Prof. Ping-Chen Chang
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
Bio: Ping-Chen Chang received the bachelor’s degree from Chang Gung University, Taiwan, in 2005, the master’s degree from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Industrial Management, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, in 2013. He is currently a Professor with the Department of Industrial Management, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. He has published over 90 papers in refereed journals. He also serves as an Associate Editor and Guest Editor for several SCIE-indexed journals. His current research interests include stochastic network reliability, Monte Carlo simulation, and operations management. He was the recipient of the Ta-You Wu Memorial Award from National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan in 2022.
Prof. Aldy Gunawan
Singapore Management University
Speech Title: Enhancing Vehicle Routing Optimization Through Machine Learning
Abstract: This presentation examines the integration of machine learning (ML) with operations research (OR) to address complex Vehicle Routing Problems (VRP). Traditional OR methods, including mathematical optimization and heuristic algorithms, provide effective approaches for determining efficient vehicle routes but may face challenges in large-scale and dynamic environments. Existing research has explored ML techniques, particularly reinforcement learning, to improve route construction, travel-time prediction, and dynamic routing decisions. By combining ML’s ability to learn from data with OR’s optimization frameworks, hybrid approaches can improve routing efficiency, adaptability, and computational performance. The presentation will review existing applications of ML in VRP and discuss key challenges, including solution quality, computational complexity, generalization, and the integration of learned models with established optimization methods.
Bio: Aldy Gunawan is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science (Practice Track) at the School of Computing and Information Systems, Singapore Management University. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the National University of Singapore in 2009. His main research interests include operations research, machine learning, algorithm design, and data analytics, with a focus on metaheuristics, algorithm configuration, design of experiments, combinatorial optimization, and automated planning and scheduling. His work has been published in leading conferences and top operations research journals, including the European Journal of Operational Research, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Annals of Operations Research, Applied Soft Computing, among others. He is currently serving as Vice President of the Operational Research Society of Singapore.
Prof. Napat Rujeerapaiboon
National University of Singapore
Bio: Dr. Napat Rujeerapaiboon is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management at the National University of Singapore. His research focuses on decision-making under uncertainty, with particular emphasis on robust and distributionally robust optimization. He is broadly interested in applying these methodologies across a range of domains, including finance, economics, machine learning, energy systems, and supply chain management. At the university, he teaches courses in statistics and optimization, and is widely recognized for his excellence in education, having received six teaching awards over the years of service at NUS.
Dr. He Li
Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Speech Title: Intelligent operation and Maintenance of Floating Offshore Wind Systems
Abstract: This talk will highlight key aspects of the reliability and maintenance of floating offshore wind systems, including turbines and wind farms. It will begin with an overview of the development of a failure dataset, AI-based data analysis methods, and new insights into failure modes and maintenance characteristics of floating offshore wind turbines. The presentation will cover failure analysis and prevention strategies, along with the design of a health monitoring system tailored for floating wind turbines. Transformation-based reliability analysis methodologies will also be introduced to predict reliability characteristics, especially in the context of limited domain knowledge about these emerging systems. Furthermore, real-time, risk-based opportunistic maintenance strategies for floating wind turbines and farms will be presented. The session will conclude with an availability estimation, demonstrating how maintenance scheduling performance can be evaluated. Together, these insights aim to improve the cost-effectiveness and safety of operations in floating offshore wind farms.
Bio: He Li is a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. He received a PhD from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China and the University of Lisbon, Portugal respectively. His research primarily focuses on the failure, risk, reliability, and maintainability of complex systems. Dr. Li is a Marie-Curie Fellow and a top 2% scientist. He has coordinated several projects in terms of the operation and maintenance of offshore systems funded by Europe and China and published a number of monographs, peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters, and conference papers, including several highly cited/hot papers as well as best paper awards. Dr. He Li is a Fellow of the International Society of Engineering Asset (ISEAM) and a Technical Committee Member of the European Safety and Reliability Association (ESRA). He also won several awards, like A ‘Design (The only Gold Award in 2023), and was recognized as an Emerging Leader by the MST Journal and a Rising Star of LJMU, UK (the only awardee of 2025). He has been an associate editor of the Complex & Intelligent Systems Journal and the Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, etc. Dr. He Li has also been a Technical Program Chair, an Organization Co-Chair, a Publication Co-Chair, a session chair, and a program committee member of more than 20 international conferences.
to be announced soon.......