Beer in the Classroom: A Case Study of Location and Distribution Decisions

We discuss our experience in using a case study of location and distribution decisions in undergraduate and MBA level Management Science and Operations Research courses. The Anadolu Efes case introduces a multiperiod strategic planning problem that requires the optimization of brewery location and capacity expansion decisions in addition to malt and beer distribution decisions. The case has been used effectively to improve students' skills on modeling, solving and interpreting the outputs of linear programs and mixed integer programs. The case material is based upon past collaboration with Efes on a number of projects. The problem is a hypothetical one but is similar to problems Efes has been facing. Efes' real distribution system has been simplified for the purpose of keeping the model size manageable.