Math, Data,
Decision-Making...
Oh My!
Decision-Making...
Oh My!
These two related mathematical fields are covered in the same class, owned by UofL's ISE department, although every Speed School student takes it. Don't believe me? You can probably check the stats on that.
What are Probability and Statistics?
This two-word term describes the entire network of processes that transform, and transport, raw materials into a more valuable final product.
What is "supply chain"?
This automobile pioneer revolutionized manufacturing with the moving assembly line in 1913, dramatically reducing the cost of cars.
Who is Henry Ford?
This "people-first" (literally) field of ISE aims to design our world to be safer, more efficient, and more comfortable for humans to use and interact with. It is often closely related to ergonomics.
What is Human Factors?
What is zero?
This operations management tool is built based on historical data and used to make future decisions. The weather channel makes a new one every day!
What is a forecast?
An important part of the work of ISEs is balancing the capabilities of advanced technology with the capabilities of these essential system components (which are a lot lower-tech).
Who are people?
Led by the work of ISE Ray Kroc, this fast food giant was the first to apply assembly-line principles to the food industry. The company has since served "billions and billions".
What is McDonald's?
This term represents a field of ISE that aims to optimize the physical movement of goods, services and information between suppliers and customers. UPS loves it, according to one of their old slogans.
What is Logistics?
The UofL ISE department boasts this rank for job growth outlook among all engineering disciplines.
What is 1st?
This field of applied mathematics focuses on finding the "optimal" solution to a problem out of a set of available alternatives.
What is optimization?
This alliterative name describes a statistics-based ISE principle, often used in quality control in manufacturing. It aims for processes to produce no defects at least 99.73% of the time.
What is Six Sigma?
This ISE by training (Auburn University '82) has been at the helm of Apple, Inc. since Steve Jobs' resignation in 2011.
Who is Tim Cook?
This field of ISE, often called "management science" but called "___s Research" in our department, creates models to simulate complex problems and aims to determine the best possible solution for them. Hint: also the name of a popular medical board game.
What Operation?
This Pennsylvania university is credited with founding the first formal ISE (then called IE) department in United States academia.
Hint for any football fans: Big Ten team, always ranked high, made fun of for seemingly never winning a big game despite this.
What is Penn State University?
Fun fact, their program precedes Henry Ford's assembly line.
This type of simulation acts as an electronic copy, or "twin," of physical objects and systems. ISEs use these to make informed decisions on how to change a system before doing so in the real world.
What is a digital twin?
This phrase, described by the initials IoT, refers to the connection of everyday Things to the Internet. This allows them to collect, share, and act on data without human intervention.
What is the Internet of Things?
[DAILY DOUBLE] This Japanese automotive giant's famed "___ Production System" (named after the company) laid the foundation for lean manufacturing in the US as we know it today.
What is Toyota?
This field of ISE aims to integrate intelligent systems into manufacturing operations, driving up the speed, efficiency and repeatability/precision of processes that turn raw materials into useful products.
What is Advanced Manufacturing?
The same year as the creation of MTV, this was the first year UofL enrolled students in a standalone department named for "industrial engineering" (the S came much later). Video may have killed the radio star, but we just got born.
What is 1981?
Certification with a "belt" (like in karate, but metaphorical) of this color denotes an individual who is well-trained in many ISE principles, mainly data-based decision making. You can get it as a UofL student for a huge discount.
What is green?
[DAILY DOUBLE] This special type of alliteratively-named logistical system is used to keep temperature-sensitive goods, like food and medicine, safe during transportation. It incorporates chemistry, thermodynamics and material science.
What is a cold chain?
This management technique, created by physicist-turned-management-guru Eliyahu M. Goldratt, focuses on identifying and improving the most limiting element in a system before improving anything else.
What is the Theory of Constraints?
This field of ISE revolves around the process of taking raw data and structuring/presenting it, revealing patterns and trends and contributing to informed decision-making.
What is Data Analytics?
Founded in 1948 for the field of industrial (and systems!) engineering, this professional society is still the one to join for ISE students and professionals alike. UofL's chapter has "Gold" recognition!
What is the IISE?