Internship assignment InsideOpt Seeker

Internship Assignment: InsideOpt Seeker

Job Description

The objective of this internship assignment is to explore the capabilities of the new solver, InsideOpt Seeker, in addressing optimization problems that involve uncertainty. This investigation will focus on real-world scenarios provided by our customers, where traditional Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) models have been employed. In these cases, uncertainty exists in the business context; however, it is often not incorporated into the deployed solutions.

The selected cases will encompass various operational contexts, such as supply chain optimization, resource allocation, and production scheduling, where uncertainty plays a significant role in the outcomes. The InsideOpt Seeker solver promises to enhance decision-making by utilizing stochastic input instead of relying solely on point forecasts, thereby allowing for a more nuanced analysis of potential scenarios.

The comparison will be conducted in two phases: first, by evaluating the models without incorporating uncertainty, and subsequently, by integrating uncertainty into the analysis. This dual approach aims to assess the effectiveness and robustness of the InsideOpt Seeker solver in producing optimal solutions under varying conditions.

To facilitate a comprehensive evaluation, a robust test setup will be developed, potentially utilizing simulation techniques to generate different outcomes based on the identified uncertainties. This will enable a thorough assessment of how the InsideOpt Seeker solver performs relative to traditional methods, providing valuable insights into its practical applications for optimization problems.

Who Are You

You will be responsible for recreating existing Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) models using extracted data, as the current production systems may not always be available. Following the recreation of the MIP models, you will develop new models using the InsideOpt Seeker solver. This will involve formulating the problems to leverage the capabilities of InsideOpt Seeker, both with and without incorporating uncertainty.

Additionally, you will create a framework to analyze and compare the outcomes of the solutions produced by both the recreated MIP models and the newly developed InsideOpt Seeker models. This comparison will include evaluating the effectiveness of each approach under scenarios with and without uncertainty, allowing you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each solver in real-world decision-making contexts.

Requirements

You are planning to write your MSc thesis, in the area of computational techniques for operations research.

Experience with programming, preferably in Python, including MIP modeling (e.g., using Pyomo) and building simulations, is preferred.

What We Offer

ORTEC Data Science & Consulting (DS&C) is dedicated to empowering businesses to make valuable and effective data-driven decisions through innovative and future-proof methods and tools. With a team of approximately 180 experts across specialized teams, ORTEC DS&C focuses on various industries, including Energy, Transportation & Logistics, and Manufacturing & Retail. The division combines its extensive knowledge in operations research and data science to deliver impactful solutions that align with clients' strategic objectives.

The Center of Excellence (CoE) within ORTEC DS&C plays a crucial role in supporting business teams, ensuring the technological capabilities necessary for developing innovative solutions. This thesis is part of the CoE initiative to explore new capabilities within ORTEC DS&C. By leveraging our collective expertise in operations research and data science, the CoE aims to drive innovation and enhance our service offerings, ensuring we stay at the forefront of industry trends and meet the evolving needs of our clients.

What to Expect

We will help you to thrive in your field of expertise. We offer development programs, tailored to your individual needs and function requirements, including opportunities to attend courses and seminars. We offer challenging, practical hands-on experience with opportunities to work abroad. We operate in a flat organizational structure that keeps communication lines short. The atmosphere is open, informal, cooperative and positive. We employ over 1000 people in the Netherlands (HQ), Belgium, Germany, France, the U.K., Romania, Italy, the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Poland, Denmark and Singapore.