Practical example of base source optimization : footwear profiling at Nike, Inc.

The long term sourcing for footwear development, or "profiling," at Nike, Inc. has grown with the company and become significantly complex. It is no longer possible for a single person, no matter the level of experience, to optimize the company's profiling plan without computational assistance. Optimization methods, specifically mixed-integer linear programing, present an opportunity to save between 6.7 and 9.7% of combined labor and duty costs to the company. The model proposed by this research is responsible for justifying that potential but is merely a starting point for Nike, Inc. Further application and research into the company's manufacturing processes including transportation costs, technology groupings, and the Manufacturing Index (MI) could wield results that far surpass the levels obtained by this research. Implementation of an algorithmic approach is challenging for an organization that values "storytelling," collaboration, and narrative. However, in time I believe that this model, or something similar, will find a place, and deliver results, for Nike, Inc.

Department dc:contributor.department

Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Jacobs, David G. (David Gregory)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Simchi-Levi and Stephen C. Graves.

• Sloan School of Management.
• Engineering Systems Division.
• Leaders for Global Operations Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/99003

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/99003