Incomplete convolutions in production and inventory models

In this paper, we study incomplete convolutions of continuous distribution functions, as they appear in the analysis of (multi-stage) production and inventory systems. Three example systems are discussed where these incomplete convolutions naturally arise. We derive explicit, nonrecursive formulae for these convolutions, for the relevant case in which the underlying distributions are (mixtures of) Erlang distributions with the same scale parameter. Numerical results for one example system, the multi-stage serial inventory system, are presented to show the effectiveness of these formulae

Bounds for performance characteristics : a systematic approach via cost structures

In this paper we present a systematic approach to the construction of bounds for the average costs in Markov chains with possibly infinitely many states. The technique used to prove the bounds is based on dynamic programming. Most performance characteristics of Markovian systems can be represented by the average costs for some appropriately chosen cost structure. Therefore, the approach can be used to generate bounds for relevant performance characteristics. The approach is demonstrated for the shortest queue model. It is shown how for this model several bounds for the mean waiting time can be constructed. We include numerical results to demonstrate the quality of these bound

Maintenance optimization for a Markovian deteriorating system with population heterogeneity

We develop a partially observable Markov decision process model to incorporate population heterogeneity when scheduling replacements for a deteriorating system. The single-component system deteriorates over a finite set of condition states according to a Markov chain. The population of spare components that is available for replacements is composed of multiple component types that cannot be distinguished by their exterior appearance but deteriorate according to different transition probability matrices. This situation may arise, for example, because of variations in the production process of components. We provide a set of conditions for which we characterize the structure of the optimal policy that minimizes the total expected discounted operating and replacement cost over an infinite horizon. In a numerical experiment, we benchmark the optimal policy against a heuristic policy that neglects population heterogeneity

Warehouse design and control: framework and literature review

In this paper we present a reference framework and a classification of warehouse design and control problems. Based on this framework, we review the existing literature on warehousing systems and indicate important gaps. In particular, we emphasize the need for design oriented studies, as opposed to the strong analysis oriented research on isolated subproblems that seems to be dominant in the current literature

Vicarious praise and pain: parental neural responses to social feedback about their adolescent child

FSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and psychopathology - ou

Neural and affective responses to prolonged eye contact with one's own adolescent child and unfamiliar others

Stress and Psychopatholog