About
Starting Semester: Fall 2026Assigned: No
Location: Dallas
Gigapower, LLC
Client Profile
Gigapower, LLC is a next-generation fiber broadband infrastructure company focused on building and operating open-access fiber networks across the United States. Formed as a joint venture between major telecommunications and investment partners, Gigapower is designed to accelerate fiber deployment in underserved and high-growth markets.The company’s mission is to deliver scalable, high-performance fiber connectivity through efficient deployment models, strong partner ecosystems, and disciplined operational execution.
Gigapower operates across multiple geographic markets with:
Distributed construction programs involving numerous contractors and vendors
Centralized and decentralized inventory locations (warehouses, cross-docks, contractor yards)
High-volume procurement and logistics for materials such as fiber cable, conduit, electronics, and minor construction materials
Internal operations include a centralized inventory management function for OSP materials, supporting network build programs across markets.
As a rapidly scaling infrastructure operator, Gigapower is focused on improving:
Alignment between construction forecasts and inventory planning
Reduction of excess inventory and stockouts across markets
Standardization of materials planning processes
Visibility into inventory levels and future demand
Automation of manual planning and reconciliation workflows
Optimization of material flow across multiple locations and stakeholders
These challenges create a strong opportunity for Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IE/OR) applications.
Project Description
This project will focus on designing and implementing a data-driven inventory planning and optimization framework that aligns construction demand forecasts with inventory availability, minimizes excess stock, reduces shortages, and improves overall supply chain efficiency.The senior design team will apply Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IE/OR) techniques to:
• Optimize inventory levels across storage locations and construction sites
• Improve demand forecasting and material allocation processes
• Develop automated decision-support tools for inventory replenishment
Why this project matters
• Gigapower operates in a capital-intensive, speed-critical fiber deployment environment, where materials availability directly impacts revenue realization.
• This project offers Georgia Tech ISyE students a high-impact, real-world optimization problem with measurable financial and operational outcomes—aligned with industry-scale supply chain challenges.
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2. Business Context & Problem Statement
Gigapower’s current materials planning process involves:
• Monthly aggregation of a 3-month forward construction forecast (CX start data)
• Matching projected demand with inventory balances across warehouses and yards
• Ordering and staging materials to meet construction timelines
• Manual reconciliation and decision-making for procurement and allocation
Additionally, corporate operating reports track:
• Inventory balances and installation cost distribution
• A Materials Management Roadmap tied to deployment performance
Key Challenges
• Manual and fragmented planning workflows
• Misalignment between forecast demand and inventory availability
• Overstocking of some materials while others face shortages
• Inefficient distribution across geographically dispersed construction sites
• Limited real-time visibility into inventory and pipeline demand
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3. Project Objectives
The ISyE team will deliver a scalable, analytics-driven solution to improve materials and inventory management.
Primary Objectives
A. Demand Forecast Alignment
a. Normalize and reconcile project start data with bill-of-material (BOM) requirements
B. Inventory Optimization
a. Determine optimal inventory levels by material type and location
b. Balance service level targets with carrying cost constraints
C. Replenishment Strategy Design
a. Develop decision logic for:
i. Bulk ordering (3-month horizon)
ii. Monthly replenishment cycles
iii. Safety stock policies
D. Network Flow Optimization
a. Optimize material flows across:
i. Central warehouses
ii. Cross-docks
iii. Contractor yards
E. Automation & Tooling
a. Design a prototype (e.g., Excel + Python or Power BI integration) that:
i. Automates data aggregation
ii. Provides real-time inventory recommendations
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4. Scope of Work
In Scope
• Materials used in fiber construction (OSP materials, minor materials, etc.)
• Inventory across:
o Central warehouses
o Contractor yards
• Planning horizon:
o 3-month rolling forecast
• Data sources:
o Project start schedules
o BOM requirements
o Inventory balances
Out of Scope
• Contract negotiations or vendor pricing strategy
• Field construction execution processes
• Detailed ERP system implementation
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5. Deliverables
Executive Deliverables
• Final presentation to Gigapower leadership
• Executive summary with quantified impact
Technical Deliverables
• Current-state and future-state process maps
• Forecasting and optimization models
• Decision-support prototype (Excel/Python/Power BI)
• Documentation for model logic and assumptions
Operational Deliverables
• Recommended inventory policies
• Replenishment cadence and decision framework
• KPI framework (see below)
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6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The project will aim to improve:
• Inventory turnover
• Days of inventory on hand (DOH)
• Material availability / fill rate
• Stockout frequency
• Excess and obsolete inventory levels
• Cost of carrying inventory
• On-time project material readiness
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7. Expected Business Impact
• Reduced working capital tied up in inventory
• Improved construction schedule adherence
• Increased visibility into material demand and supply
• Standardized planning processes across markets
• Foundation for future automation and system integration
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8. Student Skill Development
This project enables students to apply:
• Operations Research (optimization, simulation)
• Supply chain analytics
• Data engineering and visualization
• Real-world problem solving at scale
• Stakeholder communication and executive presentation
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9. Sponsor Commitment (Gigapower)
Gigapower will provide:
• Access to relevant (sanitized) datasets
• Weekly sponsor check-ins
• Subject matter experts in:
o Supply chain
o inventory management
o network deployment
• Feedback and validation of models