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• 1. [Article] Lab Failure Analysis Capacity Optimization

  Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to showcase a case study of how five separate optimization models were used to establish true capacity capabilities for a lab facing a situation in which upper management ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Lab Failure Analysis Capacity Optimization Author: Lamb, Ann-Marie, Myers, Patricia, Peterman, Wendy Year: 2010 Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to showcase a case study of how five separate optimization models were used to establish true capacity capabilities for a lab facing a situation in which upper management set a goal, then left the lab to attempt to meet the goal. This paper highlights the first step for this failure analysis laboratory: determining current baseline capacity. It also delves into showing how the lab might demonstrate its ability to successfully increase its capacity from 200 to 400 units of lab evaluations (metrology units or MUs) per week in future. Design/methodology/approach – An important note in approach is that the researchers developed five separate models in order to more definitely establish baseline capacity. Given the lab problem characteristics, it was determined that integer linear programming (ILP) would form the basis of four of the separate models. One of the models deviated more from this approach by encompassing goal programming for target values of MUs in each metrology. The overall design/approach for each model was to follow as closely as possible the model building approach of 1) Identifying Problem, 2) Formulate and Implement Model, 3) Analyze Model, 4) Test Results/Re-formulate, and 5) Implement Solution. A literature review was used to establish current state of knowledge and fit within capacity optimization research. Findings – While the topic fits into a general category of capacity optimization, more specifically after examining multiple problems facing the laboratory under study, it was found to be one of a subset of optimizing product-mix production. The models showed that the 400MU goal could not be reached. Instead, the maximum appears to be on the order of 200MUs and is in line with historically assumed throughput. Goal programming to meet targets of MUs in each metrology type was unsatisfactory in that it gave fewer MUs per week. The final model suggested that a second shift, or doubling the equipment and technicians available, could reach the 400MU goal. Research limitations/implications – Research implications include an example of product-mix problem analysis and associated ILP and GP model for a type of business which is not often under study, laboratory testing. Future work could include aspects of throughput-time (TPT) and/or flow optimization through bottleneck reduction. Cost was not a primary criterion for the lab under study, but future work could include cost as a constraint and/or decision variable – this would align well with a myriad of previous literature on similar problems. If cost becomes more important to the lab, then looking at economic lot quantity (EOQ) could also prove relevant. Originality/value – This case study provides value with a model which appears somewhat unique in that cost is not of primary importance to the business; so this example could prove invaluable for researchers sifting through a large quantity of product-mix learnings, but finding it difficult to find examples without cost as a primary constraint or decision variable to be minimized. Additionally, this study illustrates the added importance of rigorous understanding of the business problem from the onset. The researchers also provide indication that goal-programming may not be an appropriate approach for similar capacity problems. Title: Lab Failure Analysis Capacity Optimization Author: Lamb, Ann-Marie, Myers, Patricia, Peterman, Wendy Year: 2010 Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to showcase a case study of how five separate optimization models were used to establish true capacity capabilities for a lab facing a situation in which upper management set a goal, then left the lab to attempt to meet the goal. This paper highlights the first step for this failure analysis laboratory: determining current baseline capacity. It also delves into showing how the lab might demonstrate its ability to successfully increase its capacity from 200 to 400 units of lab evaluations (metrology units or MUs) per week in future. Design/methodology/approach – An important note in approach is that the researchers developed five separate models in order to more definitely establish baseline capacity. Given the lab problem characteristics, it was determined that integer linear programming (ILP) would form the basis of four of the separate models. One of the models deviated more from this approach by encompassing goal programming for target values of MUs in each metrology. The overall design/approach for each model was to follow as closely as possible the model building approach of 1) Identifying Problem, 2) Formulate and Implement Model, 3) Analyze Model, 4) Test Results/Re-formulate, and 5) Implement Solution. A literature review was used to establish current state of knowledge and fit within capacity optimization research. Findings – While the topic fits into a general category of capacity optimization, more specifically after examining multiple problems facing the laboratory under study, it was found to be one of a subset of optimizing product-mix production. The models showed that the 400MU goal could not be reached. Instead, the maximum appears to be on the order of 200MUs and is in line with historically assumed throughput. Goal programming to meet targets of MUs in each metrology type was unsatisfactory in that it gave fewer MUs per week. The final model suggested that a second shift, or doubling the equipment and technicians available, could reach the 400MU goal. Research limitations/implications – Research implications include an example of product-mix problem analysis and associated ILP and GP model for a type of business which is not often under study, laboratory testing. Future work could include aspects of throughput-time (TPT) and/or flow optimization through bottleneck reduction. Cost was not a primary criterion for the lab under study, but future work could include cost as a constraint and/or decision variable – this would align well with a myriad of previous literature on similar problems. If cost becomes more important to the lab, then looking at economic lot quantity (EOQ) could also prove relevant. Originality/value – This case study provides value with a model which appears somewhat unique in that cost is not of primary importance to the business; so this example could prove invaluable for researchers sifting through a large quantity of product-mix learnings, but finding it difficult to find examples without cost as a primary constraint or decision variable to be minimized. Additionally, this study illustrates the added importance of rigorous understanding of the business problem from the onset. The researchers also provide indication that goal-programming may not be an appropriate approach for similar capacity problems. Close

• 2. [Article] Determination of an Annual Production Plan for a Multiplant

  A linear programming model is developed to maximize profits of an international corporation which faces a problem of scheduling available resources to produce a more competitive product. The company produces ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Determination of an Annual Production Plan for a Multiplant Author: Cross, Darrell K., Montoya, Diego, Parmentor, Ron, Rakine, Easton, Tiu, Kian Hun Year: 1988 A linear programming model is developed to maximize profits of an international corporation which faces a problem of scheduling available resources to produce a more competitive product. The company produces mobile industrial equipment and has manufacturing plants in Europe and the U.S. It serves the market in both areas. A plant of limited capacity is available in each area. The company prefers to use existing plants to exploit unused capacity, rather than to build a new factory. The alternatives are to dual-source the product, or choose a plant for worldwide distribution. Title: Determination of an Annual Production Plan for a Multiplant Author: Cross, Darrell K., Montoya, Diego, Parmentor, Ron, Rakine, Easton, Tiu, Kian Hun Year: 1988 A linear programming model is developed to maximize profits of an international corporation which faces a problem of scheduling available resources to produce a more competitive product. The company produces mobile industrial equipment and has manufacturing plants in Europe and the U.S. It serves the market in both areas. A plant of limited capacity is available in each area. The company prefers to use existing plants to exploit unused capacity, rather than to build a new factory. The alternatives are to dual-source the product, or choose a plant for worldwide distribution. Close

• 3. [Article] Assessing Strategic Intent in the Context of Competition and Absorptive Capacity

  High technology firms compete fiercely for their share of wealth. Strategic Management is a discipline that determines a firm’s intent and direction for creating a competitive advantage and wealth. Often, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing Strategic Intent in the Context of Competition and Absorptive Capacity Author: Sperry, Richard Chad Year: 2010 High technology firms compete fiercely for their share of wealth. Strategic Management is a discipline that determines a firm’s intent and direction for creating a competitive advantage and wealth. Often, strategies are set though polices that govern the firm’s products and services, how it positions itself to compete, the choice of scope and diversity to compete, as well as the administration polices used to define and coordinate work. Two prevailing economic theories that help explain how an economic phenomenon affects economic competition are Schumpeterian and Kirznerian. Both theories attempt to explain entrepreneurship and its effect on the economy. Firms that are able to learn and exploit technological opportunities before their competitors position themselves with a competitive position, while reaping the profits. The theory of Absorptive Capacity is predicated on the firm’s ability to predict more accurately the nature of technological advances through the accumulation of the firm’s knowledge by recognizing the value of new external information, assimilating it, and exploiting it commercially. This paper discusses expanding the Absorptive Capacity model developed by Cohen and Levinthal to include technical regime incentives and dynamically model Schumpeterian and Kirznerian competition when assessing the firm’s strategic intent Title: Assessing Strategic Intent in the Context of Competition and Absorptive Capacity Author: Sperry, Richard Chad Year: 2010 High technology firms compete fiercely for their share of wealth. Strategic Management is a discipline that determines a firm’s intent and direction for creating a competitive advantage and wealth. Often, strategies are set though polices that govern the firm’s products and services, how it positions itself to compete, the choice of scope and diversity to compete, as well as the administration polices used to define and coordinate work. Two prevailing economic theories that help explain how an economic phenomenon affects economic competition are Schumpeterian and Kirznerian. Both theories attempt to explain entrepreneurship and its effect on the economy. Firms that are able to learn and exploit technological opportunities before their competitors position themselves with a competitive position, while reaping the profits. The theory of Absorptive Capacity is predicated on the firm’s ability to predict more accurately the nature of technological advances through the accumulation of the firm’s knowledge by recognizing the value of new external information, assimilating it, and exploiting it commercially. This paper discusses expanding the Absorptive Capacity model developed by Cohen and Levinthal to include technical regime incentives and dynamically model Schumpeterian and Kirznerian competition when assessing the firm’s strategic intent Close

• 4. [Article] Simulation as a Tool for Evaluating Strategic Policies for Flexible Supply Chain Systems

  The emergence of flexible supply chain systems (FSC) has sparked increased interest in real-time planning, scheduling, and logistics--with particular consideration for strategic implications and overall ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Simulation as a Tool for Evaluating Strategic Policies for Flexible Supply Chain Systems Author: Forrester, Janice L., Wakeland, Wayne W. Year: 2003 The emergence of flexible supply chain systems (FSC) has sparked increased interest in real-time planning, scheduling, and logistics--with particular consideration for strategic implications and overall cost control. Important aspects of an FSC include forecasting, production, materials handling, transportation, and distribution center inventory. There exists a variety of software applications for addressing tactical issues, such as adaptive scheduling, and short term forecasting. However, these programs typically do not permit the user to assess the strategic implications of different policies for flexing capacity and making alternative commitments to manufacturing plants. Recently there has been increased interest in the use of simulation models for strategic policy analysis. Simulation compares favorably to purely analytical methods that often fail to capture the complex interactions of a particular FSC. The challenge is to create an FSC simulation model that is general enough and flexible enough to allow the user to analyze the overall costs and benefits of different policies. This paper presents just such an FSC model, implemented in a system dynamics modeling language. The model is specifically designed to help the user evaluate different policies for scheduling production in the factories and policies that govern factory capacity…in terms of their impact on overall production cost and inventory turns. Preliminary results include new insights regarding the conventional wisdom that minimizing the incremental amount that a factory can fluctuate at any given point in tam will reduce cost. The model suggests the contrary, that requiring larger fluctuations actually reduces the frequency and overall magnitude of the changes without adverse impact on factory utilization. Title: Simulation as a Tool for Evaluating Strategic Policies for Flexible Supply Chain Systems Author: Forrester, Janice L., Wakeland, Wayne W. Year: 2003 The emergence of flexible supply chain systems (FSC) has sparked increased interest in real-time planning, scheduling, and logistics--with particular consideration for strategic implications and overall cost control. Important aspects of an FSC include forecasting, production, materials handling, transportation, and distribution center inventory. There exists a variety of software applications for addressing tactical issues, such as adaptive scheduling, and short term forecasting. However, these programs typically do not permit the user to assess the strategic implications of different policies for flexing capacity and making alternative commitments to manufacturing plants. Recently there has been increased interest in the use of simulation models for strategic policy analysis. Simulation compares favorably to purely analytical methods that often fail to capture the complex interactions of a particular FSC. The challenge is to create an FSC simulation model that is general enough and flexible enough to allow the user to analyze the overall costs and benefits of different policies. This paper presents just such an FSC model, implemented in a system dynamics modeling language. The model is specifically designed to help the user evaluate different policies for scheduling production in the factories and policies that govern factory capacity…in terms of their impact on overall production cost and inventory turns. Preliminary results include new insights regarding the conventional wisdom that minimizing the incremental amount that a factory can fluctuate at any given point in tam will reduce cost. The model suggests the contrary, that requiring larger fluctuations actually reduces the frequency and overall magnitude of the changes without adverse impact on factory utilization. Close

• 5. [Article] Operation Research Final Team Project

  Optimizing the best possible routes for transporting materials, while following various capacity, demand and scheduling constraints is a fairly common problem in the manufacturing industry. For our project, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Operation Research Final Team Project Author: Ramakrishna, Akash, Ramesh, Bhavana, Aikath, Devdeep, Wei, Lei Year: 2016 Optimizing the best possible routes for transporting materials, while following various capacity, demand and scheduling constraints is a fairly common problem in the manufacturing industry. For our project, we worked with SeQuential Biofuels, a company that needs to optimize transport of their raw material from their depots in California to their plant in Oregon. We used a combination of a transportation and scheduling models to create a model, that not only takes into account the dynamic nature of their constraints, but provides a holistic solution. Title: Operation Research Final Team Project Author: Ramakrishna, Akash, Ramesh, Bhavana, Aikath, Devdeep, Wei, Lei Year: 2016 Optimizing the best possible routes for transporting materials, while following various capacity, demand and scheduling constraints is a fairly common problem in the manufacturing industry. For our project, we worked with SeQuential Biofuels, a company that needs to optimize transport of their raw material from their depots in California to their plant in Oregon. We used a combination of a transportation and scheduling models to create a model, that not only takes into account the dynamic nature of their constraints, but provides a holistic solution. Close

• 6. [Article] Dilemmas in Not Invented Here Syndrome

  Not Invented Here syndrome has many negative effects on the performance of companies. However, there are several ways companies can work to overcome NIH syndrome. Some of the most important aspects when ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Dilemmas in Not Invented Here Syndrome Author: Chanamolu, Surekha, Hanayneh, Shihab, Misiewicz, Lennae, Mohammed, Marthed, Nayame, Jacqueline Year: 2017 Not Invented Here syndrome has many negative effects on the performance of companies. However, there are several ways companies can work to overcome NIH syndrome. Some of the most important aspects when it comes to identifying and overcoming NIH syndrome include performance and communication, optimal performance and tenure, the absorptive capacity paradox, intra-organizational communication, experience with external knowledge, and poorly balanced incentive systems. NIH syndrome typically begins when a company feels that their identity is threatened and therefore they reject information from other companies or organizations. The focus of this paper is to address the manifestations, causes, and consequences of NIH syndrome. Title: Dilemmas in Not Invented Here Syndrome Author: Chanamolu, Surekha, Hanayneh, Shihab, Misiewicz, Lennae, Mohammed, Marthed, Nayame, Jacqueline Year: 2017 Not Invented Here syndrome has many negative effects on the performance of companies. However, there are several ways companies can work to overcome NIH syndrome. Some of the most important aspects when it comes to identifying and overcoming NIH syndrome include performance and communication, optimal performance and tenure, the absorptive capacity paradox, intra-organizational communication, experience with external knowledge, and poorly balanced incentive systems. NIH syndrome typically begins when a company feels that their identity is threatened and therefore they reject information from other companies or organizations. The focus of this paper is to address the manifestations, causes, and consequences of NIH syndrome. Close

• 7. [Article] Technology Assessment of Waste Disposal Technologies for Tillamook County

  In the paper, a two-level filter system is proposed to evaluate the potential for alternative waste management practices by conversion of locally-generated waste products such as animal mortality, manure, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Technology Assessment of Waste Disposal Technologies for Tillamook County Author: Jain, Abhishek, Lui, Jonathan, Jiang, Jing, Garcia, Jorge, Limarta, Standley Year: 2014 In the paper, a two-level filter system is proposed to evaluate the potential for alternative waste management practices by conversion of locally-generated waste products such as animal mortality, manure, and wood waste into beneficial products such as energy in Tillamook county of Oregon. At the first level – coarse grained filter, three basic factors, technical readiness level (TRL), scaling capacity, and feedstock, are used to initially filter out the scanned technologies which can be potentially used in waste management. At the secondary level filter – fine grained filter, a numeric scoring model is created to evaluate technologies from the output of the first level filter. Since many factors will impact the selection of a technology, HDM (Hierarchical decision model) is used to score technologies. From technical, economic, social, and environmental perspectives, hierarchical multi-criteria factor structure is created, and constant-sum and pair-wise comparison are used to subjectively create the priority probability list about technologies. Composting technology, rendering technology, and hydrolysis are analyzed in detail. This developed alternative strategy will help to mitigate local liabilities, promote green jobs, develop clean energy, and reduce the carbon footprint in Tillamook County. Title: Technology Assessment of Waste Disposal Technologies for Tillamook County Author: Jain, Abhishek, Lui, Jonathan, Jiang, Jing, Garcia, Jorge, Limarta, Standley Year: 2014 In the paper, a two-level filter system is proposed to evaluate the potential for alternative waste management practices by conversion of locally-generated waste products such as animal mortality, manure, and wood waste into beneficial products such as energy in Tillamook county of Oregon. At the first level – coarse grained filter, three basic factors, technical readiness level (TRL), scaling capacity, and feedstock, are used to initially filter out the scanned technologies which can be potentially used in waste management. At the secondary level filter – fine grained filter, a numeric scoring model is created to evaluate technologies from the output of the first level filter. Since many factors will impact the selection of a technology, HDM (Hierarchical decision model) is used to score technologies. From technical, economic, social, and environmental perspectives, hierarchical multi-criteria factor structure is created, and constant-sum and pair-wise comparison are used to subjectively create the priority probability list about technologies. Composting technology, rendering technology, and hydrolysis are analyzed in detail. This developed alternative strategy will help to mitigate local liabilities, promote green jobs, develop clean energy, and reduce the carbon footprint in Tillamook County. Close

• 8. [Article] Project Proposal: Outback Restaurant – Kitchen Process Improvement

  Our goal of this project is to improve kitchen efficiency by identify the efficiency problem. Outback steakhouse sells American food with an Australian theme. We pride ourselves on serving up variety of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Project Proposal: Outback Restaurant – Kitchen Process Improvement Author: Cheng, Juchun, Al Saglab, Bashair, Cavanaugh, Aaron Year: 2016 Our goal of this project is to improve kitchen efficiency by identify the efficiency problem. Outback steakhouse sells American food with an Australian theme. We pride ourselves on serving up variety of menu choices which are made fresh to order. For our staff handling fresh ingredients gives them a newfound respect for food and an awareness of where it comes from. Besides steak, served meals also include chicken, ribs, seafood and pasta for everyone. We emphasize providing consistently high quality delicious food delivering with casual atmosphere at moderate price. The problem we are now facing is that we have too many customers, at peak times, and not enough capacity to serve them. This is causing slow process time and as a result, we are getting many complaints about long wait time for meals to be served and wait times in lobby. The success of this project will result in an increase of customer visits by 5% based on a market analysis estimation by the Outback Consultant Company (OCC). The 5% is derived from the reduction in food waste and the reduction in labor hours as a result of the process improvement. There is also a correlation in happiness of employees which results in efficiency improvement which is somewhat less quantifiable. Title: Project Proposal: Outback Restaurant – Kitchen Process Improvement Author: Cheng, Juchun, Al Saglab, Bashair, Cavanaugh, Aaron Year: 2016 Our goal of this project is to improve kitchen efficiency by identify the efficiency problem. Outback steakhouse sells American food with an Australian theme. We pride ourselves on serving up variety of menu choices which are made fresh to order. For our staff handling fresh ingredients gives them a newfound respect for food and an awareness of where it comes from. Besides steak, served meals also include chicken, ribs, seafood and pasta for everyone. We emphasize providing consistently high quality delicious food delivering with casual atmosphere at moderate price. The problem we are now facing is that we have too many customers, at peak times, and not enough capacity to serve them. This is causing slow process time and as a result, we are getting many complaints about long wait time for meals to be served and wait times in lobby. The success of this project will result in an increase of customer visits by 5% based on a market analysis estimation by the Outback Consultant Company (OCC). The 5% is derived from the reduction in food waste and the reduction in labor hours as a result of the process improvement. There is also a correlation in happiness of employees which results in efficiency improvement which is somewhat less quantifiable. Close

• 9. [Article] Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go?

  The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go? Author: Ngawhika, Simon, Marshall, Scott Year: 2014 The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 2004 and 2024, over $200 billion will need to be spent upgrading and expanding America’s wastewater infrastructure. One significant challenge in maintaining treatment infrastructure is the build-up of struvite. Struvite accumulates inside treatment facility pipe networks, reducing capacity and increasing operating and maintenance costs. But discharging the components of struvite – the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous – into the environment also has negative consequences. Concentrated amounts can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems. Clean Water Services (CWS) is the public wastewater utility for Washington County, Oregon USA, providing sewage and stormwater treatment services to more than 500,000 homes and businesses. Responsible for the health and management of a public good – the 83-mile long Tualatin River – CWS is subject to regulations over the temperature and quality of the water it discharges into the natural environment. This case follows Clean Water Services in its pilot test of a home garden fertilizer product that is linked to the environmental benefits and operational efficiencies gained through an innovative treatment technology. In 2009, CWS implemented a groundbreaking solution to the challenge of struvite; one that also had the potential to turn a waste stream into a revenue stream. An advanced 'nutrient recovery technology' removes the nutrients that form struvite and pollute the environment if discharged, recycling them into an effective, safe to handle garden fertilizer. In mid 2012, the CWS Board gave the green light to produce Clean Water GROW™, its own brand of fertilizer, and test its commercial viability in the local consumer market. The case educates students on the challenge of finding innovative ways to operate and maintain wastewater infrastructure in the face of population growth and increased pressure on natural systems. It provides detail on the development and commercial pilot of the GROW fertilizer product, and the packaging, pricing and distribution options that were analyzed. It asks students to conduct the crucial steps of analyzing the implications of marketing mix options in terms of break-even quantity and return on investment, and recommending a 'go' or 'no go' decision to the CWS board. Title: Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go? Author: Ngawhika, Simon, Marshall, Scott Year: 2014 The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 2004 and 2024, over $200 billion will need to be spent upgrading and expanding America’s wastewater infrastructure. One significant challenge in maintaining treatment infrastructure is the build-up of struvite. Struvite accumulates inside treatment facility pipe networks, reducing capacity and increasing operating and maintenance costs. But discharging the components of struvite – the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous – into the environment also has negative consequences. Concentrated amounts can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems. Clean Water Services (CWS) is the public wastewater utility for Washington County, Oregon USA, providing sewage and stormwater treatment services to more than 500,000 homes and businesses. Responsible for the health and management of a public good – the 83-mile long Tualatin River – CWS is subject to regulations over the temperature and quality of the water it discharges into the natural environment. This case follows Clean Water Services in its pilot test of a home garden fertilizer product that is linked to the environmental benefits and operational efficiencies gained through an innovative treatment technology. In 2009, CWS implemented a groundbreaking solution to the challenge of struvite; one that also had the potential to turn a waste stream into a revenue stream. An advanced 'nutrient recovery technology' removes the nutrients that form struvite and pollute the environment if discharged, recycling them into an effective, safe to handle garden fertilizer. In mid 2012, the CWS Board gave the green light to produce Clean Water GROW™, its own brand of fertilizer, and test its commercial viability in the local consumer market. The case educates students on the challenge of finding innovative ways to operate and maintain wastewater infrastructure in the face of population growth and increased pressure on natural systems. It provides detail on the development and commercial pilot of the GROW fertilizer product, and the packaging, pricing and distribution options that were analyzed. It asks students to conduct the crucial steps of analyzing the implications of marketing mix options in terms of break-even quantity and return on investment, and recommending a 'go' or 'no go' decision to the CWS board. Close

• 10. [Article] Optimizing Distributed Energy Resources on a Distribution Feeder

  The purpose of this study is to optimize a set of distributed energy resources (DERs) on an electric utility distribution level feeder. A DER is a decentralized resource, usually located at end-use electric ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Optimizing Distributed Energy Resources on a Distribution Feeder Author: Henry, Bill, MacDonald, Stephen, Wehner, Nicole, McBride, Gabe, Groth, Tyler Year: 2017 The purpose of this study is to optimize a set of distributed energy resources (DERs) on an electric utility distribution level feeder. A DER is a decentralized resource, usually located at end-use electric utility customer sites, that stores or generates electricity – such as batteries and rooftop photovoltaic solar, or in the case of demand response, in which the utility has the ability to manage electricity consumption to the benefit of distribution grid operation. The aggregation and optimization of a set of DERs of disparate operating characteristics, over a period of three years is performed and the methods employed explained. This aggregation of DERs is evaluated to determine if the required performance characteristics are present to meet specific distribution operation needs. In this case, the peak electricity demand experienced on the feeder exceeds its capacity to supply energy from the bulk electricity grid, and a portfolio of seven DER types is evaluated over the course of two peak winter and two peak summer days for a period of three years. The optimization model selects the lowest cost portfolio of DERs based on the fixed and variable costs of these resources, and their operating characteristics. If the portfolio is capable of meeting the load service requirements, utility planners may compare DER costs against alternative means of these requirements such as upgrading substation or distribution line equipment. This study researched the methodology surrounding new planning methods such as distribution resources planning (DRP) form the perspectives of both public and private organizations to understand where the topic currently stands in terms of development, maturity, and need for additional research. The literature review sought to understand the perspectives of stakeholders as well as the supporting methodologies for construction of distribution and DER optimization models. One thing was clear - there were no definitive optimization plans for DERs, and many studies could only make recommendations based on limitations and assumptions outlined in models constructed for specific and often limited purposes. The model presented here furthers the DER optimization research by creating a scalable model that selects a feasible portfolio of incremental DERs to meet a load growth on a hypothetical feeder while simultaneously minimizing the cost of the given portfolio. Our results show that there is a sound business case to be made in certain instances for a utility provider to implement incremental DERs to satisfy load growth as an alternative to proceeding with a traditional asset project such as a transformer or distribution circuit conductor replacement. Title: Optimizing Distributed Energy Resources on a Distribution Feeder Author: Henry, Bill, MacDonald, Stephen, Wehner, Nicole, McBride, Gabe, Groth, Tyler Year: 2017 The purpose of this study is to optimize a set of distributed energy resources (DERs) on an electric utility distribution level feeder. A DER is a decentralized resource, usually located at end-use electric utility customer sites, that stores or generates electricity – such as batteries and rooftop photovoltaic solar, or in the case of demand response, in which the utility has the ability to manage electricity consumption to the benefit of distribution grid operation. The aggregation and optimization of a set of DERs of disparate operating characteristics, over a period of three years is performed and the methods employed explained. This aggregation of DERs is evaluated to determine if the required performance characteristics are present to meet specific distribution operation needs. In this case, the peak electricity demand experienced on the feeder exceeds its capacity to supply energy from the bulk electricity grid, and a portfolio of seven DER types is evaluated over the course of two peak winter and two peak summer days for a period of three years. The optimization model selects the lowest cost portfolio of DERs based on the fixed and variable costs of these resources, and their operating characteristics. If the portfolio is capable of meeting the load service requirements, utility planners may compare DER costs against alternative means of these requirements such as upgrading substation or distribution line equipment. This study researched the methodology surrounding new planning methods such as distribution resources planning (DRP) form the perspectives of both public and private organizations to understand where the topic currently stands in terms of development, maturity, and need for additional research. The literature review sought to understand the perspectives of stakeholders as well as the supporting methodologies for construction of distribution and DER optimization models. One thing was clear - there were no definitive optimization plans for DERs, and many studies could only make recommendations based on limitations and assumptions outlined in models constructed for specific and often limited purposes. The model presented here furthers the DER optimization research by creating a scalable model that selects a feasible portfolio of incremental DERs to meet a load growth on a hypothetical feeder while simultaneously minimizing the cost of the given portfolio. Our results show that there is a sound business case to be made in certain instances for a utility provider to implement incremental DERs to satisfy load growth as an alternative to proceeding with a traditional asset project such as a transformer or distribution circuit conductor replacement. Close