Opening Plenary 13 th September
10:15 Binks Lecture Theatre 1

 Optimised Production in an Aluminium Smelter
 David Ryan 

Abstract

Molten aluminium of varying purities is produced in long lines of Heroult-Hall reduction cells in an aluminium smelter.  The molten metal is tapped from three cells at a time to form batches.  The batches are then mixed in furnaces before the metal is cast into billet or ingot.  We formulate a set partitioning optimisation model, the solution of which maximizes the total value of metal in batches subject to a number of practical production constraints.  Because of the special structure of the set partitioning model, it is difficult to integerize fractional solutions of the LP relaxation and both cutting planes and integer allocation techniques are required to produce solutions efficiently.  Optimized batching results on production data will be presented. We will also discuss aspects of implementation and the difficulty of "doing OR for real"!

Biography

David Ryan began his OR career as a Research Fellow at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell, England in 1972 after completing a Masters degree in mathematics at the University of Otago in New Zealand  and his PhD in numerical optimisation methods at ANU in Australia. He returned to New Zealand in 1975 to take up an academic position at the University of Auckland where today he is Professor of Operations Research. His work on

the development of aircrew scheduling and rostering methods for Air New Zealand has been recognised by a number of awards including selection as a finalist in the 2000 INFORMS Franz Edelman Awards. He has presented many invited talks and in 2002 was the IFORS Distinguished Lecturer at the INFORMS Annual meeting in San Jose.  In 2003 he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Plenary 13 th September
10:00 Binks Lecture Theatre 1

The future of EURO: towards a new European OR society
Alexis Tsoukiàs, President of EURO

A brief summary of proposals for the future development of EURO

Abstract

Gaining long term advantage from IT is not as easy as it sounds. It will not happen unless there is a ‘fusing’ of IT developments with the organisation’s strategies for the future. This is a complex two-way ‘give-and-take’ process where IT developments need to be steered by strategic priorities and vice versa. Business strategies need to take advantage of the new opportunities and changed capabilities which IT can bring to the organisation.

Professor Scholes’ presentation will look at this relationship between strategic management and IT from the strategist’s perspective. It will look at four broad issues. First, the extent to which IT creates, sustains or destroys core capabilities in the organisation. These are essential to long term competitive advantage (or excellent performance for public sector organisations). Second, is the issue of how IT requirements relate to market positioning. Third, and closely related to these first two issues, is the impact of IT on managing linkages within the organisation and with outside stakeholders. Finally, there are crucial issues about the processes through which strategy is managed in the organisation. These too need to be influenced and changed by IT developments.

Biography

Professor Kevan Scholes is Principal Partner of Scholes Associates, Visiting Professor of Strategic Management at Sheffield Hallam University and formerly Director of the Sheffield Business School.  Kevan has considerable experience of lecturing, consultancy and writing in strategic management for both the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas.  He is co-author of Europe's best-selling text "Exploring Corporate Strategy" with over 650,000 sales worldwide.  

Final Plenary Thursday, 15th September
14:00 Binks Lecture Theatre 1

Liverpool
The World in One City
Jason Harborow, Chief Operating Officer, Liverpool Culture Company

Abstract

Cities in the future will be differentiated not by their physical environment but by the quality of the experience they offer – their drawing power. Liverpool’s unique qualities and cultural capital bring visitors from all around the world. Liverpool’s bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008 won the UK nomination in June 2003 and was approved by the European Council of Ministers in May 2004. They praised the investment in culture, and the City’s vision of using culture as a catalyst for regeneration.

The City’s decision to bid for European Capital of Culture reflected Liverpool’s cultural wealth and diversity. To win the 2008 nomination, the Liverpool Culture Company amassed the greatest partnership the City has even seen; residents, supporters and organisations from the smallest voluntary sector and community groups to the major arts institutions, the public and private sector and regional agencies and businesses.

The challenge for Liverpool over the next decade is to expand and maintain its drawing power as a major cultural and creative centre but Liverpool has embraced a new philosophy of leadership. A leadership that is not constrained by conventional structures and definitions of the possible. Jason Harborow will cover the bidding process, the implementation plan for 2008 and also some longer term initiatives to maintain Liverpool's position as a capital of culture.

Biography

Jason Harborow is the Chief Operating Officer of the Liverpool Culture Company and is responsible for day to day operations.He takes the lead role with the Commercial Income Generation Programme and ensures that the Company’s Business Plan, Delivery Plans and Objectives are delivered.

Jason aged 35 years has been at the forefront of the cutting edge events and initiatives for the last 15 years. His career has included high profile positions at JJB Leisure, Operation Director of the Rugby League World Cup and Commercial General Manager of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games – which resulted in the most successful sports ticketing programme ever delivered in the United Kingdom with over 1 million tickets sold.

Jason was recently voted one of the North West 42 entrepreneurs, which is an award that recognises the Regions Top Business People under the age of 42. He is also a member of the Mersey Partnership Tourism Board, North West Tourism Board, North West Vision Board and also a Member of the Culture North West Board.