Arzum AKKAS

Arzum AKKAS

Education:

• 2009 - Present • MIT: PhD candidate in Engineering Systems 
  Advisor: David Simchi-Levi
  Committee: David Simchi-Levi (MIT), Vishal Gaur (Cornell University), Roy Welsch (MIT)
• 2003 - 2004 • MIT: Master of Engineering in Supply Chain Management
• 1996 - 2000 • Istanbul Technical University: BS in Industrial Engineering

Research Domain:

supply chain management

Research Methodology:

empirical analysis, econometrics, analytical modeling, optimization

Research Description:

My dissertation focuses on the unsaleables (i.e. product waste) issue in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.

The first paper in my dissertation empirically investigates the root causes of product expiration that are beyond demand uncertainty, collaborating with a CPG manufacturer. The research shows that sources of expiration is not limited to inventory management at retail stores and spans multiple functions and organizations within the channel. Furthermore, case size management constitutes the biggest opportunity for the industry to reduce waste. The second paper in my dissertation analyzes supply chain inventory and its relationship with product expiration at retail stores. An empirical analysis reveals the drivers of supply chain inventory using fulfillment and production order batch sizes and forecast error data. An analytical model suggests optimum effective shelf life targets that ensures profitability in the channel.

In addition to dissertation research, I have been working on an empirical research study that aims to predict disputes and delays of invoices. The project is part of the Accenture and MIT alliance in Business Analytics. The ultimate goal of the study is to improve account receivable and invoice-to-cash collection of Accenture clients by proactively managing payment issues. Two Fortune 500 firms provide data for the study. We use data mining, regression analysis, and machine learning techniques as our methodology.

Research Papers:

• 2013-2014   Reviewer, Production and Operations Management Journal 

Teaching Experience:

Guest Lecturer:

• 2013 -  Operations and Supply Chain Management (MIT, ESD.763)

Instructor:

• 2012 -  Operations and Supply Chain Management (MIT, ESD.763)

Teaching Assistant:

• 2011 - Supply Chain Finance (MIT, ESD.251)

• 2011 - Analytical Methods (MIT, ESD.250)

• 2010 - Systems Optimization (MIT, ESD.762)

• 2010 - Operations and Supply Chain Management (MIT, ESD.763)

Invited Talks:

“Drivers of Product Expiration in Retail Supply Chains”

• 2014 - POMS Annual Conference  
• 2014, 2013, 2012 - MSOM Annual Conference 
• 2013, 2012 - INFORMS Annual Conference

 “Retail Out-of-Stock Reduction in a Direct Store Delivery Environment”

• 2008 - INFORMS Practice Conference (now called INFORMS Analytics Conference)

 “Latest Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management”

• 2002 - Yeditepe University, MBA Program
• 2001 - Istanbul Technical University, Management Faculty, Continuing Education Center
• 2001 - Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Program

Industry Experience:

• 2008 - 2009 • Archstone Consulting, New York, NY 
  Associate
  

  Management consultant focusing on operations management related client projects and research. Clients include a $15B international metals and mining company and a $1.6B global industrial packaging company.

• 2004 - 2008 • Pepsi Bottling Group, Somers, NY
  Operations Manager
  Business owner of supply chain applications (demand planning, supply planning, suggested replenishment orders for retail stores) that are used by planners at over 60 plants and 350 warehouses and 5,000 sales representatives to create replenishment orders for 200,000 retail stores. Diagnosed the shortcomings of the supply chain systems. Developed solutions that involve new business processes, software enhancements, designs of algorithms, and architecting changes in the database and data flow among multiple complex systems. Planned contents of software releases, managed the vendor relationship and oversaw the development process. Managed testing, piloting, and national rollouts of new releases. Developed training materials for the users. Trained users of new software releases at annual user meetings. 

• 1999 - 2002 • Manugistics, Istanbul, Turkey 
  Presales and Implementation Consultant
  Demonstrated demand planning, fulfillment planning, transportation management, production scheduling, and network optimization solutions to prospective clients. Implemented the transportation management software at a $2.8B appliances company.

Industry-Academia Joint Projects:

While with Pepsi, worked with MIT on the following research projects:

• 2004 - Inventory Optimization.
• 2006 - Manufacturing Network Optimization
• 2008 - Improving Consumer Demand Forecast to Enhance Suggested Replenishment Orders.

While at MIT, worked with three industry partners on the following research projects:

• 2014 - Accenture, Invoice Pattern Predictor
  Project is part of the Accenture and MIT alliance in Business Analytics.
• 2010 - A Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturer, Reducing Unsaleables
  Dissertation research.
• 2011 - SAP, Demand Forecasting without POS Data using In-Memory Technology

Computer Skills:

Programming in Matlab, R, SAS, Stata, SQL. 

Citizenship:

 Turkish citizen, US permanent resident.

Contact:

aakkas at mit dot edu

[+1] 718-536-4375

77 Massachusetts Ave.
1-245
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA