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Wuqin Lin
Wuqin Lin

MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS & DECISION SCIENCES; OPERATIONS
Assistant Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences

Print Overview
Wuqin Lin joined Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences in 2005, after receiving his PhD in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. His research interests include performance analysis, optimal control, and capacity management of queuing and stochastic processing networks that arise in manufacturing, service, and information systems. His current work is on queuing models of hospital emergency departments, with a focus on the main causes of emergency department overcrowding, as well as capacity planning of emergency departments.

Areas of Expertise
Optimization
Queuing Systems
Print Vita
Education
PhD, 2005, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
MPhil, 2001, Engineering Management, Industrial Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
BS, 1998, Electronic Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Academic Positions
Assistant Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2006-present
Donald P. Jacobs Scholar in Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2005-2006

 
Print Research
Research Interests
Stochastic process, applied probability, optimization, stochastic processing networks, logistics and supply chain management

Articles
Dai, Jim and Wuqin Lin. 2009. Asymptotic Optimality of Maximum Pressure Policies in Stochastic Processing Networks. Annals of Applied Probability. 18: 2239-2299.
Abstract
Ata, Baris and Wuqin Lin. 2008. Heavy Traffic Analysis of Maximum Pressure Policies for Stochastic Processing Networks with Multiple Bottlenecks. Queueing Systems: Theory and Applications. 59: 191-235.
Abstract
Dai, Jim and Wuqin Lin. 2005. Maximum Pressure Policies in Stochastic Processing Networks. Operations Research. 53(2): 197-218.
Lin, Wuqin, Zhen Liu and Li Zhang. 2005. Optimal capacity allocation for web systems with end-to-end delay guarantees. Performance Evaluation. 62: 400-416.
Cheung, Raymond, Chung-Lun Li and Wuqin Lin. 2002. Interblock Crane Deployment in Container Terminals. Transportation Science. 36(1): 79-93.
Working Papers
Allon, Gad, Sarang Deo and Wuqin Lin. 2010. Impact of Size and Occupancy of Hospital on the Extent of Ambulance Diversion: Theory and Evidence.
Link

 
Print Teaching
Teaching Interests
Stochastics, operations management
Full-Time / Part-Time MBA
Operations Management (OPNS-430-0)

This course counts toward the following majors:Operations.

Operations management is the management of business processes--that is, the management of the recurring activities of a firm. This course aims to familiarize students with the problems and issues confronting operations managers, and to provide the language, concepts, insights and tools to deal with these issues to gain competitive advantage through operations. We examine how different business strategies require different business processes and how different operational capabilities allow and support different strategies to gain competitive advantage. A process view of operations is used to analyze different key operational dimensions such as capacity management, cycle time management, supply chain and logistics management, and quality management. Finally, we connect to recent developments such as lean or world-class manufacturing, just-in-time operations, time-based competition and business re-engineering.

Analytical Decision Modeling (OPNS-450-0)

This course counts toward the following majors: Decision Sciences, Managerial Analytics, Operations.

This course focuses on structuring, analyzing and solving managerial decision problems on Excel spreadsheets. We address problems of resource allocation (how to use available resources optimally), risk analysis (how to simulate the effects of uncertainty in problem parameters), decision analysis (how to analyze sequential decisions involving uncertainty), data analysis (how to synthesize the available data into useful information) and forecasting (how to extrapolate past observations into the future). In each area, we pose specific problems from operations, finance and marketing, structure them on Excel spreadsheets, and analyze and solve them using the available Excel commands, tools and add-ins. The course involves a hands-on, in-class learning experience in modeling and analyzing a variety of business decision problems on a common spreadsheet platform. It should, therefore, enhance one's problem-solving capabilities as well as spreadsheet skills. A good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required. Prerequisites: OPNS-430 and FINC-430/FINC-440. May be taken concurrently.

Doctoral
Queueing Networks: Performance Analysis (OPNS-522-0)
The course is to introduce the basic methods that are often used for analyzing performance in queueing network models. The students will learn how to characterize various queueing performance measures and apply to managerial decision making. Students should have familiarity with Markov process.