Production Logistics of a Microbiology Laboratory

以14岁[最多4000个字符]感兴趣的人可以理解的方式描述拟议中的研究该项目涉及数学建模和优化技术的发展。它的重点是一个最先进的微生物学实验室的平稳运行，对国家食品安全具有重要意义。该实验室由RHM科技有限公司运营，以最高的质量标准运行，单个样品使用条形码进行控制。该实验室以前是按照传统的路线运行，由人工测试和操作员决策。最近，引进了自动化测试设备和实验室管理信息系统。尽管有了这些改进，但实验室的运行并没有得到优化，以利用出现的新机会。需求的激增被发现给系统带来了意想不到的压力。这个项目的目的是将实验室视为一个生产过程。微生物实验室的配置处于分类数学调度问题的边界。它包含并行执行的批处理和顺序活动的混合体。此外，一个核心问题是协调测试(类似于生产)和结果报告(交付)，这与许多供应链一样。因此，实验室环境将带来新的数学和算法挑战。我们的目标是建立在现有的数学生产调度的丰富学术知识的基础上，并为微生物实验室提出的各种新方面开发新的方法。这个项目提供了一个难得的机会来详细研究应用程序，而不是致力于定制交付件。赞助公司RHM科技有限公司正在寻找对其微生物实验室工作原理的新见解。学者们对有机会检验他们的理论并开发新的解决方法感兴趣。如果得到的调度方法足够全面，RHM将致力于在概念验证模拟练习之后对其进行试验。预计这个项目将带来数学文献中尚未探索的现实生活计划的后勤方面。

Describe the proposed research in a style that would be accessible to an interested 14 year old [up to 4000 chars] This project is concerned with the development of mathematical modelling and optimisation techniques. It focuses on the smooth running of a state-of-the-art microbiology laboratory, of importance for national food safety. The laboratory is run, by RHM Technology Ltd., to the highest quality standards, with individual samples controlled with bar coding. The laboratory was formerly run along traditional lines with manual testing and operator decision. More recently, automated testing equipment, and a Laboratory Management Information System, have been introduced. Despite these improvements, the running of the laboratory has not been optimised to exploit the new opportunities presented. Surges in demand have been found to put unexpected strain on the system. The purpose of this project is to treat the laboratory as a production process. The configuration of the microbiology laboratory is at the boundary of classified mathematical scheduling problems. It contains a mixture of batching and sequential activities to be carried out in parallel. In addition, a central issue is that of co-ordinating tests (analogous to production) with reporting of results (deliveries), in common with many supply chains. The laboratory setting will thus provide new mathematical and algorithmic challenges. Our aim is to build upon the wealth of existing academic knowledge of mathematical production scheduling and to deveop new methodologies for the various novel aspects presented by the microbiology laboratory.This project offers a rare opportunity to study an application in detail without being committed to customised deliverables. The sponsoring company, RHM Technology Ltd., are looking for new insights into the workings of their microbiology laboratory. The academics are interested in having the opportunity to test out their theory and developing new solution methods. If the resultant scheduling methodology is sufficiently comprehensive, RHM is committed to trialling it, following a proof of concept simulation exercise. It is anticipated that this project will give rise to aspects of the logistics of real life scheduling as yet unexplored in the mathematical literature.