Technology Workshops

Sunday, April 15

Take advantage of in-depth training in software solutions provided by leading analytics providers. There is no charge for these workshops if you register for the INFORMS Conference-Conference - sign up when you register. If you already registered for the conference and want to add any workshops, call 800-446-3676, ext 591.

Please choose only one workshop for each session.

9:00am-10:45am Workshops

Conrady Applied Science
Introduction to Bayesian Networks and BayesiaLab 5
Lionel Jouffe and Stefan Conrady
Bayesian networks have emerged as a new form of probabilistic knowledge representation through the seminal works of Judea Pearl. The theoretical properties of Bayesian networks have been extensively studied over the last 25 years, but only now they are emerging as practical tools for the “deep understanding” of very complex, high-dimensional problem domains. Their computational efficiency and inherently visual structure make Bayesian networks attractive for exploring previously intractable problems. This tutorial will provide an introduction to the wide-ranging applications of Bayesian networks, implemented with the BayesiaLab 5 software platform. Participants do not need to have any prior familiarity with Bayesian networks, as we will start the seminar with several introductory textbook examples. This will include an overview of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms implemented in BayesiaLab 5. Building upon these basics, participants will learn how Bayesian networks can serve as innovative alternatives to traditional modeling techniques.

Tableau Software
Dynamic Data Visualization
Matt Jenks, Product Consultant
This workshop is geared towards the beginner to intermediate-level Tableau user. Modern data analysis often involves complicated data structures with multi-years, multi-categories, layered-cross-tabulations, and may even need to be on maps. This talk showcases Tableau to analyze these kinds of data with great ease, fun, and speed. Learn how to connect to data in a few clicks, then visualize and create interactive dashboards with a few more. The last half-hour will allow time for 1:1 assistance and hands-on learning.

11:00am-12:45pm Workshops

AIMMS-Paragon Decision Technology
Bringing the Value of Optimization to the Decision Maker
AIMMS is the optimization platform of choice for Midwest ISO, winner of the 2011 Edelman Award, and for TNT Express, one of this year’s Edelman finalists. These companies are using AIMMS to place the value of optimization in the hands of the decision maker. If you find delivering the value of optimization to your decision makers challenging, then this workshop is for you. We will look at two typical real-life optimization models -- power plant scheduling and product portfolio optimization -- and demonstrate the capabilities of AIMMS. We will show you how straightforward it is to build and extend an optimization model and how AIMMS is able to help you to visualize the results. Following this, we will present you with our web-based publishing framework that allows you, with just a few clicks, to put your AIMMS-based solutions into the hands of end-users so it that can start generating the benefits you envision.

GAMS Development Corporation
Fundamentals and Recent Developments of the GAMS System
The open architecture and various interfaces of GAMS make the integration of GAMS applications into a great range of user environments easy. These features also protect the investments into model technology over the lifetime of a model at various levels. This workshop will give an overview of the GAMS system and its design principles that make this great flexibility and user friendliness possible. We will also examine how these design principles are important for current developments and take a look at the new enhancements in the modeling capabilities for stochastic optimization problems. The session will also include a GAMS modeling building session.

Lumina Decision Systems
Introduction to Structured Optimization with Analytica
Lonnie Chrisman
Optimization models traditionally use cryptic coding and can be cumbersome to develop. Enhancements new to Analytica Optimizer bring the transparency and flexibility of hierarchical influence diagrams, intelligent arrays and uncertainty analysis to these classes of applications. In this workshop, we will start with a general introduction to Analytica and then walk through some example models of structured optimization. We will demonstrate powerful new features in Analytica Optimizer that enable modelers to build models easily and collaborate more effectively using a visual influence diagram environment. Bring a laptop if you can, because this workshop will be interactive. Workshop attendees will receive special offers including a trial edition of Analytica Optimizer!

Maximal Software, Inc.
Deploying MPL Optimization Models on Tablet Computers and Mobile Platforms
The IT industry is currently undergoing a major shift, away from traditional standalone applications, to new platforms such as tablet computers and mobile phones. In this workshop, we will demonstrating for the first time, a new server-based version of MPL OptiMax, that makes writing mobile applications relatively quick and easy process. We will take you through all the steps of implementing optimization projects, including formulating the optimization model, integrating it seamlessly with user data, and finally deploying the project on a server for servicing both web and mobile clients, using standard programming languages, such as CSharp, VB, C/C++, or Python.

SAS-Global Academic Program
SAS Rapid Predictive Modeler
Andre de Waal
This presentation introduces SAS® Rapid Predictive Modeler, a new product that is an add-in to SAS® Enterprise Guide and the SAS® Add-in for Microsoft Office. SAS® Rapid Predictive Modeler (RPM) allows business users to build predictive models based on their requirements, derive on-demand insights and act on it to solve business problems quickly and effectively. SAS® RPM analyzes the data to decide which targets you need to predict, selects variables, transforms data, selects the best model and delivers results in easy-to-understand charts to help organizations to take better decisions.

Spry, Inc.
Getting what you want from IT
Todd Jones
Does the IT department slow you down? Are they unable to keep pace with your changing priorities? Are you unhappy with the quality of the data? Many of today’s analysts choose to ‘go it alone’ rather than wait for the IT department to add capabilities. This workshop will explore how semantic technologies can be leveraged to reduce the traditional gap between business analysts and IT; giving you the data you need, when you need it, with confidence. The workshop will highlight a particular use case within the Department of Defense in which analytic requirements drive the development of a semantic information environment and analytic capabilities. Leveraging semantic technologies can quickly provide business users with enterprise-wide analytics, data provenance, and interoperability. This workshop will also present how you can leverage agile development with semantic technologies to incrementally deliver analytic capabilities.

1:00pm-2:45pm Workshops

Gurobi Optimization
Recent Improvements in the Gurobi Optimizer
Bob Bixby, Ed Rothberg
This workshop will examine recent developments in the Gurobi Optimizer with emphasis on the newly released Version 5.0. We will begin by looking at the new Gurobi QCP and MIQCP solvers together with a number of other important feature improvements. We will also talk about the newest enhancements in the modeling capabilities of our Python interactive shell and show how this interface can be used to do many of the things that might otherwise require a modeling language. Finally, a summary of recent performance benchmark results will be presented.

LINDO Systems
Designing and Implementing Optimization Based Planning Systems
Recent dramatic improvements in the ability to solve large optimization models provide both opportunity and challenge. You can now include additional details in your planning models that were previously prohibitive. The challenge is how to best exploit these additional capabilities. Come learn how to use the latest optimization capabilities, including, linear, integer, quadratic, conic, nonlinear, global and stochastic optimization for problems of financial planning, production planning, supply chain management, engineering design and more. We will cover the newest features of our modeling language interface, Excel add-in and callable API library packages. Leave with full-featured trial versions of all three LINDO products and the knowledge you need to build your next planning system.

Logility
Inventory Optimization and Supply Chain
Inventory optimization is the foundation for supply chain stakeholders and business managers. This workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to the inventory optimization planning and strategy. It will help businesses gain insight into the uncertainties inherent within you demand and supply networks, learn how positioning inventory at certain points in your supply chain can maintain optimal service levels and minimize the impact of uncertainty in supply and demand, and demonstrate ways to utilize Logility’s inventory software to design alternative supply chain strategies for your business.

Salford Systems
This workshop, intended for the modeler wanting to apply data mining methodology, will emphasize real-world data analysis. The main concepts behind well-known data mining algorithms will be discussed: CART®, MARS® automated non-linear regression, TreeNet® stochastic gradient boosting, RandomForests®, GPS™ Generalized Pathseeker, ISLE™ Importance Sampled Learning Ensembles and the Rulefit™ Rule Extraction Engine. Additionally, the workshop will discuss what is novel in the software, cover implementation, and show where the software fits in terms of other data mining software methods.

statistics.com
Data Mining Methods in Excel
This workshop is a review of data mining methods, and illustrates implementation of some key techniques in XLMiner. The survey will include topics such as customer segmentation, recommender systems, text mining and times series forecasting, but the software focus will be on predictive analytics - the use of data sets with known outcomes to train statistical models to predict new data.

3:00pm-4:45pm Workshops

FICO
FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite, Version 7.3
In this workshop, we will introduce the latest release of the FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite with version 7.3. In addition to updates on the Xpress optimization engines and the Xpress-Mosel modeling language, you will learn about new ways of deploying optimization quickly. We will show you how to:
· Turn an optimization model into a full application in minutes
· Develop and deploy optimization models in a distributed environment
· Utilize cloud resources seamlessly
The workshop will combine case studies with technical deep dives on selected features.

Frontline Systems
Integrated Data Mining, Simulation and Optimization – from Excel to the Cloud
Discover the easiest, fastest, lowest cost and risk "on ramp" to full-power predictive and prescriptive analytics, from Frontline Systems, developers of the Excel Solver and new owners of the XLMiner software. See how one integrated toolset can meet your needs for forecasting and sophisticated data mining, Monte Carlo simulation and risk analysis, and conventional and stochastic optimization—without the complexity and high cost of "enterprise" solutions. Easily build models in Microsoft Excel or in your favorite programming language, without getting "locked in" to custom languages. Solve models on your own PC, or solve with greater computing power in the cloud. Take home a CD with full-power versions of our tools, and free trial licenses.

IBM
Enterprise-Class ILOG Optimization Solutions sand SPSS Predictive Analytics
Join the IBM Team for an interactive pre-conference forum featuring enterprise-class ILOG optimization solutions and SPSS predictive analytics. This event will showcase a demonstration of the power and capabilities that IBM ILOG Optimization Decision Manager Enterprise can bring to line-of-business decision makers, information technology managers and analytics practitioners, taking advantage of out-of-the-box capabilities for implementing custom planning and scheduling solutions, collaborative business processes, workstation- and server-based deployment of optimization solutions, and new industry-specific solutions, to name just a few. We will also showcase the power of integrating optimization with predictive analytics.

Imagine That Inc.
ExtendSim Simulation Software
Simulation is a key technology to understanding your company's business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. Experience the ease at which robust, intuitive models are built with the power tool for simulation - ExtendSim. Use ExtendSim to achieve your modeling objectives rapidly and be assured success. ExtendSim features a customizable graphical modeling logic where relationships between modeling components are visible. Its flexibility provides modelers with the ability to create and couple hierarchical subsystems, create interactive user interfaces, and the freedom to rapidly explore design options. The internal database's user-friendly graphical interface facilitates organization of complex data structures to efficiently test multiple scenarios. This session will include an ExtendSim modeling building session and demonstrate a range of real world models from a variety of industries.

SAS
Solving Business Problems with SAS Analytics and OPTMODEL
SAS provides a full spectrum of analytics including data integration, statistical analysis, data/text mining, and forecasting, all integrated with OPTMODEL’s optimization modeling and solution capabilities. Atop this data and analytic foundation, OPTMODEL delivers unified access to a wide range of optimization models including LP, MILP, QP, and general NLP. OPTMODEL supports both standard and customized optimization algorithms. We’ll highlight OPTMODEL’s power and versatility in modeling and in creating solution algorithms. We will also emphasize its deep integration with SAS data, analytic, and reporting capabilities, enabling you to start with raw data and finish with actionable decisions. We’ll touch briefly on classical models but will spend most of our time on case studies drawn from our successful work with customers across a broad range of industries.