seyed Iravani and Ph.D. student Robert Lien.

Last mile distribution in humanitarian relief: Studying the last mile distribution for humanitarian relief chains, which refers to delivery of relief supplies from local distribution centers to the affected areas. The main operational decisions related to last mile distribution are allocating the relief supplies at the local distribution centers among the demand locations, and determining the delivery schedules and routes for each vehicle throughout the planning horizon.. Joint work with Benita Beamon and Ph.D. student Burcu Balcik.

Transshipment network design: Exploring impact of network design on cost and reliability of transshipment. Joint work with Michal Tzur and Seyed Iravani and Ph.D. student Robert Lien.

Design of large-scale logistics systems: Integrating continuous approximation and numerical optimization methods to develop design guidelines and operating plans for large-scale multimode, multiproduct logistics systems. Joint work with Carlos Daganzo.

Coordination of drayage operations: Investigating strategies to intelligently coordinate the movement of trailers and containers, with a focus on the Chicago freight interchange, a region unique in its size and complexity of operations. Joint work with Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos and Kazuya Kawamura.

Interlibrary loan services: The North Suburban Library System (NSLS) delivers interlibrary loan materials to its 764 member libraries in the Illinois suburbs north of Chicago. This research is exploring creative solutions to the operational challenges of NSLS. These solutions will help NSLS manage its vehicle fleet and optimize operations under budget constraints. Joint work with Michal Tzur and NSLS.

UPS driver Jim Brooks and Karen Smilowitz

Steering an Ingram Barge boat on the Cumberland River

With Mark Daskin and Craig Philip, Ingram President & CEO