March 11, 2024

Pyam Oveys, a Ph.D. student in industrial engineering, took first place in the poster competition at the Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution (CELDi) Annual Meeting and Research Symposium held Feb. 29-March 1 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Oveys is working as a graduate research assistant for a sponsored research project with Trinity Products, which is being led by MU faculty members. The project’s principal investigator is Sharan Srinivas, and the co-investigators include Jim Noble, Anthony Ross, and Kihyung Kim. Oveys presented the project’s key findings at the CELDi Research Symposium, which focused on developing an artificial intelligence-based tool to enable faster and smarter steel purchasing decisions. He and the team are using descriptive analytics and machine learning to develop the core features of the decision support system.  The team also includes two other research assistants from industrial engineering: PhD student Mahima Naznin and sophomore Thomas Willerth.

Two other Mizzou Engineers also presented at the CELDi poster session. Nima Golghamat Radd, a Ph.D. Student, presented on maximizing service level in drone delivery systems, and Ray Wood, a master’s student, showcased his work on optimizing workforce scheduling for improving manufacturing operations of eco-friendly hair extensions.

This annual CELDi symposium also included a tour of Tyson Manufacturing Automation Center in Springdale, Arkansas, an industry panel session and keynote speakers Tarek Taha, senior director of engineering and technology for J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Russell D. Meller, principal scientist at FORTNA.

This was the second year in a row Oveys has been honored at the CELDi event. Last year, he was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

This year’s CELDi symposium was held in conjunction with the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers South Central Regional Conference.