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Tilburg University with TNT Express and ORTEC in final Franz Edelman Award 2012


The collaborative, supply chain-wide optimization efforts of TNT Express, ORTEC and Tilburg University have been officially recognized by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMSŪ). TNT Express has been shortlisted as a finalist at the 2012 Franz Edelman Award for its successful application of Operations Research in supply chain optimization.

The use of Operations Research (applied mathematics for decision making) to analyze and enhance its transportation networks has allowed TNT Express to save costs, improve service to customers and develop managers’ skills on a global scale. From Tilburg University, Prof. of Applied Operations Research Hein Fleuren has been involved in these efforts. He occupies the TNT Express chair. TNT Express, Tilburg University and Ortec have been working together for more than 6 years on a number of optimization projects at TNT Express.

The Edelman competition application is based on the significant Operations Research achievements realized in the Global Optimization program or ‘GO’ by TNT Express over the past few years. The program delivered very good results in cost savings and decision making quality. Moreover, TNT Express has created a learning environment in which their employees can share experiences and learn about the application of Operations Research in the workplace. In cooperation with Tilburg University a game for managers was designed to improve their skills and insight.

GO Academy
TNT Express also teamed up with TiasNimbas Business School (associated with Tilburg University) to create a two-year management development program in transportation network optimization. This ‘GO Academy’ training program has been delivered to more than 150 managers from TNT since 2008.

Every year, the Franz Edelman competition recognizes outstanding examples of Operations Research-based projects that transform companies, entire industries, and people’s lives. Operations research uses advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions and is a disciplined way by which management can improve organizational performance in a wide variety of situations and in nearly every type of public and private organization.

About the Franz Edelman Award
The Franz Edelman competition aims to bring forward, recognize and reward outstanding examples of operations research, management science, and advanced analytics that are used to bring changes to society, industry and business. Held annually by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), the international competition pits 5-7 finalist teams from industry, government, healthcare, and the non-profit sectors. Previous winners include Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Netherlands Railways and IBM.

The award is announced during the annual INFORM conference, which this year takes place in Huntington Beach, California, USA on 16 April 2012. More information about the competition is available at http://www.informs.org/Recognize-Excellence/Franz-Edelman-Award.

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