Seminar by Bruce Benseman

Practical OR

Spreadsheets versus specialist packages

Abstract

Suppose you have a large numerical problem to manage. Do you grab your Excel spreadsheet for its instant charting, sorting, filtering and pivot features? Or do you dust off your OMNI, SIMSCRIPT or SAS package, for its algebraic modelling, powerful subroutines, debugging and documentation ability? What might influence your decision? The answer probably depends on your problem, your deadline, your skills, and your budget.

Bruce Benseman has been consulting for a long time. So he has made more mistakes than most. As his computers changed, he has worked with many optimisation and statistical packages. Today, all of his clients use Excel and GAMS. Over the years, Bruce’s feelings for spreadsheets have changed from disdain and suspicion, to love and enthusiasm. As well as being a slow learner, Bruce forgets things fast. So come to hear about his experiences – before it is too late! He will illustrate his talk with recent scheduling and forecasting projects in the Cement and Aviation industries.

Date Wednesday 29 August 2001

Place Lecture Theatre 3, Ground Floor, Rutherford House

23 Lambton Quay (opposite the Railway Station)

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Time 12noon – 1:30pm, Refreshments from 12noon

RSVP to David Boland by e-mail if you can: [email protected], or

phone 04 902 3889 by Friday 24 August 2001

Bruce Benseman is an OR consultant who specialises in modelling complex large-scale systems. He and his wife now run their own OR consulting company, Optimal Solutions Ltd. Their clients include some of the largest players in the Meat, Dairy, Oil and Cement industries – here and in Australia. Bruce is also the OR specialist at Airways New Zealand. Before that, he spent 22 years consulting for DSIR Applied Mathematics and Industrial Research Ltd. He has also worked for Australian Gaslight in Sydney; and taught Economics at Canterbury. For 12 years, Bruce served on the ORSNZ Council -- from Treasurer down to President. And after 39 years, he is still running (because his legs outvote his brains). His email address is [email protected]

 

 

Open meeting – All welcome