Barış Balcıoğlu

Professor of Industrial Engineering, Sabancı University

 Office: FENS G001A
 +90 (216) 483-9965 (phone) 
balcioglu@sabanciuniv.edu

Barış Balcıoğlu

Education

  • PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Rutgers University (2003)
  • MS in Industrial Engineering, Bilkent University (1996)
  • BS in Industrial Engineering, Bilkent University, Turkey (1994)

Areas of Research Interest

  • Stochastic Models,
    Production/Inventory Systems,
    Analysis of Queueing Systems Production/Inventory Systems,
    Call Centers,
    Discrete-event Simulation

Academic Experience

  • Professor, (2015-...) Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, Turkey
  • Associate Professor, (2011-2015) Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, Turkey
    Visiting Professor (on Sabbatical, 2010-2011) Sabancı University & Boğaziçi University, Turkey
    Associate Professor (2009-2011), Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
    Assisstant Professor (2003-2009), Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada

Sample Publications

  1. Dede, Sinan Dede ve Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2025). "Fair and profitable even when serving different customer classes: How pricing and lead-time quotation can help", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 327, No. 2, 491--499
  2. Balcıoğlu, Barış and Yağız Varol. (2022) "Fair and Profitable: How Pricing and Lead-Time Quotation Policies Can Help", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 299, No. 3, 977--986, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2022.01.013
  3. Kanavetas, Odysseas and Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2022) "The “Sensitive” Markovian queueing system and its application for a call center problem", Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 317, No. 2, 651--664 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-018-2802-6
  4. Sahba, Pedram,  Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2022) “The impact of disruption characteristics on the performance of a server”, Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 317, No. 1, 239--252 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-015-2075-2
  5. Balcıoğlu, Barış and Kanvetas, Odysseas. (2021) "A dynamic prioritization policy for the callback option in a call center", Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Published Online First, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10696-021-09413-y
  6. Araghi, Mojtaba, Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2020) "Using discrete event simulation to fit probability distributions for autocorrelated service times", INFOR, Vol. 58, No. 1, 124--140 https://doi.org/10.1080/03155986.2019.1624474
  7. Sahba, Pedram,  Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan. (2018) "Multilevel rationing policy for spare parts when demand is state dependent", OR Spectrum, Vol. 40, 751--780.
  8. Kahvecioğlu, Gökçe and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2016) “Coping with production time variability via dynamic lead-time quotation”, OR Spectrum, Vol. 38, No: 4, 877-898. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00291-015-0425-8
  9. Liang, William Kun,  Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Svaluto, Robert, (2013) “Scheduling policies for a repair shop problem”, Annals of Operations Research, Vol.211, No.1, 273-288
  10. Sarhangian, Vahid and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2013) “A first passage time problem for spectrally positive Lévy processes and its application to a dynamic priority queue”, Operations Research Letters, Vol.41, No.6, 659-663
  11. Sahba, Pedram,   Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2013) “Spare parts provisioning for multiple k-out-of-n:G systems”, IIE transactions (Sl), Vol.45, No.9, 953-963
  12. Sarhangian, Vahid and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2013) “Waiting time analysis of multi-class queues with impatient customers”, Probability in the Engineering and Informational Sciences, Vol.27, No.3, 333-352
  13. Sahba, Pedram,  Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2013) “Analysis of the finite-source multiclass priority queue with an unreliable server and setup time”, Naval Research Logistics, Vol.60, No.4, 331-342
  14. Sheridan, Patricia Kristine, Gluck, Erich and Guan, Qi, Pickles, Thomas,  Balcıoğlu, Ahmet Barış, and Benhabib, Beno, (2013) “The dynamic nearest neighbor policy for the multi-vehicle pick-up and delivery problem”, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol.49, 178-194
  15. Abouee-Mehrizi, Hossein,  Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Baron, Opher, (2012) “Strategies for a centralized single product multiclass M/G/1 make-to-stock queue”, Operations Research, Vol.60, No.4, 803-812

Awards

  • Graduating Class Teaching Award, 1st place - Sabancı University 2013 - 2013 
  • Graduating Class Teaching Award, 2nd place - Sabancı University 2012 - 2012

Research

Call Centers

Currently, I am working on call-centers receiving Poisson calls with state-dependent arrivals. This arises naturally when callers are provided with some sort of delay statistics. In this setting, I am trying to incorporate general service and time-to-abandon distributions. I make extensions to incorporate the call-back option as well. I will explore if multi-class customers and some priority schemes can be considered, too.

Make-to-Stock Queues

In these models, the limited production capacity is captured by a queueing system.  Currently, I work on problems involving Poisson demand processes when their arrival rates become state-dependent due to dynamic pricing or dynamic lead time quotation. I consider when priority policies have to be thought of in case multiple classes of customers are served.

Funded Projects

  1. Improving Performance of Delay Systems by Providing Customers with Options and System Status Information, principal invenstigator, 1001-TÜBİTAK, 213M428, 2014-2016.
  2. Critical Spare Parts Provisioning: Models and Their Application, researcher, NSERC, Canada, 2008-2011.
  3. The Impact of Correlated Demand and Other Random Phenomena on the Design of Supply Chains, principal invetsigator, NSERC, Canada, 2005-2009.

Publications

  1. Dede, Sinan Dede ve Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2025). "Fair and profitable even when serving different customer classes: How pricing and lead-time quotation can help," European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 327, No. 2, 491--499, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2025.05.034
  2. Kanvetas, Odysseas and Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2022) "The “Sensitive” Markovian queueing system and its application for a call center problem", Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 317, No. 2, 651--664 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-018-2802-6
  3. Sahba, Pedram, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2022) “The impact of disruption characteristics on the performance of a server”, Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 312, No. 1, 239--252 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-015-2075-2
  4. Balcıoğlu, Barış and Yağız Varol. (2022) "Fair and Profitable: How Pricing and Lead-Time Quotation Policies Can Help", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 299, No. 3, 977--986, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2022.01.013
  5. Balcıoğlu, Barış and Kanvetas, Odysseas. (2021) "A dynamic prioritization policy for the callback option in a call center", Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Published Online First, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10696-021-09413-y
  6. Araghi, Mojtaba, Balcıoğlu, Barış. (2020) "Using discrete event simulation to fit probability distributions for autocorrelated service times", INFOR, Vol. 58, No. 1, 124--140 https://doi.org/10.1080/03155986.2019.1624474
  7. Sahba, Pedram, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan. (2018) "Multilevel rationing policy for spare parts when demand is state dependent", OR Spectrum, Vol. 40, 751--780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-018-0518-2
  8. Kahvecioğlu, Gökçe and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2016) “Coping with production time variability via dynamic lead-time quotation”, OR Spectrum, Vol. 38, No: 4, 877-898. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00291-015-0425-8
  9. Liang, William Kun, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Svaluto, Robert, (2013) “Scheduling policies for a repair shop problem”, Annals of Operations Research, Vol.211, No.1, 273-288
  10. Sarhangian, Vahid and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2013) “A first passage time problem for spectrally positive Lévy processes and its application to a dynamic priority queue”, Operations Research Letters, Vol.41, No.6, 659-663
  11. Sahba, Pedram, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2013) “Spare parts provisioning for multiple k-out-of-n:G systems”, IIE transactions (Sl), Vol.45, No.9, 953-963
  12. Sarhangian, Vahid and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2013) “Waiting time analysis of multi-class queues with impatient customers”, Probability in the Engineering and Informational Sciences, Vol.27, No.3, 333-352
  13. Sahba, Pedram, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Banjevic, Dragan, (2013) “Analysis of the finite-source multiclass priority queue with an unreliable server and setup time”, Naval Research Logistics, Vol.60, No.4, 331-342
  14. Sheridan, Patricia Kristine, Gluck, Erich and Guan, Qi, Pickles, Thomas, Balcıoğlu, Ahmet Barış, and Benhabib, Beno, (2013) “The dynamic nearest neighbor policy for the multi-vehicle pick-up and delivery problem”, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol.49, 178-194
  15. Abouee-Mehrizi, Hossein, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Baron, Opher, (2012) “Strategies for a centralized single product multiclass M/G/1 make-to-stock queue”, Operations Research, Vol.60, No.4, 803-812
  16. Sahba, Pedram and Balcıoğlu, Barış, (2011) "The Impact of Transportation Delays on Repairshop Capacity Pooling and Spare Part Inventories", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 214, 674-682. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2011.05.022
  17. Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Gürler, Ülkü (2011) "On the Use of Phase-Type Distributions for Inventory Management with Supply Disruptions", Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry, Vol. 27, No. 6, 660-675. DOI: 10.1002/asmb.879
  18. Sanajian, Nima, Abouee-Mehrizi, Hossein, and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2010) "Scheduling Policies in the M / G /1 Make-to-Stock Queues", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 61, 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2008.139
  19. Ahghari, Mahvareh and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2009) "Benefits of Cross-Training in a Skill-Based Routing Contact Center with Priority Queues and Impatient Customers", IIE Transactions, Vol. 41, 524-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07408170802432975
  20. Sanajian, Nima and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2009) "The Impact of Production Time Variability on Make-to-Stock Queue Performance", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 194, 847-855. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2008.01.02
  21. Iravani, Foad and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2008) "On Priority Queues with Impatient Customers", Queueing Systems, Vol. 58, No. 4, 239-260. doi:10.1007/s11134-008-9069-6
  22. Araghi, Mojtaba and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2008) "A New Renewal Approximation for Certain Autocorrelated Processes", OR Letters, Vol. 36, No. 1, 133-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orl.2007.03.007
  23. Iravani, Foad and Balcıoğlu, Barış (2008) "Approximations for the M / GI / N + GI Type Call Center", Queueing Systems, Vol. 58, No.2, 137-153. doi:10.1007/s11134-008-9064-y
  24. Kopach, Renata, Balcıoğlu, Barış, and Carter, Michael (2008) "Tutorial on Constructing a Red Blood Cell Inventory Management System with Two Demand Rates", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 185, No. 3, 1051-1059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2006.01.051
  25. Balcıoğlu, Barış, Jagerman, David, L., and Tayfur Altıok (2008) "Merging and Splitting Autocorrelated Arrival Processes and Impact on Queueing Performance", Performance Evaluation, Vol. 65, 653-669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peva.2008.02.003
  26. Balcıoğlu, Barış, Jagerman, David, L., and Tayfur Altıok (2007) "Approximate Mean Waiting Time in a GI / D /1 Queue with Autocorrelated Times to Failures", IIE Transactions, Vol. 39, No. 10, 985-996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07408170701275343
  27. Jagerman, David, L., Balcıoğlu, Barış, Altıok, Tayfur, and Melamed, Ben (2004) "Mean Waiting Time Approximations in the G / G /1 Queue", Queueing Systems, Vol. 46, No. 3, 481-506. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QUES.0000027996.28824.89
Copyright Barış Balcıoğlu 2025