In this note, I present a methodology that computes the value to a decision maker of a state variable in a Markov decision process (MDP). I consider an MDP where the state is a vector comprised of multiple state variables, and state and action spaces are finite. I then provide a mixed-integer...

Some firms (e.g. Intel and Medtronics) use a time-pacing strategy for product development (PD), introducing new generations at regular intervals. If the firm adopts a fast pace (introducing frequently), it prematurely cannibalizes its old generation, incurring high development costs, while if it...

In this paper we consider a tactical production planning problem for remanufacturing when returned products have different quality levels due to different conditions of the returns. The remanufacturing cost increases as the quality level decreases, and any unused returns may be salvaged at a...

In this paper we provide an analytic model for order promising for available-to-promise (ATP) in an assemble-to-order production environment. A distinguishing feature of our model is its inclusion of pseudo orders, which are unconfirmed customer orders, whose quantity level is uncertain. Our...

We model the optimal disposition decision for product returns. The manager decides which product returns to accept for processing at the remanufacturing facility, and which ones to sell immediately as-is at a salvage value. High congestion levels in the remanufacturing facility delay the sale of...