The Optimization Edge: Reinventing Decision Making to Maximize All Your Company's Assets

Why downsize when you can OPTIMIZE?

"At McDonald’s our focus has always been on providing maximum value to customers through ‘optimal’ quality and tight cost management, which is why Optimization has become such a pivotal concept for us. Steve Sashihara’s book brings the concept to life.”
—Kenneth M. Koziol, Corp. Senior Vice President, Innovation and Design, McDonald’s Corp.

“Steve Sashihara convincingly demonstrates how the application of advanced quantitative techniques can significantly improve day-to-day decision making, which is what we have done at Quad/Graphics.”
—Dave Blais, Executive Vice President, Quad/Graphics

“The Optimization Edge is a powerful book that will change the way organizations make decisions and manage their assets.”
—Frances Hesselbein, President and CEO, Leader to Leader Institute; Recipient, Presidential Medal of Freedom

“At UPS, the ‘optimization edge’ has given us a competitive advantage. It enables us to solve problems of great complexity seamlessly and with increased velocity, resulting in smarter decisions and ultimately bringing greater value to our customers.”
—Chuck Holland, Vice President of Industrial Engineering, UPS

About the Book:

In these challenging economic times, more and more companies have turned to “cut-back management” to ensure their survival. But how do some manage to outshine their competitors—and even grow—during downturns? How does Google outsearch the other search engines? How does McDonald’s McClobber the competition? More important, how can you increase your company’s profits without downsizing?

The answer is Asset Optimization.

This groundbreaking approach to decision making utilizes the latest advances in mathematics and computer software. Optimization expert Steve Sashihara shows you how to squeeze every ounce of value from your company, even under “perfect storm” conditions. You’ll learn how to:

• Drive up your company’s value—even in a downturn
• Re-allocate your resources—for maximum performance
• Streamline your company—and stay ahead of the competition
• Optimize your assets—for long-term growth

A proven, practical, and workable alternative to “corporate anorexia,” Optimization is your best option for dealing head-on with marketplace volatility and resource scarcity.

This step-by-step guide offers concrete, ready-to- use tools drawn from decades of superior business practices—the best-kept secrets of global successes such as Amazon, Google, Marriott, McDonald’s, Intel, SAS, and UPS. You’ll learn what Optimization is, what best practices you can immediately put to use, how to use Optimization to speed up and improve decision making, and how to integrate Optimization into your organization’s culture.

If you want to thrive in any economy—and grow your company in the future—forget about downsizing. Get The Optimization Edge.

Steve Sashihara is president and CEO of Princeton Consultants Incorporated (www.princeton.com), which helps clients optimize their assets through a unique blend of information technology and management consulting. Steve is a member of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) Roundtable and a director of the Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMCF), where he has served in various leadership roles, including cochairman. He is a graduate of Princeton University.