This thesis discusses military operations planning and methodology by reviewing two of NATO’s planning documents, i.e. the ‘Allied Joint Doctrine for Operational-Level Planning’ (AJP 5) and the ‘Comprehensive Operations Planning Directive’ (COPD), and defends the following claim. Parts of the description of NATO’s Operational-Level Planning Process (OLPP), as described in the AJP 5 and the COPD, is methodologically inconsistent (contradictory), due to epistemic and practical implications of methodology. As such, the thesis discusses three topics: approaches to Operational Art, planning heuristics and implications of methodology. The thesis also intertwines military operations planning, methodology and military problem-solving. This thesis consists of two published papers and an introduction. The introduction explains and further discusses operations planning as well as terms and concepts stated within the two papers. Paper I focuses on the AJP 5 and discusses the methodological distinction between two approaches within Operational Art, denoted the ‘Design’ and the ‘Systemic’ approach. The distinction between these approaches is vague and paper I states one epistemic and one practical implication of methodology. Paper II focuses on the COPD and discusses two specific planning heuristics. The first relates to the Systemic approach and the second heuristic relates to the third approach denoted the ‘Causalist’ approach within Operational Art. A methodological contradiction exists between these specific heuristics and paper II states one epistemic and three practical implications of methodology. Briefly, this thesis implies that parts of NATO’s description of the OLPP suffers from a methodological contradiction. Hence, a suggestion is to revise parts of the AJP 5 and the COPD. The thesis also suggest the development of a “NATO handbook of methodology” to better explain methodological implications on military operations planning and the “how to” of military problem-solving. / <p>QC 20170403</p>

[pt] Esta dissertação apresenta o estudo de um método para o planejamento operacional da distribuição de granéis líquidos, que visa à otimização dos recursos corporativos e a redução de custos operacionais. Iniciando pelo conceito da gestão do conhecimento, procura-se extrair as melhores práticas da empresa através da experiência dos seus profissionais. Todas as informações obtidas são estruturadas e organizadas em um sistema de apoio a decisão (SAD), a fim de montar uma base de conhecimento para suportar e assistir os processos de negócio relacionados à distribuição: previsão de demanda, programação de abastecimentos e roteirização de veículos. Baseado em pesquisas bibliográficas fundamentadas em disciplinas relacionadas à análise dos processos supra descritos e, principalmente, no conhecimento adquirido na própria empresa, são sugeridas soluções heurísticas para os problemas de planejamento da distribuição. Com o objetivo de validar a utilização deste método, é apresentado um estudo de caso realizado em uma empresa distribuidora de GLP (Gás Liquefeito de Petróleo), comparando os resultados obtidos antes e depois da sua aplicação. Os indicadores de desempenho adotados pela mesma apresentam os benefícios e valores agregados, ratificando a eficiência do referido método. / [en] This dissertation presents the study of a method for the operational distribution planning of liquid bulks, that aims the optimization of the corporate resources and the operational cost reduction. Starting by the concept of the knowledge management, it pursuits to extract the company`s best practices through the experience of its professionals. All the information obtained are structured and organized in a support decision system (SAD), in order to build a knowledge base to support and to assist the business processes related with the distribution: demand forecast, supply programming and vehicle routing. Based on bibliography researches well-founded in disciplines related with the analysis of the processes described above and, specially, from the knowledge gained in the company, heuristics solutions are proposed for the distribution planning problems. With the purpose of validating this method utilization, it is presented a study case in a LPG distribution company (liquid petroleum gas), comparing the results achieved before and after its application. The key performance indicators adopted present benefits and add values, ratifying the efficiency of the method above mentioned.