Industrial Engineer articles from December 2007

Industrial Engineer archives from December 2007

Disappearing holidays.(editor's desk)(Editorial)
December 1, 2007... Christmas came early this year. It was well before Halloween that the retail outlets were stocked with holiday greeting cards, sparkly ornaments, and four-packs of monogrammed handkerchiefs piled high on a table boasting "For him!" ...

RIT launches sustainability institute: new academic programs set the course for sustainability doctorate.(Front Line)(Rochester Institute of Technology will provide funds for sustainable product development)
December 1, 2007... Rochester Institute of Technology has established The Golisano Institute for Sustainability. The announcement came during a September ceremony to recognize a $10 million commitment to the university from B. Thomas Golisano. [ILLUSTRATION...

Practical project management.(BOOK OF THE MONTH)(Industrial Project Management )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... No matter the business or industry, getting more work done on time is a goal. And the faster the world moves, the more this becomes important. Enter project management, which has emerged as a body of knowledge embraced by various disciplines,...

NSF fosters interdisciplinary training: next-generation scientists and engineers take in nano modules.(Front Line)(National Science Foundation)(Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers often deal with the same problems, but they use different jargon. A $2.9 million graduate student training program at Cornell, funded by the National Science Foundation, will help bridge...

Green machine.(PRIME NUMBER)(BMW AG topper of the year)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... For the third consecutive year, the BMW group was ranked No. 1 in its industry on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. "This result proves once again that sustainability is firmly rooted in our corporate processes. We are convinced that...

Silicon as smooth as glass: polishing tool monitors wafer fabrication.(Front Line)(Fraunhofer Institute Institute for Factory Operation and Automation )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Polishing silicon wafers for solar cells and computer chips demands precision. Until now, wafers could be inspected only after polishing. A new polishing tool has been developed that continuously monitors the process. Most computer chips...

IE alum shares Peace Prize.(UPDATE)(R.K. Pachauri awarded)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... R.K. Pachauri, Ph.D., who was profiled in Industrial Engineer's September Special Report ("From IE to Climate Change Guru") was named a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Intergovernmental Panel on...

Dilbert.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2007... www.dilbert.com scottadams@aol.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 6-17-06 [c] 2006 Scott Adams, Inc./Dist. by UFS, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [c] Scott Adams/Dist. By United Feature Syndicate Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tax man.(UNCOMMON IE)(Tom Fortson, tax collector on improvising tax collection process)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... THE TASK AT HAND: Chief Deputy Tax Collector Tom Fortson works for the elected tax collector of Palm Beach County, Fla. Collecting property taxes, vehicle registrations, boat registrations, hunting licenses, business taxes, and tangible taxes,...

Exoskeleton lightens the load: spring-based, low-energy designs shows promise.(Front Line)(Biomechatronics Group)
December 1, 2007... Researchers in the MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics Group have created a device to lighten the burden for soldiers and others who carry heavy packs and equipment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Their invention, known as an exoskeleton, can...

Nonstick packaging: thin film keeps food flowing.(Front Line)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Shaking and tapping is often the only way to get the last drop of ketchup out of the bottle. But in the future, even the final drop will slide out easily thanks to a special coating on the packaging. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We all know...

Small things in large quantities: billions of nanotech devices by the hour.(Front Line)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Although relatively new to the market, liquid crystal display televisions may soon be obsolete. Vincent Donnelly, Demetre Economou, and Paul Ruchhoeft, all of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, have developed a...

UB gets OR research gift.(Front Line)(Mark H. Karwan, engineering professor at Praxair Inc. awarded)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Praxair Inc. has pledged a $250,000 gift to establish the Praxair Professor in Operations Research at the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mark H. Karwan, UB professor of...

Measures of engagement.(performance)
December 1, 2007... AFTER ALMOST 15 YEARS OF WATCHING the workplace improvement fad pendulum swing away from practices that promote high levels of employee involvement, empowerment, or whatever you want to call treating all employees like valued individuals, we...

Expense reduction in a slow economy.(management)(Viewpoint essay)
December 1, 2007... HUMAN RESOURCE EXPENSE reduction represents the best alternative to achieve savings in a stagnant economy, right? Wrong. My company's clients have made significant investments in their organizations and have captured benefits through...

The good, the bad, the mediocre.(human factors)(Personal account)
December 1, 2007... ISN'T THERE AN OLD SAYING ABOUT never missing the water until the well runs dry? Mostly, I've found old sayings to be wildly inaccurate. This particular sentiment, however, tends to be true for certain aspects of the human factors field. ...

IE in the nano era.(member forum)
December 1, 2007... INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS HAVE DEALT with the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations and operations, have helped the management of manufacturing and service systems, and have improved manufacturing and industrial system quality. In today's...

Leverage supply chain innovation: distribution center innovation puts you ahead of the competition.(Cover story)
December 1, 2007... WHEN CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OR PRAISE A COMPANY'S products and service, they're often unwittingly condemning or lauding the organization's supply chain operations. These operations are typically behind the scenes, but efficient or inefficient...

Final item adjustment: customers should be on your balance sheet.
December 1, 2007... HOW OFTEN HAVE WE HEARD EXECUTIVES SAY THAT CUSTOMERS are their most valuable asset? Perhaps more times than we can remember. But when reading corporate financial statements, you will not find "customers" under the asset accounts. In fact, you...

Industry lens: manufacturing's changes and predictions.
December 1, 2007... "DESPITE RISING SATISFACTION WITH CURRENT LEVELS of new orders, manufacturers' prospects for production and employment for the first quarter of 2007 remained negative," began a news clip early in the year. Information had been corroborated by...

Prestigious three: simulation, lean, and Six Sigma ease business process management.(Viewpoint essay)
December 1, 2007... WHEN SIMULATION, LEAN, AND SIX Sigma are aligned to achieve thorough results in process management, benefits can include streamlined processes, minimized risk, and breakthrough performance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While process...

Red hot chili processing.(SOLUTIONS IN PRACTICE)
December 1, 2007... Whether they're for consumption or coloring, red chilies are in hot demand. In fact, the number of requests for them around the United States is so large, competition within the chili harvesting industry carries an international flavor. Much of...

Research.
December 1, 2007... The December 2007 issue of IIE Transactions (Vol. 39, No. 12) focuses on quality and reliability engineering. Below, two articles appearing in that issue are highlighted. The first article concerns coordinating maintenance and reconfiguration...

Retail distribution.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(Personal account)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q: I am an industrial engineer for a retail distribution center. I have been asked to calculate the savings of using palletized loads versus floor loads when making deliveries to our stores. Do palletized loads save money over floor loads? ...

Labor ratio.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)
December 1, 2007... Q: What is the ideal direct-to-indirect labor ratio? How do you calculate it? I am assuming quality, maintenance, warehouse, and engineering staff as indirect labor. A: First, the easy answer: The ideal for the direct-to-indirect labor...

Herzberg's theory.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(Frederick Irving Herzberg)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q: How far can we apply Herzberg's two-factory theory in our apparel manufacturing organization? A: Herzberg's two-factory theory can certainly be used in today's environment. This theory suggests that there are two types of factors with...

Accounting relevance.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q: Is the study of depreciation accounting still relevant to economy studies? Does one have to study accounting or have a professional certificate in accounting to have a better understanding of depreciation accounting? A: An understanding...

Let the voting begin: polls open for Board of Trustees and regional elections.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)
December 1, 2007... Online voting begins Dec. 14 for elections of IIE Board of Trustees and other offices. Polls will be open to professional IIE members and will close Feb. 5,2008. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Biographical information for all candidates, as...

Institute co-founder lived life by profession: Stephen Veirs remembered as active IE and faculty member.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)(In memoriam)
December 1, 2007... One could imagine Stephen Veirs' home to be a hands-on laboratory for industrial engineers. Whether at work or home, Veirs applied immaculate planning and procedure but never without a zest for life. Veirs, one of the founding fathers of...

G. Kemble Bennett, Ph.D., dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A & M University, will serve on the FEMA National Advisory Council.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... G. Kemble Bennett, Ph.D., dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A & M University, will serve on the FEMA National Advisory Council. He and other council members will help ensure effective and ongoing coordination through the...

Paul Cohen, Ph.D., was named head of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Paul Cohen, Ph.D., was named head of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University. He was also named the first Edgar S. Woolard Distinguished Professor on the N.C. State faculty....

Andrew Kusiak, Ph.D., received a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Energy Center to develop computer software designed to increase the efficiency of wind farms.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Andrew Kusiak, Ph.D., received a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Energy Center to develop computer software designed to increase the efficiency of wind farms. He will use data mining to combine wind data measured at individual turbines and towers...

Bingguang Li, Ph.D., is recognized as a certified purchasing manager by the Institute for Supply Management.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Harry F. Boyd Jr. School of Business )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Bingguang Li, Ph.D., is recognized as a certified purchasing manager by the Institute for Supply Management. He is an assistant professor of supply chain management and quantitative methods at the Harry F. Boyd Jr. School of Business at...

On the Web: topical blogs offer insight.(Institute of Industrial Engineers)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... IIE launched a series of blogs that provide Web visitors insight as well as a way to communicate with peers and experts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I am so excited to launch this new interactive tool on our site," said Gwen Morrison, IIE...

To the audiophile: sounds good.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Shure Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Designed for music lovers seeking an upgrade from standard-issue earbuds, Shure's SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones offer a rich listening experience that's free from outside noise. Sound-isolating sleeves block more than 90 percent of ambient...

To the movie nut: office flair.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)
December 1, 2007... Does someone you know have a perpetual case of the Mondays? Give that pal a gift of bold, head-turning design and legendary performance: The Swingline Rio Red Stapler. It's the star of any office space. $14.49 and up from Acco Brands Corp. at...

To the littlest recipients on the list: oh, baby.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(CafePress.com)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Give the tots togs they'll be proud to wear day and night. Pure cotton bibs, onesies, and T-shirts from CafePress proclaim their engineering expectations. $9.99 to $15.99 from CafePress at www.cafepress.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

To the green commuter: up on two wheels.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Strida bicycles )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... A sustainable alternative for short commutes, Strida bicycles are comfortable to ride, easy to transport, and simple to store. Weighing in at just 20 pounds, the bikes are said to be the lightest, fastest-folding in the world, requiring little...

To quench a healthy desire: hydration innovation.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(HydraCoach Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... HydraCoach is the world's first interactive water bottle. For athletes and others concerned with imbibing the right amount of water each day, the HydraCoach calculates the user's personal hydration needs, tracks real-time fluid consumption, and...

To the golf nut: ball retriever.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Visiball USA)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Visiball Golf Finding Glasses won't keep hackers out of the woods, but at least they'll return with golf ball in hand. Special optical filters in the glasses attenuate light reflecting off a golf ball to match the wavelengths that the human...

To the photo buff: picture this.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Photo prints are so 20th century. The Digital PhotoFrame from Philips lets you see your favorite digital pictures at a glance. It displays high-resolution images on the LCD screen in any sequence you like. Available in various frame styles and...

To the weather watcher: brew up a storm.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Societe de Distribition Bentz et Cie.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Keep climate connoisseurs alert with a java maker that delivers weather info along with a fresh pot of joe. Just add beans and water, and Melitta's Smart Mill & Brew Coffeemaker grinds and brews a customized 10-cup pot. While you're waiting,...

To unlock potential: learning opportunity.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)( www.laptopgiving.org)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Creators of the XO laptop have set out to prove that building schools and hiring teachers is just one education model. Another is to provide computers, connectivity, and opportunity. One Laptop Per Child's Give 1 Get 1 Program sends one laptop...

To the road worrier: overload avoidance.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... As airlines more strictly enforce luggage weight limits, worrisome travelers envision unloading dirty laundry at the airport check-in line to avoid paying a penalty for overstuffed bags. In answer, Ricardo Beverly Hills presents Solutions...

To the technocrat: divining duds.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(www.thinkgeek.com)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Far from merely attractive, the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt visually alerts the wearer (and everyone else) when a Wi-Fi signal is present. Glowing bars on the front of the T-shirt change dynamically as the surrounding Wi-Fi signal strength varies. The...

To your best office buddy: uncomfortable hilarity.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... If corporate pomposity and establishmentarian incompetence make you and your office compatriot cringe with delight, share The Office: The Complete Collection DVD. The original British TV version of this faux documentary is not your typical...

To the man or woman about town: laptop guardian.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(www.skoobadesign.com.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Flip a flap, and the sleek Skooba Skin coverts from a padded laptop sleeve to a tote and vice versa. The bag serves equally well to protect a computer within another bag for traveling or to be used on its own for meetings, classes, or jaunts...

To the agriculturalist: comfortable digs.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Oprah Winfrey likes NRG tools, and so will the gardener on your gift list. Handles feature the Radius Grip ergonomic design to minimize stress on the hand and wrist and maximize power. An ultra-light aluminum-magnesium alloy is used to craft...

Work perfect: the day we strive for.
December 1, 2007... Essentially, I am accountable for two subsidiaries of Questar Corp. Questar Energy Services works for companies in the oil and gas sector. We do automation of the well head as well as analytical and measurement work of the gas that's coming out...