BNSF Railway presented with the 2018 INFORMS Prize for Operations Research

Baltimore, MD, April 16, 2018 - INFORMS, the leading international association for operations research and analytics professionals, announced that BNSF Railway has been awarded the 2018 INFORMS Prize for their pioneering and enduring integration of operations research (O.R.) and analytics programs into their organization. 

In just 25 years – a relatively short time in the company’s 160-year history – the O.R. and advanced analytics program at BNSF has grown rapidly to transform how the company approaches problem solving. A centralized team of operations research professionals provides invaluable guidance to the company’s leadership for high-capital decisions, using a wide range of O.R. and analytic methods including advanced modeling, statistical analysis, machine learning, image analytics, algorithm design, and optimization techniques.

BNSF’s O.R. and advanced analytics team drives better decision making in every aspect involved in the management of its 32,500-mile rail network, including train routing, crew scheduling, train building, fleet sizing, train dispatching, locomotive fueling and inspections, track maintenance and equipment distribution for a savings of more than $110 million annually. 

“In addition to providing essential guidance on capital intensive strategic decisions made at BNSF, our O.R. and advanced analytics team provides advisory tools and insights to almost every department, including mechanical, engineering, marketing, transportation and service design,” said Dave Freeman, Executive Vice President of Operations, BNSF Railway. 

The INFORMS Prize honors effective integration of operations research into organizational decision making. The award is given to organizations that have repeatedly applied the principles of O.R. in pioneering, carried, novel, and lasting ways. Past recipients of the award include Walt Disney Company, U.S. Air Force, General Motors, Intel, UPS, HP, IBM, Ford, Procter & Gamble, and GE Research.

“INFORMS is thrilled to recognize the incredible way BNSF Railway has leveraged O.R. and analytics to transform its organization,” said Melissa Moore, executive director of INFORMS. “We look forward to seeing how it continues to utilize O.R. to identify new efficiencies in the future,”

For more information about the INFORMS Prize, visit here.

About BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages.  BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com. 

About INFORMS

With 12,500 members from nearly 90 countries, INFORMS is the largest international association of operations research (O.R.) and analytics professionals and students. INFORMS provides unique networking and learning opportunities for individual professionals, and organizations of all types and sizes, to better understand and use O.R. and analytics tools and methods to transform strategic visions and achieve better outcomes.

Visit www.informs.org or @informs.

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