Stewart Robinson
Professor of Operational Research
Operational Research
and Information Systems Group
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A
Brief Career History
Education:
BSc and PhD in Management Science (Operational Research) from Lancaster
University.
My
career started in the management services group of a major UK footwear retailer.
I have been working in the field of computer simulation since 1986, initially
working as a simulation consultant with AT&T Istel (now Lanner Group)
developers of the Witness simulation software. There I supported the use of
simulation in companies throughout Europe and the rest of the world, developing
and using models, supporting others in their modelling efforts and providing
training in simulation software and methodology.
In
1992 I joined the academic staff at Aston Business School in Birmingham
teaching in the related fields of operational research, operations management
and information management, and researching in computer simulation and
modelling. In 1998 I moved to Warwick Business
School where I continue to teach in the area of operational research and
perform research in simulation and modelling.
Research
Activities
The
focus of my research is on the practice of simulation, looking at how people go
about developing and using simulation models and investigating how the practice
of simulation can be improved. As a result my interests lie in the methodology
and methods employed in simulation studies. The focus of my research is in the
use of the discrete-event simulation approach largely for business applications,
but I also have an interest in wider simulation methods, particularly system
dynamics and agent-based modelling.
Five
key areas of interest are:
·
Verification and validation of
simulation model:
practices and procedures for determining the confidence that can be placed in a
simulation model. Related
publications.
·
Simulation practice: approaches to modelling,
particularly in the business field. Three modes of practice have been
identified: software engineering, process of social change and facilitation.
Research is being undertaken to compare the practice of discrete-event
simulation with system dynamics. Research is also being carried out on the
development of simulation conceptual
models. Related
publications.
·
Simulation output analysis: analysis of the output from real
simulation models. Methods developed/implemented for determining the warm-up
period (using statistical process control), the run-length of a simulation and
for detecting shifts in the mean of a steady-state simulation. Related
publications. An EPSRC funded
grant is being carried out in collaboration with SIMUL8 Corporation. This is investigating the potential for
automating the analysis of simulation output.
See details of the AutoSimOA
project.
·
The quality of operational research
interventions:
viewing quality as more than just the validity of the model, but the confidence
that is placed in the overall intervention. Related
publications.
·
Modelling human decision-making and
interaction in simulations: using artificial intelligence methods (rule based systems and neural
networks) to represent human-decision makers in a simulation. Included in this
is the use of a simulation as a gaming environment in which example decisions
are built up for training the artificial intelligence systems. Collaborative
research with Ford Motor Company and Lanner Group, funded by the EPSRC. Grant 1
completed September 2002 (details).
Grant 2 commenced October 2002 (details).
Related
publications.
The
book Simulation: The Practice
of Model Development and Use (Wiley) (Robinson, 2004) provides a guide
to performing simulation projects.
Click
here
for a full list of publications.
Research
Supervision
Applications
from students interested in pursuing a higher degree by research in simulation
are welcome. This might be in the area of discrete-event simulation, system
dynamics, agent-based modelling or a mixture of these approaches. Ideal
candidates will have a background in business, engineering or computing and
have a keen interest in the successful application of simulation to real world
problems. An emphasis on methodological issues is of particular interest.
For
further information on
Current PhD Students
Ernie Lee:
Investigating the use of visual interactive simulation as a knowledge
elicitation tool. EPSRC collaborative
project with Ford Motor Company and Lanner Group (details).
Yang Meng:
Combining discrete-event simulation and system dynamics for modelling systems
at an operational and strategic level.
Antuela Tako:
Comparing discrete-event simulation and system dynamics in the supply chain
context.
Christopher Watts: Dynamic modelling of social networks.
Modelling energy in networks using mixed discrete-event and agent-based
approaches.
Stavrianna Dimitriou: Agent based modelling of supply chain coordination.
Previous PhD Students
Thanos Alifantis: Development of the Knowledge Based Improvement methodology for
understanding, representing and improving human decision-making in
manufacturing and service systems.
Rizwan Ahmed:
Development of a rapid simulation modelling process for software process
simulation.
Teaching
Activities
Most of
my teaching is at post-graduate level on MBA and Warwick Business School's
specialist masters course in Management Science and Operational Research.
Specific modules taught are:
·
Simulation
(Masters and Undergraduate)
·
System
dynamics (Masters)
·
OR
Methodology (Masters)
·
Modelling
and Analysis for Management (MBA core module)
·
Business
modelling (MBA elective)
I also supervise
a number of masters projects each year, many of which involve the application
of modelling in an organisation.
Consulting
Activities
Simulation Modelling: the development and use of simulation models for manufacturing and
service applications. Experienced in the use of the Witness and Simul8
simulation packages.
Simulation Modelling Support: support to those developing their own
simulation models. Advice on all aspects of a simulation modelling exercise -
defining the model, data collection and analysis, model development, model
validation and experimentation.
Simulation Software Selection: helping organisations to select the right
simulation software for their needs.
Developing a Simulation Strategy: advice on selecting the right approach to
simulation modelling in order to best meet an organisation's simulation needs.
Simulation Training: one to three day seminars and training courses in performing
simulation projects, covering all aspects of simulation methodology from
defining the problem, through model development, data collection and analysis,
model testing, experimentation and implementation.
Model Reviews:
independent verification and validation of simulation models.
Other
Professional Activities
Associate
Dean for Specialist Masters
at
Co-chair
of the Operational
Research Society Simulation Workshop: a biennial conference. Submit your paper for
SW08 by 31 October 2007.
Joint
Editor of the Journal
of Simulation.
Member
of the EPSRC Peer Review College
A
Bit More about Me
As
a Christian I am involved with my local church Bidford-on-Avon Baptist Church.
I
enjoy sport of most kinds, but particularly long distance running. Some records:
10km (6.2 miles): 40 mins 03 secs (I did do it
a bit quicker 20 years ago!)
Half
Marathon (26.2 miles): 3 hours 15 mins
Having
3 children doesn’t leave me much time for anything else!