Fac Staff Detail

Awi Federgruen is the Charles E. Exley Professor of Management and Chair of the Decision, Risk and Operations (DRO) Division of the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University, at which school he served as Senior Vice Dean from 1997-2002. Professor Federgruen also served for many years as the Chair of the DRO division, most recently from 2004-2010. Professor Federgruen joined the Columbia University faculty in 1979 after receiving his doctorate in Operations Research at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and after being a Research Fellow at the Mathematical Centre in Amsterdam and a faculty member at the Graduate School of Management of the University of Rochester. He holds a courtesy appointment in Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Professor Federgruen is a world renowned expert in the development and implementation of planning models for supply chain management and logistical systems, in particular in the areas of production, inventory and distribution planning for supply chain management, and the design and analysis of operations strategies for service systems. Much of his recent work focuses on competition, coordination and contracting within supply and service chains. He is also a prime contributor to various areas of quantitative methodology, in particular the areas of applied probability and queuing models, as well as the area of dynamic programming. Professor Federgruen is the recipient of the 2004 Distinguished Fellowship Award by the Manufacturing, Service and Operations Management society for Outstanding Research and Scholarship in Operations Management, and was elected a presidential Fellow of the INFORMS society, its highest award. Professor Federgruen is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Naval Research Logistics, and a former Departmental Editor for the Department of Manufacturing, Service and Operations of Management Science , Associate Editor of Operations Research, Senior Editor of Manufacturing, Service and Operations Management and Associate Editor of Naval Research Logistics, the flagship journals of his profession. Along with articles in the popular press (Wall Street Journal, Financial Times etc.), he is the author of over hundred and forty publications, in the premier journals of his field, and he has authored a book on Markovian Control problems and numerous book chapters for important survey text books. The recipient of a series of National Science Foundation and ARPA grants, his Ph.D. students are affiliated with some of the most influential university departments and industrial research laboratories (the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the Kellogg School of Northwestern University, the Harvard Business School, Cornell, the Fuqua School of Duke University, the Olin School of Washington University, the Simon School of the University of Rochester, the Business and Engineering Schools of Tel Aviv University, the Business School and Statistics Department of the Hebrew University, IBM, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Merck). In addition to many engagements in the financial services industry, Professor Federgruen frequently consults on various supply chain management problems and planning models for companies in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical, natural gas, consumer electronics, food, chemical, newspaper and airline industries, both in the United States and overseas. Much of his recent applied work deals with the development and implementation of marketing mix models and strategies, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry. He has also served as a principal consultant for the Israel Air Force, in the area of logistics and procurement policies.

• Fall 2012
  (PhD) Dynamic Programming (PHD)
  (PhD) Mathematical Methods (PHD)
  
• Fall 2011
  (PhD) Mathematical Methods (PHD)
  (PhD) Stochastic Inventory Theory (PHD)
  
• Summer 2010
  Decision Models (EMBA)
  
• Fall 2010
  (PhD) Dynamic Programming (PHD)
  (PhD) Mathematical Methods (PHD)
  
• Summer 2009
  Decision Models (EMBA)
  
• Spring 2009
  (PhD) Competition & Coordination in Supply Chains (PHD)
  
• Fall 2009
  (PhD) Dynamic Programming (PHD)
  

Supply Chain Management Under Simultaneous Supply and Demand Risks In Supply Chain Disruptions: Theory and Practice of Managing Risk (2011)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

The benefits of design for postponement In Quantitative Models for Supply Chain Management (1999)
Author(s): Yossi Aviv, Awi Federgruen

Centralized planning models for multi-echelon inventory systems under uncertainty In Logistics of Production and Inventory (1993)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

Discounted and undiscounted value-iteration in Markov decision processes: A survey In Dynamic Programming and its Applications (1979)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer

Recurrence Conditions in Denumerable State Markov Decision Processes In Dynamic Programming and Its Applications (1978)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, A. Hordijk, H. C. Tijms

How much is a reduction of your customers' wait worth? An empirical study of the fast-food drive-thru industry based on structural estimation methods In Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (2011)
Author(s): Gad Allon, Awi Federgruen, Margaret Pierson

Procurement Strategies with Unreliable Suppliers In Operations Research (2011)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

Competition under generalized attraction models: Applications to quality competition under yield uncertainty In Management Science (2009)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

Optimal supply diversification under general supply risks In Operations Research (2009)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

Competition in service industries with segmented markets In Management Science (2009)
Author(s): Gad Allon, Awi Federgruen

Competition under time-varying demands and dynamic lot-sizing costs In Naval Research Logistics (2009)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Joern Meissner

Competition under time-varying demands and dynamic lot sizing costs In Naval Research Logistics (2009)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Joern Meissner

Selecting a portfolio of suppliers under demand and supply risks In Operations Research (2008)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

Competition in service industries In Operations Research (2007)
Author(s): Gad Allon, Awi Federgruen

Coordination mechanisms for supply chains under price and service competition In Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (2007)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

Progressive interval heuristics for multi-item capacitated lot-sizing problems In Operations Research (2007)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Joern Meissner, Michal Tzur

Coordinating supply chains with simple pricing schemes: The role of vendor-managed inventories In Management Science (2006)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Fangruo Chen, Awi Federgruen

Decentralized supply chains with competing retailers under demand uncertainty In Management Science (2005)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

Comparative statics, strategic complements and substitutes in oligopolies In Journal of Mathematical Economics (2004)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

Dynamic inventory and pricing models for competing retailers In Naval Research Logistics (2004)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

A general equilibrium model for industries with price and service competition In Operations Research (2004)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

Pricing and replenishment strategies in a distribution system with competing retailers In Operations Research (2003)
Author(s): Fernando Bernstein, Awi Federgruen

Multilocation combined pricing and inventory control In Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (2002)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Aliza Heching

Coordination mechanisms for a distribution system with one supplier and multiple retailers In Management Science (2001)
Author(s): Fangruo Chen, Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

Capacitated multi-item inventory systems with random and seasonally fluctuating demands: Implications for postponement strategies In Management Science (2001)
Author(s): Yossi Aviv, Awi Federgruen

Design for postponement: A comprehensive characterization of its benefits under unknown demand distributions In Operations Research (2001)
Author(s): Yossi Aviv, Awi Federgruen

Near-optimal pricing and replenishment strategies for a retail/distribution system In Operations Research (2001)
Author(s): Fangruo Chen, Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

The impact of adding a make-to-order item to a make-to-stock production system In Management Science (1999)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Ziv Katalan

The value iteration method for countable state Markov decision processes In Operations Research Letters (1999)
Author(s): Yossi Aviv, Awi Federgruen

Combined pricing and inventory control under uncertainty In Operations Research (1999)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Aliza Heching

Time-partitioning heuristics: Application to one warehouse, multiitem, multiretailer lot-sizing problems In Naval Research Logistics (1999)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Determining production schedules under base-stock policies in single facility multi-item production systems In Operations Research (1998)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Ziv Katalan

Probabilistic analyses and practical algorithms for inventory-routing models In Operations Research (1998)
Author(s): Lap Mui Ann Chan, Awi Federgruen, David Simchi-Levi

Heuristics for multimachine minmax scheduling problems with general earliness and tardiness costs In Naval Research Logistics (1997)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gur Mosheiov

Probabilistic Analysis of a Combined Aggregation and Math Programming Heuristic for a General Class of Vehicle Routing and Scheduling Problems In Management Science (1997)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Garrett van Ryzin

Probabilistic analysis of a generalized bin packing problem and applications In Operations Research (1997)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Garrett van Ryzin

Single machine scheduling problems with general breakdowns, earliness and tardiness costs In Operations Research (1997)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gur Mosheiov

Stochastic inventory models with limited production capacity and periodically varying parameters In Probability in the Engineering and Informational Sciences (1997)
Author(s): Yossi Aviv, Awi Federgruen

Heuristics for multimachine scheduling problems with earliness and tardiness costs In Management Science (1996)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gur Mosheiov

The stochastic economic lot scheduling problem: Cyclical base-stock policies with idle times In Management Science (1996)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Ziv Katalan

Customer waiting-time distributions under base-stock policies in single-facility multi-item production systems In Naval Research Logistics (1996)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Ziv Katalan

Detection of minimal forecast horizons in dynamic programs with multiple indicators of the future In Naval Research Logistics (1996)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Fast solution and detection of minimal forecast horizons in dynamic programs with a single indicator of the future: Applications to dynamic lot-sizing models In Management Science (1995)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Efficient algorithms for finding optimal power-of-two policies for production/distribution systems with general joint setup costs In Operations Research (1995)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

Greedy heuristics for single-machine scheduling problems with general earliness and tardiness costs In Operations Research Letters (1994)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gur Mosheiov

Approximating queue size and waiting time distributions in general polling systems In Queueing Systems (1994)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Ziv Katalan

Minimal forecast horizons and a new planning procedure for the general dynamic lot sizing model: Nervousness revisited In Operations Research (1994)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

The joint replenishment problem with time-varying costs and demands: Efficient, asymptotic and ε-optimal solutions In Operations Research (1994)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Optimal power-of-two replenishment strategies in capacitated general production/distribution networks In Management Science (1993)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

Optimal control policies for stochastic inventory systems with endogenous supply In Probability in the Engineering and Informational Sciences (1993)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

Simultaneous optimization of efficiency and performance balance measures in single-machine scheduling problems In Naval Research Logistics (1993)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gur Mosheiov

The dynamic lot-sizing model with backlogging: A simple 0(n log n) algorithm and minimal forecast horizon procedure In Naval Research Logistics (1993)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Two-echelon distribution systems with vehicle routing costs and central inventories In Operations Research (1993)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

Simple power-of-two policies are close to optimal in a general class of production/distribution networks with general joint setup costs In Mathematics of Operations Research (1992)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, M. Queyranne, Yu-Sheng Zheng

An efficient algorithm for computing an optimal (r, Q) policy in continuous review stochastic inventory systems In Operations Research (1992)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

The joint replenishment problem with general joint cost structures In Operations Research (1992)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Yu-Sheng Zheng

Rejoinder to "Comments on one-warehouse multiple retailer systems with vehicle routing costs" In Management Science (1991)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

A simple forward algorithm to solve general dynamic lot sizing models with n periods in 0(n log n) or 0(n) time In Management Science (1991)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Michal Tzur

Optimality of threshold policies in single-server queueing systems with server vacations In Advances in Applied Probability (1991)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Kut So

Capacitated two-stage multi-item production/inventory model with joint setup costs In Operations Research (1991)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

Finding optimal (s, S) policies is about as simple as evaluating a single policy In Operations Research (1991)
Author(s): Yu-Sheng Zheng, Awi Federgruen

Structured partitioning problems In Operations Research (1991)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

A class of Euclidean routing problems with general route cost functions In Mathematics of Operations Research (1990)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

One warehouse multiple retailer systems with vehicle routing costs In Management Science (1990)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

Optimal maintenance policies for single-server queueing systems subject to breakdowns In Operations Research (1990)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Kut So

The dynamic lot size model with quantity discount In Naval Research Logistics (1990)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Chung-Yee Lee

Optimal time to repair a broken server In Advances in Applied Probability (1989)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Kut So

M/G/c queueing systems with multiple customer classes: Characterization and control of achievable performance under nonpreemptive priority rules In Management Science (1988)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

Characterization and optimization of achievable performance in general queueing systems In Operations Research (1988)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

Polymatroidal flow network models with multiple sinks In Networks (1988)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

Queueing systems with service interruptions II In Naval Research Logistics (1988)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Linda Green

Simulated annealing methods with general acceptance probabilities In Journal of Applied Probability (1987)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

The impact of the composition of the customer base in general queueing models In Journal of Applied Probability (1987)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

Ergodicity in parametric nonstationary Markov chains: An application to simulated annealing methods In Operations Research (1987)
Author(s): Shoshana Anily, Awi Federgruen

Variational characterizations in Markov decision processes In Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer

An inventory model with limited production capacity and uncertain demands I: The average-cost criterion In Mathematics of Operations Research (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

An inventory model with limited production capacity and uncertain demands II: The discounted-cost criterion In Mathematics of Operations Research (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

Preemptive scheduling of uniform machines by ordinary network flow techniques In Management Science (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

An allocation and distribution model for perishable products In Operations Research (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gregory Prastacos, Paul Zipkin

Optimal flows in networks with multiple sources and sinks, with applications to oil and gas lease investment programs In Operations Research (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

The greedy procedure for resource allocation problems: Necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality In Operations Research (1986)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt

Computing optimal (s,S) policies in inventory models with continuous demands In Advances in Applied Probability (1985)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

A fixed point approach to undiscounted Markov renewal programs In SIAM Journal on Algebraic and Discrete Methods (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer

An M/G/c queue in which the number of servers required is random In Journal of Applied Probability (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Linda Green

Successive approximation methods for solving nested functional equations in Markov decision problems In Mathematics of Operations Research (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer

Coordinated replenishments in a multi-item inventory system with compound Poisson demands In Management Science (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Henri Groenevelt, H. C. Tijms

Approximations of dynamic, multilocation production and inventory problems In Management Science (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

A combined vehicle routing and inventory allocation problem In Operations Research (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

Allocation policies and cost approximations for multilocation inventory systems In Naval Research Logistics (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

An efficient algorithm for computing optimal (s,S) policies In Operations Research (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

Computational issues in an infinite-horizon, multiechelon inventory model In Operations Research (1984)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

Denumerable undiscounted semi-Markov decision processes with unbounded rewards In Mathematics of Operations Research (1983)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer, H. C. Tijms

Solution techniques for some allocation problems In Mathematical Programming (1983)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Zipkin

Cost formulas for continuous review inventory models with fixed delivery lags In Operations Research (1983)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Zvi Schechner

Nonstationary Markov decision problems with converging parameters In Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications (1981)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer

The rate of convergence for backwards products of a convergent sequence of finite Markov matrices In Stochastic Processes and their Applications (1981)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

Approximations for the steady-state probabilities in the M/G/c queue In Advances in Applied Probability (1981)
Author(s): H. C. Tijms, M. H. Van Hoorn, Awi Federgruen

A new specification of the multichain policy iteration algorithm in undiscounted Markov renewal programs In Management Science (1980)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, D. Spreen

On the functional equations in undiscounted and sensitive discounted stochastic games In Mathematical Methods of Operations Research (1980)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

Computation of the stationary distribution of the queue size in an M/G/1 queueing system with variable service rate In Journal of Applied Probability (1980)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, H. C. Tijms

Successive approximation methods in undiscounted stochastic games In Operations Research (1980)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

Denumerable state semi-Markov decision processes with unbounded costs, average cost criterion In Stochastic Processes and their Applications (1979)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, A. Hordijk, H. C. Tijms

Geometric convergence of value-iteration in multichain Markov decision problems In Advances in Applied Probability (1979)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

A note on simultaneous recurrence conditions on a set of denumerable stochastic matrices In Journal of Applied Probability (1978)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, A. Hordijk, H. C. Tijms

The functional equations of undiscounted Markov renewal programming In Mathematics of Operations Research (1978)
Author(s): Paul Schweitzer, Awi Federgruen

Contraction mappings underlying undiscounted Markov decision problems In Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications (1978)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Paul Schweitzer, H. C. Tijms

Foolproof convergence in multichain policy iteration In Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications (1978)
Author(s): Paul Schweitzer, Awi Federgruen

The optimality equation in average cost denumerable state semi-Markov decision problems, recurrency conditions and algorithms In Journal of Applied Probability (1978)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, H. C. Tijms

On N-person stochastic games with denumerable state space In Advances in Applied Probability (1978)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

The asymptotic behavior of undiscounted value iteration in Markov decision problems In Mathematics of Operations Research (1977)
Author(s): Paul Schweitzer, Awi Federgruen

A general Markov decision method I: Model and techniques In Advances in Applied Probability (1977)
Author(s): G. de Leve, Awi Federgruen, H. C. Tijms

A general Markov decision method II: Applications In Advances in Applied Probability (1977)
Author(s): G. de Leve, Awi Federgruen, H. C. Tijms

How Big a Burden? Valuing General Motors’ Retirement Benefits Liability: Spring 2013
Author(s): Carri Chan, Awi Federgruen, Robert Phillips, Garrett J. van Ryzin

Markovian control problems: Functional equations and algorithms (1983)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen

Price Competition under Subsidization: Applications to Medicare Reform (2013)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Lijian Lu

Monotonicity properties of stochastic inventory systems Working paper (2011)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Min Wang

Price competition under multinomial logit demand functions with random coefficients Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gad Allon, Margaret Pierson

Assessing financial product solutions to America's retirement income planning: A closer look at annuity lifetime withdrawal guarantees and target date mutual funds Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Assaf Zeevi

Infinite horizon strategies for replenishment systems with a general pool of suppliers Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

Inventory subsidy versus supplier trade credit in decentralized supply chains Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Min Wang

Mass vaccination: Can it be done in time? Completion times in queueing systems Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, M. Kress

Mean-variance analysis of stochastic inventory models Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Fangruo Chen

Multi-product supply chains with supplier and retailer competition Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, M. Hu

Optimal procurement strategies under general trade credit schemes Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Min Wang

Price competition under yield uncertainty Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Nan Yang

The capacity service level trade-off Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Gad Allon

The impact of mergers and acquisitions in price competition models Working paper (2010)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Margaret Pierson

Outsourcing service processes to a common service provider under price and time competition Working paper (2008)
Author(s): Gad Allon, Awi Federgruen

Probabilistic analysis of capacitated multi-item lot sizing models Working paper (2005)
Author(s): Awi Federgruen, Joern Meissner