BALTIMORE, MD, May 24, 2025 – Most anti-human trafficking efforts focus on breaking up sex sales; however, new research in the INFORMS journal Manufacturing & Service Operations Management is turning its attention to where trafficking truly begins – recruitment. Using machine learning to analyze millions of online ads, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have uncovered patterns that link deceptive job offers to sex trafficking networks. By mapping the connections between recruitment and sales locations, the study reveals a hidden supply chain – one that can now be exposed and interrupted earlier in the trafficking process.
Drugs being explicitly developed to treat rare diseases are getting more expensive.
Old technology is behind the recent ongoing delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, but newer technology will be an important part of the solution.
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Experts from Carey Business School share insights on how COVID-19 is weighing on the global economy and how retailers can become more resilient by diversifying supply chains.
In a breakthrough study, researchers have found that higher continuity of care, meaning a care team cooperatively involved in ongoing healthcare, is better for health outcomes.
CATONSVILLE, MD, March 9, 2020 – Research shows higher continuity of care, meaning a care team cooperatively involved in ongoing healthcare, is better for health outcomes, but can there be too much of a good thing? New research in the INFORMS journal Manufacturing & Service Operations Management finds the answer is “yes.”
National banks run stress tests to predict how they’ll perform in a financial catastrophe.
The “supply chain” has no such preliminary measurement. It takes a natural disaster or a pandemic to experience how strong the system is that gets consumers the things they consume.
The much talked about phenomenon of "Monday Blues" that ensues after a comfortable weekend, might actually be a legitimate thing, as indicated by a new study. The research from the Lehigh University's College of Business which was published in the journal - Information Systems Research found that the 'Monday Effect' - that letdown of returning to work after a weekend, which is documented to impact finance, productivity and psychology - also negatively affects supply chains. After the study, researchers found that process interruption that occurs when operations are shut down over the weekend, along with human factors like the 'Monday blues,' hurt supply chain performance on Mondays. That means a longer time between when a purchase order is received and when it is shipped, as well as more errors in order fulfilment. Weekends create bottlenecks at distribution centres that are tackled on Mondays as orders are processed, picked, staged and shipped to customers. Humans completing processing activities are impacted by adjusting to returning to work, more prone to errors and less efficient. Strategies for combating the 'Monday effect' include increased staffing on Mondays (or any day returning from a break, including holidays), fewer Monday meetings and non-fulfilment activities, better training, additional pay or mood-lifters such as free coffee or motivational talks, and double-checking Monday work.
OR/MS Today is the INFORMS member magazine that shares the latest research and best practices in operations research, analytics and the management sciences.
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