Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management Research GroupFAQQ: Who should consider joining the group? A: If you wish to work on global logistics and supply chain problems to support decision making in organizations, this group is a perfect place for you.
Q: Do I need to be very good in Mathematics to join the group? A: Yes and no. It would be great if you already have few good courses in Operations Research and/or Statistics. However, you can always make up the deficiencies in a few months if you are really interested in what we do and devote yourself to learning these subjects.
Q: Do I need to write computer programs? A: Yes and no. It all depends on what kind of problem you are working on. Good programming skills give you more options whether you decide to pursue a Ph.D. or get a job in the industry after graduation.
Q: If it turns out that I need to write computer programs, what computer languages should I learn? A: It also depends on the problem you are working on. If your research is related to decision support systems, RFID, or mobile computing, you may need to learn JAVA. If you are working on large scale logistics problems, C++ may be more suitable.
Q: Can I just run some computer software and finish my dissertation? A: Maybe. However, running these software packages may not be as easy as you thought.
Q: So what kind of software do you use in the group? A: We use Excel, AMPL, OPL Studio, CPLEX to solve optimization problems arising in global logistics and supply chain management. Some students used simulation software such as Arena, AutoMod and SimScript. If you are interested in information management theories, it may prove worthwhile if you know how to use statistics packages such as SPSS and SAS.
Q: How do I prepare myself to make my graduate/group life easier? A: Well, good computer skills, familiar with operations research, and fluent in English would help. Communication skills are also important as you need to write your dissertation, and may need to communicate with people in the industry frequently.
Q: What will I study in the group? A: I am quite flexible in terms of the topic of your dissertation. You may choose subjects that interest you and take courses that you find helpful. Eventually you need to apply your analytical skills to logistics and supply chain management. So you need to develop modeling and computer programming/optimization software skills. You also need to be familiar with subjects such as supply chain management, operations management, and/or logistics management. Report writing, team work and presentations are also essential skills.
Q: Why is your lab so crowded? A: The department is getting more space soon (I hope). Right now, my students are sharing a lab with students of Prof. Chou, who is just too popular. Update: We are moving to a new lab (MA003) in a few weeks. (07/23/2008)
Q: How do I join the lab? A: Write me an e-mail to set up an appointment. I would appreciate it if you also send me a copy of your resume.
Q: When should I set up an appointment with you? A: Well, if you really like our lab, do so as soon as possible. I can only accept 4 domestic master's students and 1 international students every year. I can only have up to 4 third or fourth year Ph.D. students. Update: The quota for master's students is changed to 3 domestic and 2 foreign students. (05/24/2009) Update: The quota for master's students is changed to 3 domestic students each calendar year, and 2 foreign students each academic year. (08/21/2010) Update: The quota for doctoral students is changed to 6 domestic students in total, and 1 foreign student each academic year. (08/21/2010) vincent @ mail.ntust.edu.tw |