- My research with Dr. Smith--I am now working with a visiting professor from China on the Double Row Layout Problem (DRLP). I've described this before, the goal of the problem is to optimize a layout of machines on two sides of an aisle where an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) travels back and forth between the machines. The layout is optimized when the flow cost between the machines is minimized. I've spent lots of time this week trying to work out version control on my program so that we can both work on it, make progress and not interfere with each other. Last week I worked with the professor to help him get my program and Matlab set up on his computer. He has a Dell laptop, but everything is in Chinese! I think this relationship will be very interesting!
- My project in the Distribution Center Management course--I've been assigned the role of group leader for one of the 5 groups. There are ten of us in my group--four of us are American, one is from Taiwan, three are from Turkey and two are from India. At least in this project everyone speaks pretty good English. Two members of our group are not on campus--one is in California and one is in Birmingham. We have our first meeting on Monday evening (I have to miss unicycling class!!!) and our out of town members will be meeting with us using a Virtual Classroom program. It'll be interesting. The group is actually quite talented and we should do well on the project. Our project is to work for AFLAC and help them to improve their warehouse management. They have a 34,000 square foot warehouse where they store forms and merchandise--mostly ducks. Interesting fact...since they adopted the duck as a marketing ploy in 2000 their market penetration has risen from 44% to 95%.
- In addition to the project in the Distribution Center Management course I also have to keep up with the reading and be prepared for a test at the end of September.
- New work on the power industry which I will research as a PhD student (assuming I'm accepted)-- I can do the PhD work from New Orleans thanks to the Internet and email. My first step is to decide if I want to study transmission, generation or distribution so I'm reading lots of papers. Working for Entergy in the late 70s and early 80s gave me a good overall understanding of the industry, but much has changed due to the restructuring of utility regulation. Now transmission, generation and distribution are separate entities. I'd really like to figure out a way to work with industry and not simply do academic research that may never be applied to the real world. What a shame that so much intellectual energy is expended studying problems and developing solutions that industry seldom uses.
- I still have a hurdle to overcome before I can finish the MISE. I will be meeting with a professor on September 30 to discuss queueing theory and Markov processes. I have to convince the professor that I remember the information sufficiently to justify the use of courses I took in the 70s so I'm reading and trying to refresh my memory of the topics. I've already "passed" the test for advanced statistics and for simulation.
- Finally, the work that is funding my education--department accreditation through ABET. The accreditation team visits October 31-November 2 so all documentation has to be complete and polished by then. I'm creating at least one book for every course the department teaches to document how the department accomplishes its educational objectives. We've already written a comprehensive self-study that is the central piece of information for the team. This work would better serve the department if it were managed as a continuous improvement process rather than a once every 5 years document-generation process right before the team arrives. The ABET coordinator from our department has proposed that my position be funded annually and that I be assigned the position while I finish my PhD. No word yet from the department chair--I hope that pans out.
I did take some time this week to watch the Auburn game and the Saints game and a little bit of tennis on television. I'm busy, sometimes feel overwhelmed, but happy with the decision to continue my education. My brain is energized and I really love learning new things.
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