Alan Andrew Scheller-Wolf

Richard M. Cyert Professor of Operations Management

Download Hi-res Photo

Education

• Columbia University - Master of Philosophy (Operations Research) - 1996
• Columbia University - Ph D (Operations Research) - 1996
• Columbia University - MS (Operations Research) - 1994
• Stanford University - BA (Art History) - 1989
• Stanford University - BS (Mathematics and Computational Science) - 1989

Research

Discrete Time Inventory Theory: Perishable inventory, spare parts systems, assemble to order systems. Service Systems: Healthcare, call centers. Queueing Theory: Multi-server queues, stability and moment conditions, strategic queueing, closed queueing networks, Markov Decision Processes. Applications: Renewable energy, product portfolio optimization, parking queues.

Publications

• A Queueing Model and Analysis for Autonomous Vehicles on Highways
  (author(s): Neda Mirzaeian, Soo-Haeng Cho, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Management Science, forthcoming
• Technological Unemployment, Meaning in Life, Purpose of Business, and the Future of Stakeholders
  (author(s): Tae Wan Kim, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Journal of Business Ethics, forthcoming
• A Better Model for Job Redundancy: Decoupling Server Slowdown and Job Size

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 2017

• Product Portfolio Restructuring: Methodology and Application at Caterpillar

  (author(s): Masha Shunko, Tallys Yunes, Giulio Fenni, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Valerie Tardif, Sridhar Tayur)
  POMS

• An Analytical Throughput Approximation for Closed Fork/Join Networks

  (author(s): Erkut Sonmez, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi)
  INFORMS Journal of Computing 29(2), 2017; 251-267

• A Better Model for Job Redundancy: Decoupling Server Slowdown and Job Size

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  IEEE Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Computer and Telecommunication Systems (MASCOTS 2016), 2016

• Corrigendum to Capacitated Inventory Problems with Fixed Order Costs: Some Optimal Policy Structure

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Guillermo Gallego)
  EJOR 253, 2016; 241

• Redundancy-d: The Power of d Choices for Redundancy

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Mark Velednitski, Samuel Zbarsky)
  Operations Research

• The Power of d Choices for Redundancy

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Samuel Zbarsky, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Proceedings of ACM SIGMETRICS 2016 Conference on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems Poster Paper, 2016

• Understanding Response Time in the Redundancy-d System

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Samuel Zbarsky, Mark Velednitski, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Workshop on Mathematical Performance Modeling and Analysis (MAMA 2016), 2016

• Introduction to the Special Issue on Practice-Focused Research

  (author(s): Jérémie Gallien, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  MSOM 18( 1), 2016; 1-4

• OM Forum: Practice-Based Research in Operations Management: What It Is, Why Do It, Related Challenges and How to Overcome Them

  (author(s): Jérémie Gallien, Steve Graves, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  MSOM 18(1), 2016; 5-14

• Robust scheduling with logic-based Benders decomposition

  (author(s): Elvin Coban, Aliza Heching, John Hooker, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Operations Research 2014 Proceedings, 2016; 99-105

• Electricity Trading and Negative Prices: Storage vs. Disposal

  (author(s): Yangfang Zhou, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi, Stephen Smith)
  Management Science 62(3), 2016; 880-898

• Queueing with redundant requests: Exact analysis

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Samuel Zbarsky, Sherwin Doroudi, Mor Harchol-Balter, Esa Hyytia, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Queueing Systems 83(3), 2016; 227-259

• Managing nurse lines – practical challenges and the developing theory

  (author(s): Xiaofang Wang, Laurens Debo, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  International Journal of Production Research, 2015

• Optimal inventory decisions in a capacitated online retailing system with customer priorities

  (author(s): Bisheng Du, Christian Larsen, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Service Systems and Service Management (ICSSSM), 12th International Conference, 2015; 1-6

• The Benefit of Introducing Variability in Single-Server Queues with Application to Quality-Based Service Domains

  (author(s): Ying Xu, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Katia Sycara)
  Operations Research 63( 1), 2015; 233-246

• M/M/c Queue with Two Priority Classes

  (author(s): Jianfu Wang, Opher Baron, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Operations Research 63(3), 2015; 733-749

• Blood Platelet Inventory Management with Protection Levels

  (author(s): Ismail Civelik, Itir Karaesmen, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  European Journal of Operations Research 243(3), 2015; 826-838

• Optimization of Industrial-Scale Assemble-To-Order Systems

  (author(s): Willem van Jaarsveld, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  INFORMS Journal of Computing, 2015

• Merchant Commodity Storage and Term-Structure Model Error

  (author(s): Nicola Secomandi, Guoming Lai, François Margot, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Duane Seppi)
  Manufacturing & Service Operations Management 17(3), 2015; 302–320

• Optimal inventory decisions in a capacitated online retailing system with customer priorities

  (author(s): Bisheng Du, Christian Larsen, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  IEEE International Conference on Service Systems and Service Management, 2015; 1-6

• Reducing latency via redundant requests: Exact analysis

  (author(s): Kristen Gardner, Samuel Zbarsky, Sherwin Doroudi, Mor Harchol-Balter, Esa Hyytia, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  ACM Sigmetrics Conference, 2015

• Exact Analysis of the M/M/k/setup Class of Markov Chains via Recursive Renewal Reward

  (author(s): Anshul Gandhi, Sherwin Doroudi, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Queueing Systems -- Selected papers from Sigmetrics 2013 77(2), 2014; 177-209

• Delay Moment Bounds for Multiserver Queues with Infinite Variance Service Times

  (author(s): Rein Vesilo, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  INFOR Special Issue on Queueing in Computer and Telecommunication Systems. 51(4), 2014; 161-174

• Inventory Rationing for a System with Heterogeneous Customer Classes

  (author(s): Paul Enders, Ivo Adan, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Geert-Jan van Houtum)
  Flexible Services and Manufacturing 26, 2014; 344-386

• Optimal Structural Results for Assemble-to-Order Generalized M-Systems

  (author(s): Emre Nadar, Mustafa Akan, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Operations Research, 2014

• Optimal Structural Results for Assemble-to-Order M-Systems

  (author(s): Emre Nadar, Mustafa Akan, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Operations Research 62(3), 2014; 571-579

• Exact Analysis of the M/M/k/setup Class of Markov Chains via Recursive Renewal Reward

  (author(s): Anshul Gandhi, Sherwin Doroudi, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  ACM Sigmetrics Conference, 2013

• Strategic Analysis of Technology and Capacity Investment in the Liquefied Natural Gas Industry

  (author(s): Erkut Sonmez, Sunder Kekre, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi)
  European Journal of Operational Research 226(1), 2013; 100-114

• Redundancy Optimization for Critical Components in High-Availability Capital Goods

  (author(s): Kurtulus Oner, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Geert-Jan van Houtum)
  Operations Research 61(1), 2013; 244-264

• Comparing Markov Chains: Combining Aggregation and Precedence Relations Applied to Sets of States

  (author(s): Ana Busic, Ingrid Vliegen, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Mathematics of Operations Research 37(2), 2012; 259-287

• Quality and Staffing Interactions at Diagnostic Service Centers

  (author(s): Xiaofang Wang, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Laurens Debo)
  Naval Research and Logistics 59(8), 2012; 613-625

• A large U.S. retailer selects transportation carriers under diesel price uncertainty

  (author(s): John Turner, Ben Peterson, Soo-Haeng Cho, Sunder Kekre, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Interfaces 4(42), 2012; 365-379

• Push or Pull? Auctioning Supply Contracts

  (author(s): Cuihong Li, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  POMS 20(1), 2011; 198-213

• Sink or Swim Together: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Finite Moments of Workload Components in FIFO Multiserver Queues

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Rein Vesilo)
  Queueing Systems 67(1), 2011; 47-61

• Supply Chain Management of Perishable Goods: A Review

  (author(s): Itir Karaesmen, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Borga Deniz)
  Handbook of Production Planning, 2011

• Valuation of Storage at a Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal

  (author(s): Guoming Lai, Mulan Wang, Sunder Kekre, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi)
  Operations Research 59(3), 2011; 602-616

• Scheduling of Dynamic In-Game Advertising

  (author(s): John Turner, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Operations Research 59(1), 2011; 1-16

• Design and Analysis of Diagnostic Service Centers

  (author(s): Xiaofang Wang, Laurens Debo, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Management Science 56(11), 2010; 1873-1890

• Interaction between Technology and Extraction Scaling Real Options in Natural Gas Production

  (author(s): Paul Enders, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi)
  IIE Transactions 42(9), 2010; 643-655

• A Markovian Dual-Source Production-Inventory Model with Order Bands

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  IJPE 121, 2009; 715-727

• Combinatorial Coalition Formation and Cost Sharing for Group Buying

  (author(s): Cuihong Li, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Katia Sycara)
  Decision Support Systems 49(1), 2009; 1-13

• Managing Inventories of Perishable Goods: The Effect of Substitution

  (author(s): Borga Deniz, Itir Karaesmen, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  M&SOM 12(2), 2009; 319-329

• Surprising Results on Task Assignment in Server Farms with High Variability Workloads

  (author(s): Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Andrew Young)
  ACM Sigmetrics 2009 Conference on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems (SIgmetrics '09), 2009

• Why Segregating Short Jobs from Long Ones under High Variability is not Always a Win

  (author(s): Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Andrew Young)
  47th Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing, 2009; 121-127

• An Exact and Efficient Algorithm for the Constrained Dynamic Operator Staffing Problem for Call Centers

  (author(s): Atul Bhandari, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Mor Harchol-Balter)
  Management Science 54(2), 2008; 339-353

• Now or Later: A Simple Policy for Effective Dual Sourcing in Capacitated Systems

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Senthil Veeraraghavan)
  Operations Research 56(4), 2008; 850-864

• Assessing the Impact of RFID on Return Center Logistics

  (author(s): Sunder Kekre, C. Forman, N. Langar, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Interfaces 37(6), 2007; 501-514

• Building Efficient Product Portfolios at John Deere

  (author(s): Tallys Yunes, Dominic Napolitano, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Operations Research 55(4), 2007; 617-629

• Building Efficient Product Portfolios at John Deere and Company

  (author(s): Tally Yunes, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Operations Research, 2007

• Optimal Control of Serial, Multi-Echelon Inventory/Production Systems with Periodic Batch Ordering

  (author(s): Geert-Jan van Houtum, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Jinxin Yi)
  Operations Research 55(4), 2007; 674-687

• Fundamental Characteristice of Queues with Fluctuating Load

  (author(s): Varun Gupta, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Uri Yechiali)
  Proceedings of ACM Sigmetrics 2006 Conference on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems (Sigmetrics '06), 2006; 203-215

• How Many Servers are Best in a Dual-Priority M/PH/k System?

  (author(s): Adam Wierman, Taka Osogami, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Performance Evaluation 63(12), 2006; 1253-1272

• Structural Interpretation and Derivation of Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Delay Moments in FIFO Multiserver Queues

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Rein Vesilo)
  Queueing Systems 54(3), 2006; 221-232

• Analysis of Cycle-Stealing with Switching Times and Thresholds

  (author(s): Taka Osogami, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Performance Evaluation 61(4), 2005; 347-369

• Multiserver Queueing Systems with Multiple Priority Classes

  (author(s): Mor Harchol-Balter, Taka Osogami, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Adam Wierman)
  Queueing Systems 51(3-4), 2005; 331-360

• Exploring Threshold-Based Policies for Load Sharing

  (author(s): Taka Osogami, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Li Zhang)
  Forty-Second Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control , and Computing, 2004; 1012-1021

• Analysis of Cycle Stealing with Switching Cost

  (author(s): Taka Osogami, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Proceedings of ACM Sigmetrics 2003 Conference on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems (Sigmetrics '03), 2003; 184-195

• Cycle Stealing under Immediate Dispatch Task Assignment

  (author(s): Mor Harchol-Balter, Cuihong Li, Taka Osogami, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Mark Squillante)
  Fifteenth ACM Annual Symposium on Parallel Algorithms and Architecture (SPAA '03), 2003; 274-285

• Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Delay Moments in FIFO Multiserver Queues: Why s Slower Servers are Better than One Fast Server for Heavy-Tailed Systems

  Operations Research 51(5), 2003; 748-758

• Task Assignment with Cycle Stealing under Central Queue

  (author(s): Mor Harchol-Balter, Cuihong Li, Taka Osogami, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Mark Squillante)
  23rd International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems (ICDCS '03), 2003; 628-639

• Vehicle Routing with Time Windows and Time-Dependent Rewards: A Problem from The American Red Cross

  (author(s): Jinxin Yi, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  M&SOM 5(1), 2003; 74-77

• Design of a Multi-Unit Double Auction E-Market

  (author(s): Pu Huang, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Katia Sycara)
  Computational Intelligence 18(4), 2002; 596-617

• Capacitated Inventory Problems with Fixed Order Costs: Some Optimal Policy Structure

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Guillermo Gallego)
  EJOR 126, 2000; 603-613

• Development of a Rapid-Response Supply Chain at Caterpillar

  (author(s): U. Rao, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Operations Research, 2000

• Development of a Rapid-Response Supply Chain at Caterpillar

  (author(s): Uday Rao, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Operations Research 28(2), 1999; 189-204

• Further Delay Moment Results for FIFO Multiserver Queues

  Queueing Systems 34, 1999; 387-4000

• A Performance Agreement to Align the Operations of a Loading Dock and Fleet

  (author(s): Patricio Donoso, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Marcos Singer)
  Revista ABANTE 1(2), 1998; 167-188

• Delay Moments for FIFO GI/GI/c Queues

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Karl Sigman)
  Queueing Systems 25, 1997; 77-95

• New Bounds for Expected Delay in GI/GI/c Queues

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Karl Sigman)
  Queueing Systems 26, 1997; 169-186

• Moments in Tandem Queues

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Karl Sigman)
  Operations Research 46, 1996; 378-380

Working Papers

• Dual Sourcing Problem with Stock-out Dependent Substitution

  (author(s): Hekimoglu Mustafa, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Markov Decision Processes
  Handbook of Healthcare Analytics
• Queues with Redundancy: Is Waiting in Multiple Lines Fair?

  (author(s): Leela Nageswaran, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Technological unemployment, meaning in life and the purpose of future business

  (author(s): Tae Wan Kim, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• That's Not Fair: Tariff Structures for Electricity Markets with Rooftop Solar

  (author(s): Singh Siddharth, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Managing Wind-Based Electricity Generation in the Presence of Storage and Transmission Capacity

  (author(s): Yangfang Zhou, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Nicola Secomandi, Stephen Smith)

• Consistent Staffing for Long-Term Care through On-Call Pools

  (author(s): Vince Slaugh, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)

• Green technology development and adoption: competition, regulation, and uncertainty - a global game approach

  (author(s): Xin Wang, Soo-Haeng Cho, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Optimal Portfolio Strategies for New Product Development

  (author(s): Emre Nadar, Mustafa Akan, Laurens Debo, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Staffing of a Service Center with Cross-Trained Agents, Heterogeneous Customers, and Quality Guarantees

  (author(s): Elvin Coban, Aliza Heching, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• The Benefits of State Aggregation with Extreme-Point Weighting for Assemble-to-Order Systems

  (author(s): Emre Nadar, Alp Ackay, Mustafa Akan, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Evaluating the First-Mover's Advantage in Announcing Real-Time Delay Information

  (author(s): Siddharth Prakash Singh, Mohammad Delasay, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Optimization of Stock Levels for Service Tools Industry

  (author(s): Ingrid Vliegen, Ana Busic, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Geert-Jan van Houtum)

• Robust Project Scheduling at a Large IT Services Delivery Organization

  (author(s): Elvin Coban, Aliza Heching, John Hooker, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Moment Conditions for Multiserver Queues under Integral Load

  (author(s): Michele Dufalla, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Rein Vesilo)

• Optimal R&D Portfolio Strategies under Different Information Regimes

  (author(s): Emre Nadar, Mustafa Akan, Laurens Debo, Alan Scheller-Wolf)

• Inducing Optimal Scheduling with Selfish Users

  (author(s): Paul Enders, Anshul Gandhi, Varun Gupta, Laurens Debo, Mor Harchol-Balter, Alan Scheller-Wolf)
  Management Science, 2009

• Inventory Models with Expedited Ordering: Single Index Policies

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Geert-Jan van Houtum, Senthil Veeraraghavan)
  2006

• Exact and Efficient SOlution Method for Parameter-Dependent Markov Chain Optimization Problems

  (author(s): Atul Bhandari, Alan Scheller-Wolf, Mor Harchol-Balter)
  2004

• Managing Supply Chains in Emerging Markets

  (author(s): Alan Scheller-Wolf, Sridhar Tayur)
  Quantitative Models for Supply Chain Management , 1998; 703-736

Awards and Honors

• Winner, 2020 Best Publication Award in Environment-Sustainability, INFORMS, Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment Section (September 2020)
• First runner-up, MASCOTS 2016 Best Paper Award: "A Better Model for Job Redundancy: Decoupling Server Slowdown and Job Size", by Kristen Gardner, Mor Harchol-Balter and Alan Scheller-Wolf (2016)
• Canadian Operations Research Society - Winner, CORS Queueing Theory SIG Student Paper Prize (Jianfu Wang) (2016)
• Tepper School of Business - BP Junior Faculty Research Chair (2000)

University Service

• Strategic Research Committee, Committee Chair (2016 - )
• BERKMAN FACULTY GRANT AWARD COMMITTEE, Committee Member (2010 - )
• FACULTY JUDICIAL REVIEW BOARD, Committee Member (2010 - )

Consulting

• Kenneth Flaxman, P.C. (August 2013)
• VERA Institute of Justice (2011 - 2011)
• Massive Incorporated (2007 - 2008)
• Caterpillar Inc. (2006 - 2008)
• Behavior Health Metrix (2006 - 2007)
• John Deere & Company (2006 - 2007)
• SmartOps (2005 - 2006)
• American Red Cross (2002 - 2003)
• Caterpillar Inc. (2002 - 2003)
• Air Products International (2002 - 2002)

Professional Activities

• Board of Advisors, Management and Business Review (March 2016 -)
• Associate Editor, Queueing Systems (2011 -)
• Associate Editor, Management Science (2009 -)
• Member, M&SOM, Editorial Board (2008 -)
• Associate Editor, Operations Research (January 2006 -)
• Member, INFORMS , Nicholson Prize Committee (2016 - 2016)
• Guest Editor-in-Chief, Special Issue on Practice, MSOM (2013 - 2016)
• Member, INFORMS , Nicholson Prize Committee (2015 - 2015)
• Member, INFORMS , Dantzig Prize Committee (2011 - 2011)
• Member, INFORMS , M&SOM Journal Review Committee (2011 - 2011)
• Chairperson, INFORMS , IMPACT Prize Committee (2009 - 2010)
• Committee Chair, Collaborative Research Workshop, TUE/CMU, Organizing Committee (2008 - 2008)
• Member, INFORMS , Applied Probability Council (2008 - 2008)
• Member, INFORMS , IMPACT Prize Committee (2008 - 2008)
• Committee Member, ACM Sigmetrics Conference , Program Committee (2006 - 2007)
• Committee Chair, INFORMS , JFIG Paper Competition (2006 - 2006)
• Committee Chair, Research and Education Collaboration Program, CMU and TUE, Organizing Committee (2004 - 2004)
• Committee Chair, Workshop on Multiserver Scheduling, Organizing Committee (2004 - 2004)