Time: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Venue: Guoshun Campus, Siyuan Faculty Building, Room 524

Topic: Balancing and Coordination for Spatial Service Systems: Theory and Practice

Speaker: Assistant Professor Sheng Liu, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Moderator: Associate Professor Jiayi Yu

Abstract: The growth of e-commerce and on-demand delivery services poses new challenges for matching supply and demand in spatial settings. In this talk, I will discuss how new tactical zoning and assortment optimization methods can enhance real-world logistics systems. In particular, I will describe two field implementations, one in Southeast Asia and the other in Canada, that demonstrate the practical value of simple operations policies supported by theoretical insights. The core ideas are to balance and coordinate spatial resources in a principled manner.

Bio: Sheng Liu is an Assistant Professor of Operations Management and Statistics at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. His research focuses on solving operational problems in supply chains, transportation, and logistics systems through optimization and data analytics. His industry experience includes consulting for or working with organizations such as JD.com, Sport Chek, Ninja Van, Hungerhub, Amazon, and Lyft. He is also committed to improving decision outcomes for vulnerable groups, motivated by collaborations with nonprofit organizations, including charities and food banks. His work has been recognized through several awards and paper competitions, including the INFORMS PSOR Best Paper Award, the INFORMS TSL Outstanding Paper Award, and the M&SOM Data-Driven Research Competition. He currently serves as Associate Editor of Transportation Science, Senior Editor of Production and Operations Management, and a member of the Editorial Review Board of Service Science.