PhD in Operations Research, Stanford University
MS in Operations Research, Stanford University
BS in Mathematics and Computing and Information Science, Roosevelt University
Research Interest
Supply Chain Management
Production and Inventory Management
Manufacturing and Service System Design
Time-Based Management
Operations Research
Dr. Rick So is Professor Emeritus at The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Dr. So received his BS degree in Mathematics and Computing and Information Science from Roosevelt University, and his MS and PhD degrees in Operations Research from Stanford University. Dr. So’s research expertise is in the areas of operations and supply chain management, and business process improvement in manufacturing and service systems.
Dr. So has been on the faculty at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business for over 30 years, and had served as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs (2009-2012, 2014-2016) and the Ph.D. Program Director (1998-2000). Prior to joining the faculty at UCI in 1989, Dr. So had worked at the AT&T Bell Laboratories for almost five years, where he served as an internal consultant to various AT&T manufacturing facilities. From 1996-98, Dr. So served as the Head of the Department of Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dr. So also held Visiting Professorships at the University of Hong Kong, International University of Japan and the National University of Singapore.
Dr. So has published many research articles in major academic journals including Management Science, Operations Research, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, IIE Transactions, Naval Research Logistics,Queueing Systems, and European Journal of Operations Research. Dr. So has frequently presented his research findings at academic institutions and professional conferences worldwide. He has served on the editorial boards of Naval Research Logistics, Production and Operations Management and Computer and Operations Research. Dr. So was a recipient of several research, teaching and service awards at UCI.
Dr. So has previously advised clients or conducted management workshops for a number of companies including, Southern California Edison, Nestle, Federal Reserve Bank of Los Angeles, Ingram Micro, Conexant Systems, Microsemi, Orient Overseas Container Limited, and Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
Senior Faculty Research Award, The Paul Merage School of Business, 2016.
Exceptional Service Award, Merage Undergraduate Student Association, 2016.
Faculty Service Award, The Paul Merage School of Business, 2010-11.
Excellence in Teaching Award (MBA Core), The Paul Merage School of Business, 2009.
“Benefits of Dual-Sourcing for Components in Assembly Systems Under Supply Uncertainty.” (with W. Pan and G. Xiao) European Journal of Operational Research, 302, 158-171 (2022).
“Dynamic Incentive Schemes for Managing Dockless Bike-Sharing Systems.” (with H. Jin, S. Liu and J. Wang) Transportation Research Part C, 136, Article #103527, (2022).
“Direct Supply Base Reduction in a Decentralized Assembly System with Suppliers of Different Bargaining Power.” (with S. Liu and W. Zhao) IISE Transactions, 54, 590-602 (2022).
“Optimal Subsidy Schemes and Budget Allocations for Government-Subsidized Trade-In Programs.” (with J. Bai, S. Hu, L. Gui and Z. Ma) Production and Operations Management, 30, 2689-2706 (2021).
Bai, J., K.C. So, C.S. Tang, X. Chen and H. Wang, “Coordinating Supply and Demand for an On-demand Service Platform with Impatient Customers,” Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, 21, 556-570 (2019).
“Developing Cost-Effective Inspection Sampling Plans for Energy Efficiency Programs at Southern California Edison." (with E. Wu) Interfaces, forthcoming (2016).
“Managing a Closed-Loop Supply System with Random Returns and a Cyclic Delivery Schedule." (with C. Huynh and H. Gurnani) European Journal of Operational Research, forthcoming (2016).
“The Value of Demand Forecast Updates in Managing Component Procurements for Assembly Systems." (with J. Cao) IIE Transactions, forthcoming (2016).
“A Queueing Model Arising from Managing Small Projects under Uncertainties,” (with J. Bai and C.S. Tang) European Journal of Operational Research, 253, 777-790 (2016).
“Component Procurement Strategies in Decentralized Assembly Systems under Supply Uncertainty.” (with W. Pan) IIE Transactions, 48, 267-282 (2016).
“Impact of an Online–to-Store Channel on Demand Allocation, Pricing and Profitability.” (with J. Cao and S. Yin) European Journal of Operational Research, 248, 234-245 (2016).
“Optimal Product Pricing and Component Production Quantities for an Assembly System Under Supply Uncertainty.” (with W. Pan) Operations Research, 58, 1792-1797 (2010).
"The Effects of Supply Reliability in a Retail Setting with Joint Marketing and Inventory Decisions," (with S. Liu and F. Zhang) Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 12, 19-32 (2010).
"Component Procurement Strategies in Decentralized Assemble-to-Order Systems with Time-Dependent Product Pricing," (with X. Fang and Y. Wang) Management Science, 54, 1997-2011 (2008).
"Managing Component for Assemble-To-Order Products with Leadtime-Dependent Pricing: The Full-Shipment Model," (with V.N. Hsu and C.Y. Lee) Naval Research Logistics, 54, 510-523 (2007).
"Risk Hedging Through Forward Supply Contract and Equity Ownership in a Spin-Off Decision," (with N. Takezawa and J.R. Rajasekera) International Journal of Production Economics, 106, 532-543 (2007).
"A Mathematical Model for Evaluating Cross-sales Policies in Telephone Service Centers," (with R. Byers) Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 9, 1-8 (2007).
"Optimal Component Stocking Policy for Assemble-To-Order Systems with Leadtime-Dependent Component and Product Pricing," (with V.N. Hsu and C.Y. Lee), Management Science, 52, 337-351 (2006).
"Models for Improving Team Productivity at the Federal Reserve Bank," (with C..S. Tang, and R. Zavala), Interfaces, 33, 25-36 (2003).
"Impact of Supplier’s Lead Time and Forecast Demand Updating on Retailer’s Order Quantity Variability in a Two-Level Supply Chain,"(with X. Zheng), International Journal of Production Economics, 86, 169-179 (2003).
"Price and Time Competition for Service Delivery," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 2, 392-409 (2000
"Modeling the Impact of an Outcome Oriented Reimbursement Policy on Clinics, Patients, and Pharmaceutical Firms," (With C. S. Tang), Management Science, 46, 874-892 (2000)
"The Value of Information Sharing in a Two-Level Supply Chain," (with H. L. Lee and C. S. Tang), Management Science, 46, 626-643 (2000).
"Price, Delivery Time Guarantees and Capacity Selection," (with J. S. Song), European Journal of Operational Research, 111, 28-49 (1998).
"Optimal Buffer Allocation Strategy for Minimizing Work-In-Process Inventory in Unpaced Production Lines," IIE Transactions, 29, 81-88 (1997).
"Operational Strategies for Managing Congestion in Service Systems," (with C. S. Tang), European Journal of Operational Research, 92, 83-98 (1996).
"On the Robustness of the Bowl Phenomenon," (with F. S. Hillier), European Journal of Operational Research, 89, 496-515 (1996).
"On the Simultaneous Optimization of Server and Work Allocations in Production Line Systems with Variable Processing Times," (with F. S. Hillier), Operations Research, 44, 435-443 (1996).
"On the Optimal Design of Tandem Queueing Systems with Finite Buffers," (with F. S. Hillier), Queueing Systems, 21, 245-266 (1995).
"Optimal Batch Sizing and Repair Strategies for Operations with Repairable Jobs," (with C. S. Tang), Management Science, 41, 894-908 (1995).
"Optimal Operating Policy for a Bottleneck with Random Rework," (with C. S. Tang), Management Science, 41, 620-636 (1995).
"Optimal Allocation of Work Orders in a Multi-Echelon Factory Network," (with C. H. Scott), Journal of the Chinese Institute of Industrial Engineers, 11, 105-110 (1994).
"Optimal Production Sequence for a Product with Matching Components," (with C. H. Scott), Operations Research, 42, 694-708 (1994).
"Optimal Recycling of Waste Materials in a Plastic Extrusion Production Process," (with S. P. Ladany), European Journal of Operational Research, 79, 13-24 (1994).
"Some Data for Applying the Bowl Phenomenon to Large Production Line Systems," (with F. S. Hillier), International Journal of Production Research, 31, 811-822 (1993).
"Toward Characterizing the Optimal Allocation of Storage Space in Production Line Systems with Variable Operation Times," (with F. S. Hillier and R. W. Boling), Management Science, 39, 126-133 (1993).
"Optimality of Control Limit Policies in Replacement Models," Naval Research Logistics, 39, 685-697 (1992).
"Performance Bounds for Multiserver Exponential Tandem Queues with Finite Buffers," (with K. E. Chin), European Journal of Operational Research, 63, 463-477 (1992).
"The Effect of Machine Breakdowns and Storage Space on the Performance of Production Line Systems," (with F. S. Hillier), International Journal of Production Research, 29, 2043-2055 (1991).
"Optimality of Threshold Policies in Single Server Queueing Systems with Server Vacations," (with A. Federgruen) Advances in Applied Probability, 23, 388-405 (1991).
"The Effect of the Coefficient of Variation of Operation Times on the Allocation of Storage Space in Production Line Systems," (with F. S. Hillier), IIE Transactions, 23, 198-206 (1991).
"A Due-Date Assignment Model for a Flow Shop with Applications in a Lightguide Cable Shop," (with J. R. Rajasekera and M. R. Murr), Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 10, 1-7 (1991).
"The Impact of Buffering Strategies on the Performance of Production Line Systems," International Journal of Production Research, 28, 2293-2307 (1990).
"Optimal Maintenance Policies For Single-Server Queueing Systems Subject to Breakdowns," (with A. Federgruen), Operations Research, 38, 330-343 (1990).
"Some Heuristics for Scheduling Jobs on Parallel Machines with Setups," Management Science, 36, 467-475 (1990).
"The Assignment of Extra Servers to Stations in Tandem Queueing Systems with Small or No Buffers," (with F. S. Hillier), Performance Evaluation, 10, 219-231 (1989).
"Allocating Buffer Storages in a Flexible Manufacturing System," International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, 1, 223-237 (1989).
"Optimal Time To Repair A Broken Server," (with A. Federgruen), Advances in Applied Probability, 21, 376-397 (1989).
"On the Efficiency of Unbalancing a Production Line," International Journal of Production Research, 27, 717-729 (1989).
"On the Efficiency of Unbalancing a Production Line: A Reply to an Alternate Interpretation," International Journal of Production Research, 28, 1221-1222 (1990).
"Allocating Buffer Storages in a Pull System," (with S. C. Pinault), International Journal of Production Research, 26, 1959-1980 (1988).
Statistics for Management (MBA, EMBA)
Statistics for Data Science (MSBA)
Operations Management (MBA, EMBA)
Field Projects in Operations Management (MBA)
Process Management and Modeling (MBA)
Operations - IT Lab. (MBA)
Production and Inventory Management (MBA)
Doctoral Seminar in Stochastic Models in Operations Management (PhD)
