In our daily lives, we experience many examples of optimization, such as the numbering system in banks, subway signs, battery management systems in smartphones, and logistics and supply chain management. These optimizations make our lives more convenient and efficient.
We come across the term “optimization” countless times in our daily lives. Whether it’s “SKT launches T-Sport, a sports app optimized for smartphones” or “Intel unveils a lineup of products to optimize enterprise IT environments,” optimization is a hot topic in every industry. But what is optimization, and what are some examples of optimization in our daily lives? In this article, we’ll answer these questions with a few representative examples.
The dictionary definition of optimization is “the study of different ways to achieve the best result for a purpose.” For example, when we travel from home to school, we consider many factors such as cost, time, and convenience to choose a mode of transportation that maximizes our utility. Optimization is a similar concept. Optimization is the study of how to best achieve each objective under any given set of conditions. In fact, one of the main challenges of industrial engineering is to optimize specific systems and maximize their efficiency. To put it simply, if we compare industry to a car, we can say that the engine, brakes, steering wheel, gears, and other components of a car come from different disciplines, while industrial engineering studies how to drive the car so that it can move faster and safer.
First, a classic example of optimization is the numbering system of bank tellers. Today, when we use banking services, we use a machine that issues a numbered ticket. To open a deposit, take out a loan, make a deposit, withdraw a payment, or transfer money, a customer pulls out a numbered ticket, waits for their turn to be called, and when their turn comes, they go to the corresponding window. With the introduction of numbered tickets, customers can gauge their waiting time by looking at the numbered tickets and can wait their turn comfortably without having to stand in line. From the bank’s point of view, it is also beneficial for the bank to accurately identify the order of business processing, reducing the disorderly behavior of customers in the bank. About 20 years ago, banks in Korea did not have numbered tables, and bank customers lacked a sense of order compared to today’s customers, which led to a lack of order in the bank’s guest rooms. Many people researched ways to optimize banks by improving these systemic problems, and the numbered ticket was the result of such research. The introduction of the numbering system helped to improve the banking system and increase the efficiency of banking operations. As with the bank, there is a lot of waste and disorganization across industries. By reducing this waste and bringing order to things, optimization could be achieved.
Second, optimization can be found in the subway stations we use every day. If you’ve ever used a subway transfer station, you’ve probably noticed a sign on the wall with a long strip the same color as the line. These signs are meant to show you where to “change” to another line. If this sign consisted of simple black letters, or was located in a place where it was not easily visible to passengers, we can assume that it would be much less effective than it is today. Why? Because these signs are much less readable. In a complex subway system, the legibility of signs is very important. In other words, they need to be “at-a-glance” signs. This led to the design of a sign that was tailored to passengers, especially those who are not used to using the subway, and the result is the current striped sign. These signs serve the same purpose as the original signs, but they are more efficient in fulfilling their role. With these seemingly minor changes, we can say that the subway information system has become more “optimized”.
Third, another example of optimization is the battery management system of a smartphone. Any smartphone user knows that battery life is important. Many people experience low battery life after a full day of using their smartphone. To address this, smartphone manufacturers have developed various technologies to optimize battery usage. For example, Apple’s iOS limits background app refreshes to better manage battery usage, and the latest versions of Android automatically switch to battery saver mode when apps are not in use. These technologies are playing a big role in improving the experience of smartphone users and extending battery life.
Fourth, optimization also plays an important role in logistics and supply chain management. Global companies are working to optimize the process of producing and delivering products to customers to reduce costs and increase efficiency. For example, Amazon has introduced an automated warehouse system that uses robots to reduce order fulfillment times and optimize inventory management. This allows customers to receive their products faster and the company to reduce operating costs.
There are many inefficiencies and wasteful elements in today’s world, and they are constantly being optimized, and many people are working to improve these inefficiencies. The modern world is a highly competitive society. In such a competitive world, the importance of optimization cannot be overstated, as it enables efficient processes with limited resources to produce better results. Of course, these are just a few examples of optimization, and optimization is happening in every industry today. Therefore, the future of optimization is very bright, and it is expected that it will require constant research.
