Since the inception of operations research, this technique has been used non-stop in industry and within companies. Operational research is the organized application of modern science, mathematics and computer techniques to the complex military, governmental, commercial or industrial problems that arise in the direction and management of great systems of men, materials, money and machines.
The purpose is to provide management with an explicit quantitative understanding and assessment of complex situations; have a stronger foundation to make the best decisions. Operational research seeks the optimal state in all areas and thus provides an optimal solution to organizational problems. It has considerable value in production management.
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Operations research uses mathematical logic for complex problems that require managerial decisions.
Operations research helps you solve various business problems and plan and investigate major operating decisions.
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In this article you will find:
Origin of operations research
Historically, the origin of Operations Research It occurred during World War II when the US Armed Forces. USA and Great Britain sought the help of scientists to solve complex and very difficult strategic and tactical problems war, such as making mines harmless or increasing the efficiency of anti-submarine air warfare, etc.
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distinguish research carried out to integrate radar technology in air combat operations from research and development carried out in laboratories and workshops. In early 1941, it was discovered that such "operative investigation" it had value for ordinary military decision-making.
So the military services began to bring together scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, not to mention a handful of lawyers, actuaries, and school teachers, in groups to conduct investigations directly in support of senior officials level. This work largely involved collecting and analyzing evidence to determine whether tactics and practices needed to be rethought. Little involved mathematical models.
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In the mid-1950s, when operations research assumed the mantle of a profession, began to adopt in his methodology a variety of emerging mathematical methodssuch as linear programming, inventory theory, search theory, and queuing theory.
"Adopt" is an appropriate term here, since, with the exception of search theory, none of these themes originated under the OR banner. In general, OR advocates welcomed these new methods and provided them with a niche in which could prosper, when otherwise it might have languished outside of mathematics, statistics, and economy.
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Importance today
Operations Research is important today because improves efficiency in the use of resources and promotes better decision-making. The interesting thing is how he does it; It consists of taking a focused, analytical and quantitative approach to complex real-life problems.
It is surprising to remember that this was formally developed only during WWII, when extremely useful results were achieved through analysis and understanding rather than heavy calculation, for example in anti-submarine tactics.
Perhaps in a heretical way, I believe that the most important part of the value of operations research It is, therefore, in their focus rather than in the many sophisticated mathematical tools that have been developed.
That is, in the analysis of the problem, understand what the real problems are and how to span the solution space, and how the limitations of the available data influence or restrict the analysis. Of course, this is quite difficult to teach, which has led to a great emphasis on tools and techniques.
