Waste Not [PDF]

The latest Baseline Magazine has a case study on the homegrown fleet optimization software employed by Waste Management of Delaware. At the end of 2003, Waste Management operated 18,850 routes, most of which were planned manually by regional managers -- eliminating just one route could save the company $120,000 per year. With their new WasteRoute software, they managed to save $18 million in 2003, and are expected to save an additional $44 million in 2004 -- all for a $10 million investment, and an 18 month rollout. The software employs the quantitative methods of operations research -- the science and mathematics of decision making -- where business problems are studied, variables identified, then models are built, optimized and applied to solve the real world problem. Next time you see a transport truck on the road, wonder what smarts are behind the directives being given to the driver. The math may astound you. Read the complete case study online.

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