In this blog post, we will look at examples of optimization hidden in everyday life to see what changes it brings beyond simple efficiency.
We encounter the term “optimization” countless times in our daily lives. As seen in news headlines such as “SKT launches T Sports, a sports app optimized for smartphones” and “Intel unveils product lineup for optimizing enterprise IT environments,” optimization is a concept that is becoming an issue in all industries. So, what is optimization, and what examples of optimization do we experience in our daily lives? In this article, we will answer these questions through several representative examples.
The dictionary definition of optimization is “the process of studying various aspects of something in order to achieve the best results for a given purpose.” For example, when we travel from home to school, we choose the most convenient means of transportation by considering various factors such as transportation costs, travel time, and convenience. Optimization is a similar concept. Optimization is the study of how to achieve each objective under certain conditions. In fact, one of the main tasks of industrial engineering is to optimize specific systems and maximize efficiency through optimization. To put it simply, if we compare industry to a car, industrial engineering is like studying how to drive a car so that it can move faster and safer, while the various components of the car, such as the engine, brakes, steering wheel, and gears, come from different fields of study.
First, a representative example of optimization is the number ticket system used in bank lobbies. Today, when we use banking services, we use machines that issue number tickets. Customers take a number ticket to perform various tasks at the bank, such as opening a deposit account, applying for a loan, making deposits and withdrawals, and transferring money, and then wait until their number is called. With the introduction of number tickets, customers can estimate their waiting time by looking at the number ticket and wait comfortably for their turn without having to stand in line. From the bank’s perspective, it has the advantage of being able to accurately grasp the order in which tasks are processed, thereby reducing confusion caused by disorder among customers inside the bank. Until about 20 years ago, there were no number tickets at banks in Korea, and bank customers were less orderly than they are today. As a result, there was no order in the bank lobby. Many people researched ways to optimize banks by improving these systemic problems, and the result of this research was the number ticket. The introduction of numbered tickets improved the banking system, solving the previous problems and increasing the efficiency of banking operations. As in the case of this bank, there is a great deal of waste and disorder throughout industry. Optimization was achieved by reducing this waste and putting work in order.
Second, this optimization is also hidden in the subway stations we use every day. When using subway transfer stations, you may have seen long strip-shaped signs on the walls with the colors of the corresponding lines. These signs serve to guide passengers to the “transfer point” for other lines. If these signs were simply black letters or located in places that were not easily visible to passengers, they would be much less effective in providing information. Why is that? It is because such signs are significantly less legible. In a complex subway system, the legibility of information signs is extremely important. In other words, information signs need to be “easy to see at a glance.” As a result, information signs tailored to passengers, especially those unfamiliar with the subway, were designed, and the result is the current strip-shaped signs. The current information signs were installed for the same purpose as the previous ones, but they can be said to perform their role more efficiently. In this way, it can be said that the subway information system has been “optimized” through changes that may seem trivial.
Third, another example of optimization is the battery management system of smartphones. Anyone who uses a smartphone knows how important battery life is. Many people experience battery shortages when using their smartphones throughout the day. To solve this problem, smartphone manufacturers are developing various technologies to optimize battery usage. For example, Apple’s iOS limits background app refreshes to manage battery usage more efficiently, and the latest version of Android provides a feature that automatically switches to battery saver mode when apps are not in use. These technologies play a major role in improving the user experience and extending battery life.
Fourth, optimization plays an important role in logistics and supply chain management. Global companies are striving to reduce costs and increase efficiency by optimizing the process of manufacturing products and delivering them to customers. For example, Amazon has introduced an automated warehouse system using robots to shorten order processing times and optimize inventory management. This allows customers to receive products faster and reduces operating costs for the company.
Today, there are numerous inefficiencies and wasteful elements, and these elements are constantly being optimized, with many people striving to improve these inefficiencies. Modern society is highly competitive. In such a competitive society, the importance of optimization in bringing about better results through efficient processes with limited resources cannot be overstated. Of course, the examples introduced above are only a small part of optimization, and optimization is being implemented in all industrial fields today. Therefore, the outlook for the field of optimization is very bright, and continuous research will be necessary.
