Industrial Engineer articles from March 2003

Industrial Engineer archives from March 2003

An open design.(Editor's Desk)
March 1, 2003... As an undergrad at Georgia Tech, I learned industrial engineering students were required to take a few civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering courses. I was appalled. As an IE, what would I need to know about statics, dynamics, and...

IE is office-worthy.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I'm proud to say I have been an industrial engineer for 47 years, the last 35 spent developing mail processing automation systems for the U.S. Postal Service. Although we have not had an organization [in the USPS] called industrial engineering...

Welcome back.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I am impressed. Finally, the Institute has a publication with the correct name on it. During all those years of AIIE, IIE, and Solutions tongue twisters, it was really difficult for me to explain what it was that I actually did. Welcome...

The 'fab four' reign.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I have always given Juran, Deming, Shewhart, and Crosby equal billing and equal high praise as gurus in the field of quality. I was disappointed that Joseph Juran took a professional swipe at Deming, Shewhart, and Crosby, the three of them...

All sides of the story.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I'd like to congratulate the decision to change the name of my magazine to Industrial Engineer. Yes, I say it is my magazine and hope all IEs feel the same. Industrial engineers is what we are, thus it is the right name for our premier...

Better with age.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... Congratulations on producing the January issue of Industrial Engineer! This has to be the most readable and interesting periodical that IIE has ever produced. The cover alerted me to the fact that something had happened to our stodgy and...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... In the January 2003 article "A Quality World, A Quality Life," there was a typo in Joseph Juran's response to the question "Which country will be America's main competitor on quality in the next decade?" His response should have read, "I would...

Wonderful transformation.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... A few years ago, I believe IIE had a survey asking for comments about IIE Solutions magazine. I responded and expressed my disappointment in the flow, design, articles, and material in the magazine. The articles and discussions seemed recycled,...

Retired Navy officer leads Columbia probe.(News)
March 1, 2003... Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman Jr., who co-chaired the independent commission that investigated the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, was named head of an independent probe of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. ...

Vigilance is hard work; but cuing those whose jobs demand close scrutiny helps keep their attention.(News)
March 1, 2003... Vital vigilance tasks crucial to fighter pilots, air-traffic controllers, airport security personnel, and varied industries is hard work for the human brain. But the drain on the brain can be reduced and performance enhanced by prompting...

Engineers who run things.(Stat of the month)
March 1, 2003... All nine members of the new Chinese Politburo Standing Committee--the key decision-making body in the world's most populous nation--are engineers by training.

Best and brightest shun science and engineering.(News)
March 1, 2003... America's top college graduates increasingly reject careers in science and engineering, University of Washington researchers have found, raising concerns about the nation's technological future. Faced with the prospect of low-paid...

Writing the innovation game rules: an academic-industry partnership will help Canadian companies create value.(News)
March 1, 2003... A team of Canadian researchers was awarded $6 million to write rules for the game of innovation. The project, called Managing Innovation in the New Economy, will be headed by Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal professor Roger Miller, Ph.D.,...

The third utility: after HVAC and lighting, compressed air is a facility's most important service.(Site to See)
March 1, 2003... Compressed air is one of the most important utility requirements of most industrial manufacturers, being used in applications as diverse as pneumatic tools and product cleansing. The Compressed Air Challenge is a non-profit collaboration that...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * Joseph P. Keithley has been named to the board of directors of The Cleveland Foundation. Keithley received bachelor's and master's degrees in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell University before earning his M.B.A. at...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * John A. Fees became president and chief operating officer of BWX Technologies Inc. Formerly the president of BWXT Services, Fees has 22 years of engineering experience and holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. named Diane Zekind plant manager of its commercial highway facility in Berea, Ky. Studying at the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Mich., Zekind earned her B.S. in industrial...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * As part of its global reorganization, Severn Trent Services selected Leonard F. Graziano to be its new president and chief executive officer. Graziano was previously senior vice president of the company's operating services and water...

Invitation to comment: Clemson project gathering opinions about IE education.(News)
March 1, 2003... A project spearheaded by Clemson University and funded by the National Science Foundation will gather recommendations about improving the industrial engineering bachelor's degree curriculum from engineers in all areas of practice. ...

Safety success at Yellowstone.
March 1, 2003... The Yellowstone National Park is asking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to renew their partnership to improve worker safety for an additional three years. Their initial five-year program, begun in May 1998, was the first in...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * 724 Solutions appointed IIE member Elda Rudd vice president, corporate marketing. Rudd joins 724 after founding and presiding over Total Cabling Solutions and serving in a variety of high-level positions in the global telecommunications...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * Whirlpool Corp. named IIE member Jerry Weinstein corporate vice president, global procurement operations. Weinstein has served in a number of roles, both in the United States and Europe, since joining Whirlpool in 1970. Most recently, he...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * CEO Ben S. Graham, Jr., Ph.D., retired from the Ben Graham Corp. A longtime IIE member, Graham took over the company founded by his father in 1960. The company researches and implements process improvements and work simplification. Graham...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * IIE member Sheldon Jacobson, Ph.D., received the Aviation Security Research Award for his work with John Kobza, Ph.D., in access control and checked baggage screening. Jacobson, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at...

Logical politics.(Uncommon IE)
March 1, 2003... Mayor Jose "Joe" Esteves has a lot of things to be proud of: a successful political and professional career, a loving family, and the admiration of his community. But this Citizen of the Year believes everything he's earned is at least...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * IIE member John Kobza, Ph.D., received the Aviation Security Research Award for his work with Sheldon Jacobson, Ph.D., in access control and checked baggage screening. Kobza, an associate professor at Texas Tech University, earned a B.S. in...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * Donna Massari was promoted to vice president of supply chain for Reichhold Inc. Previously, Massari worked in purchasing, manufacturing, and supply chain management with Honeywell, Allied Signal, and General Electric. She holds a B.A. in...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * IIE member David Goldsman received the Distinguished Service Award from the College on Simulation at the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. The award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions...

Newsmakers.
March 1, 2003... * NASA named Jody Singer manager of the Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. She holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Alabama. Singer, an...

The business of quality.(Book of the Month)
March 1, 2003... Six Sigma is a data-driven quality system that has produced legendary results for such corporations as Motorola and General Electric. But what if you are leading a company that isn't a multinational conglomerate? Presenting a practical...

Business briefs.
March 1, 2003... LifeWay Christian Resources won the 2002 Shipper of the Year Award from the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference, a Washington-based organization of small and less-than-truckload shippers. The company's inventory accuracy is 99.9...

Education briefs.
March 1, 2003... The University of Miami has established a center for supply chain management to conduct research education programs. Named the M. Anthony Burns Center for Advanced Supply Chain Management, the center will be directed by Eleftherios (Terry)...

Revealing pieces.(Performance Improvement)
March 1, 2003... As industrial engineers, we are required to work with people to help make improvements; unfortunately, these people don't always do what we ask of them without hesitation. They often come up with reasons why they can't change or why the...

Self-awareness plays its part.(Management)
March 1, 2003... What you're doing makes a lot more sense if you know what you're doing. In the film Patton, George C. Scott plays the domineering and inspiring leader of American troops in World War II. In one scene, Scott's character flies into an...

A New Year's resolution.(Ergonomics)
March 1, 2003... By this time of year, most people's New Year's resolutions have bitten the dust and passed into history. Don't feel too bad if that's the case with yours. Most of us create resolutions that either require little effort and therefore yield...

Plan for lean success.(Manufacturing)
March 1, 2003... Implementing lean manufacturing is at times frustrating, challenging, and exciting. In the early stages, there is much low-hanging fruit to pick. Early efforts clearly, often dramatically, show the promise of moving from traditional...

The quality of work life.(Member Forum)
March 1, 2003... Late last year, looking to avoid bankruptcy, United Airlines asked all union members to take salary reductions. The pilots and flight attendants agreed, but the mechanics voted against it, insisting on a better "quality of work life." What...

A home for efficiency; two IEs build rooms with a view of maximum efficiency and minimum environmental impact.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2003... When Michael Furbish and Heather Bathon purchased a piece of Chesapeake Bay property in 1997, they did not have plans to build an ecologically exceptional home. But once it became apparent that the derelict farmhouse on the lot was a total...

5th annual simulation solutions conference.
March 1, 2003... Join respected industry experts to explore the best simulation tools and techniques. Dynamic sessions hold the key to simulation success and reveal practical tips through lessons learned, case studies, and more. Simulation Solutions 2003 is...

Pulling widgets into lean success; a modern fable of one company's journey to the peak of supply chain efficiency.
March 1, 2003... The Widget Co. is a manufacturing enterprise that produces several varieties of widgets. The widgets are sold to original equipment manufacturers as sub-assembly components used to produce goods that are sold to end consumers. The company...

Strategic achievement: superior, sustainable company performance lies in solid execution.
March 1, 2003... What's more critical: strategy formulation or strategy implementation? While both are essential to achieving superior organizational performance, an increasing number of authors have concluded that implementing strategy is where companies...

Betting on simulation.(Simulation Advertorial)
March 1, 2003... In today's economy, the stakes are high and it's hard to bet against a sure thing. Whenever the way toward an efficient operating method seems like guesswork, simulation is in the cards. Professionals attending IIE's Simulation Solutions...

Executive summaries of current studies.(Research Reports)
March 1, 2003... This month we highlight three research projects in the area of design and manufacturing. The full paper for each summary below can be found in the April issue of IIE Transactions (Vol. 35, No. 4). TOLERANCE ALLOCATION Tolerance...

The results are in IIE members elect their officers for the 2003-2004 term.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... BOARD OF TRUSTEES President Donald L. Milligan National Textiles LLC President-Elect & CFO Harvey Wolfe, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh Immediate Past President Marlin U. Thomas, Ph.D. Purdue University...

Early birds get to learn; pre-conference workshops and tours offer a head start on the Annual Conference.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... Excitement is building for IIE's Annual Conference in Portland, Ore., in May. Provocative keynote speakers, more than 150 innovative sessions, and a range of tours stand out as major draws. Often overlooked, however, are the pre-conference...

Simulated entertainment: it's not just for engineers anymore.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... Professional simulation software and entertainment simulation software came of age together. For every SimCad Pro and Arena on the market today there is a SimCity 4 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 on the other side of the shelf. Though the...

Delivering diversity: grant from UPS funds scholarships for Women and Minorities.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... In January, Daniel O'Dwyer of UPS visited IIE headquarters to present a check for $15,350. The presentation marks the renewal of a multi-year commitment between IIE and UPS to the Women and Minority Industrial Engineer Outreach Program. The...

Working well with others; member and customer support department helps members make the most of their dues.(Meet the Staff)
March 1, 2003... It's the second week of April and your March copy of Industrial Engineer hasn't arrived. You want to log in to the Web site but you can't remember if your password is your dog's name or your spouse's. You want to register for the IIE Annual...

IIE annual conference May 17-21, 2003 Portland Hilton * Portland, Oregon.
March 1, 2003... COME ALIVE IN PORTLAND! Join us in Portland for the latest in IE research and practical, real-world applications! Impact your bottom line with the newest techniques in: * Lean manufacturing * Supply chain * Ergonomics *...

All the news that's fit to win.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... IIE recognized the following chapter newsletters for their excellence in 2002. Newsletter winners are judged on format, content, and visual appeal and are recognized in four tiers. PLATINUM AWARD Chapter ...

William A.J. Golomski Award winners announced.(Focus on IIE)
March 1, 2003... The William A.J. Golomski Award is bestowed annually to honor the outstanding paper in the proceedings of the annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium. To be eligible, at least one author of the paper must be a member of IIE. A panel of...

Resources: your guide for finding industrial engineering services and recruiters.
March 1, 2003... Simulation Modeling Simulate the what-if & Test-drive the future * Improve existing and validate future operations * Reduce project cost and schedule risk * Quantify and mitigate business risk www.SimulationUSA.com *...

Contentment quotient: establishing the measure of happiness.(Punchline)
March 1, 2003... For centuries, philosophers and laymen alike have debated the route to happiness. If only they had consulted a "life coach," they might have learned that the answer is as clear-cut as an equation. After the exhaustive research of...

Abusing the bottom line: supervisors who harangue subordinates get deadlines met but harm the organization.(Punchline)
March 1, 2003... Frustration and stress can cause some supervisors to become abusive to employees. While yelling and other non-physical intimidation toward subordinates may motivate employees to get their work done on time, the company may suffer financially in...

PC use is a pain.(Punchline)
March 1, 2003... Researchers in Japan have confirmed scientifically what every office worker knows from experience: Prolonged daily computer use can be a pain. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A three-year study of more than 25,000 workers found that people who...