Aim of Optimization Engineering

　We often make various decisions in our daily lives and in many cases achieve satisfactory results despite their seemingly casual nature. On the other hand, there are criticisms that despite the mathematical formulation and optimization used in engineering, the results obtained are not effective for real problem solving. In exploring the reasons for such "effective but imprecise" or "precise but useless" outcomes, it is necessary to look for ways to use optimization techniques that are appropriate for the time and place. Thus, there is a need for the development of "Optimization Engineering," which can clearly demonstrate a practical and effective problem-solving procedure using optimization and its peripheral technology as decision support technology.
　When Optimization Engineering is regarded as a part of comprehensive decision support systems (DSS), it becomes important to reflect the characteristics of the target system in a flexible and sufficient manner. In other words, while mathematical optimization is completed in the "virtual world," optimization that is useful in the real world involves a "circular system" that travels between the real and virtual worlds.
(from the preface of "Encouragement of Learning Optimization Engineering")