Optimization Modeling Assistant (OMA)

Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

College Station, TX

The Optimization Modeling Assistant (OMA) is a knowledge-based software tool that facilitates optimization model development. OMA provides intelligent assistance for developing optimization models from structured domain descriptions. The intended users of the tool include domain experts who are unfamiliar or novice at using optimization techniques to solve their problems.

• A prototype OMA was delivered to NASA.
• A part of OMA has been commercialized (as part of the ProSim™ simulation tool).
• OMA components have also been deployed at Tinker Air Force Base.
• OMA improves the capability of domain experts to provide accurate descriptions of their systems, situations, or problems.
• Improves the productivity of experienced optimization analysts in technique selection, model design, and execution.
• Facilitates effective communication between domain experts and optimization analysts.
• Automates the design of executable optimization models.

• Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI), of College Station, Texas has commercialized part of the Optimization Modeling Assistant (OMA) within its ProSim (TM) simulation tool.
• KBSI is a dynamic analysis, modeling, and systems software development company specializing in business redesign and corporate integration software and services.
• KBSI believes that the OMA will result in an increase in the use of optimization models in solving various manufacturing, operations planning, logistics, scheduling, and business engineering problems.
• ProSim™ is marketed as a state-of-the-art process modeling tool that can visually capture corporate knowledge of key processes and allows the user to create animated simulations and visualizations of workflow, index the distributed corporate information sources with a process knowledge map, publish the knowledge base on the World Wide Web, package and distribute standardized process knowledge with the ProSim™ viewer, and show cross organization processes with swimlanes.

• OMA developed under a Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) contract with NASA at Kennedy Space Center.
• ProSim™ has been used at KSC for modeling Shuttle flow processes. The process modeling results are useful for process re-design, activity based costing, simulation, and training.
• OMA optimization tools are currently targeted for integration with the KSC Spaceport Systems Processing Model.
• Other federal efforts are using and extending OMA at Tinker Air Force Base and at the Corpus Christi Army Depot.

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