Industrial Engineer articles from September 2007

Industrial Engineer archives from September 2007

Feverish efforts.(engineers will play a prominent role in managing global warming)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... Is it warm in here or it is just me? What a cruel summer we had in Atlanta. Stifling temperatures, near-drowning humidity, and the resulting Code Red air quality kept us confined to air conditioned environs for weeks. Groaning under the strain...

Lies, fraud, felony, greed.(RANTS AND RAVES)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I read with interest Walt Pavlo's article in the August issue of Industrial Engineer. As I am currently assisting my hospital to form an ethics committee charged with policy revision, education, and consultation addressing both medical and...

Nursing a debate.(RANTS AND RAVES)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... The articles that prompted me to write appear in the July issue of Industrial Engineer. One brief item explains that HIMSS (the professional organization for IT people in health care) has issued a statement supporting the IIE Society for...

Nurse staffing jeopardized?(RANTS AND RAVES)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Thank you for the article highlighting the support Society for Health Systems has received from other professional organizations regarding the SHS nurse-to-patient staffing ratio position paper ("HIMSS Backs SHS," July). I would like to...

Remedy for system breakdown.(RANTS AND RAVES)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I was struck by Jane Gaboury's recent editorial ("My Left Kidney," July) for several reasons. First, my apologies as a physician that she had to wade through the mess that we have in health care. I feel bad for my patients daily even as I try...

Call for comprehensive rail legislation: study suggests ways to improve U.S. Rail Safety.(Front Line)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Resources dedicated to U.S. railroad security are inadequate, and legislation is needed to identify threats, clarify the roles of public and private entities, and establish funding, concludes a report conducted by Pennsylvania State University....

What's good for you.(SITE TO SEE)(National Academy of Engineering launches a website for engineering students)(www.onlineethics.org)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Get a dose of what's good for you at the Online Ethics Center (www.onlineethics.org). A new service from the National Academy of Engineering, the site has a two-fold purpose: to provide engineers and engineering students with resources for...

Professional golfer.(UNCOMMON IE)(biography of Heather Zielinski)(Brief article)(Biography)
September 1, 2007... THE TASK AT HAND: Heather Zielinski earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and promptly launched her professional golfing career. Joining the Duramed Futures Tour in 2005 realized a...

Career success.(BOOK OF THE MONTH)(Career Success in Engineering)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2007... Engineering graduates often find that while they are technically equipped for a career, they have received little instruction in such real-world matters as career planning, interviewing skills, and project management. Newly minted engineers not...

Pigskin process.(QUOTE, UNQUOTE)
September 1, 2007... "What you're trying to do is help put the highest quality product on the field. You want to run or defend a play and give your players the highest probability of succeeding. But with all the scientific analysis in the game, you can never reduce...

Dilbert.(Cartoon)
September 1, 2007... www.dilbert.com scottadams@aol.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3-29-06 [c] 2006 Scott Adams, Inc./Dist. by UFS, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [c] Scott Adams/Dist. by United Feature Syndicate, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Heating up agricultural efficiency: red chili farmers and processors get help.(Front Line)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The industry that brings New Mexicans one of their favorite spicy foods may become more efficient thanks to help from several departments at New Mexico State University. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The goal is to increase the profitability...

High cost of missed work days: billions of dollars lost to illness and injury.(Front Line)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Lost work days due to illness and injury carry total annual costs of nearly $63 billion in lost work and productivity, reports a study in the July Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Using data...

Retired Accenture chairman honored: Auburn gains support of its Ise program.(Front Line)(Joe W. Forehand receives professorship)(Occupation overview)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Accenture and Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering have established the Joe W. Forehand/Accenture Distinguished Professorship. Made possible by a $1 million gift from Accenture, the endowed professorship is named in honor of...

Electronic health records no panacea: quality of care doesn't improve with technology alone.(Front Line)
September 1, 2007... Electronic health records have been hailed as a key element in making U.S. medical care more effective and efficient, but a new study shows that electronic records don't improve the overall quality of outpatient health care. Of 17 quality...

Hospital errors mount.(PRIME NUMBER)(costs a lot to hospitals )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Medical errors cost U.S. hospitals $8.6 billion over three years, according to health care ratings organization Health Grades Inc., which calculated an increase in patient safety incidents of 3 percent over the years 2003 to 2005. ...

Losing our span of control.(performance)(to judge employee performance)
September 1, 2007... I WAS RECENTLY ASKED A QUESTION THAT should be fundamental for any organization considering the effectiveness of its performance improvement efforts: What should be the ratio of supervisors to employees? Possible answers are easy to find: Just...

More bad news from Detroit.(management)(automobile market share declined)
September 1, 2007... GENERAL MOTORS CORP. REPORTED A 21 percent drop in U.S. car sales for the month of June compared to the same period in 2006. Its experience with light trucks was even worse. Ford and Chrysler reported similar results. The market share of...

No need for slack time.(human factors)(traffic control system should be proper)
September 1, 2007... THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE REGULAR READERS of this column know that I like to tweak the human factors and industrial engineering professions. That is, on occasion, I like to point out absurdities or things we say while doing the opposite. This month,...

A world gone green: IE methods can curb global warming effects.(SPECIAL REPORT: turning down the heat)
September 1, 2007... Twenty years ago, global warming was as real as Santa Claus to many people. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It simply wasn't a big deal. The discussion about it then seemed limited to scientists and never made a discernable impression on...

No vroom for pollution: automakers work on greening up their plants.(SPECIAL REPORT: turning down the heat)
September 1, 2007... Honk if you've heard this data before: The Environmental Protection Agency says that on average, an individual gas-operated car releases about 12,500 pounds of air pollution each year--11,450 pounds of which is carbon dioxide. Cars also use...

No training wheels required: manufacturing system upgrades rely on novice simulators.
September 1, 2007... Assessing performance prior to implementation is one part of the process of designing a manufacturing system. Manufacturing system design does not typically promote the use of simulation modeling to help improve and validate designs, but some...

The human touch: cohesive cross-cultural teams begin with savvy relationship management.
September 1, 2007... I discovered the key to successful cross-cultural project planning by accident. Five minutes before I began a class about India for a group of engineers, the head of the department pulled me aside. "Listen," he said, "I know this is short...

Efficient fix-ups: optimize service and cost by synthesizing IE and maintenance.
September 1, 2007... The success of any maintenance department depends on its ability to keep ahead of random demands, short lead-times, long cycle jobs, and highly varied and complex work with limited resources. In a nutshell, that's the problem. The industrial...

Will work for pay.(SOLUTIONS IN PRACTICE)
September 1, 2007... "Hardly a competent workman can be found who does not devote a considerable amount of time to studying just how slowly he can work and still convince his employer that he is going at a good pace," said 19th-century American engineer Frederick...

Research.(manufacturing industries must focus on inventory control for profitability)
September 1, 2007... This month we highlight two articles that appear in September's scheduling and logistics edition of IIE Transactions (Vol. 39, No. 9). Both are concerned with better allocation of available inventory when a firm has customers in different...

Transportation accounting.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(what transportation channel must be used to reduce cost)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Q: When I want to schedule a distribution process for a product using one truck or more, how can I include the transportation in the schedule to get a close-to-optimal schedule? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A: In scheduling the distribution...

To P.E. or not?(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(doing Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering is worth)
September 1, 2007... Q: I'm a senior pursuing my B.S.I.E. I'm wondering what advantages a P.E. designation will have. I've heard that being a P.E. isn't necessary for industrial engineers but am curious about the benefits and advantages or if it would be...

Optimized assignments.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(using optimization techniques for proper logistics)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Q: I am looking for an easy and inexpensive way to optimize tractor assignments based on drivers' schedules (routes). Basically, I'd like to double and triple utilize as many tractors as possible. I want to input a start and finish time for...

Beyond quality.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)
September 1, 2007... Q: I am doing my internship in a quality assurance department, but I think I made the wrong choice. In this department, they take samples from the production line and test whether they are suitable for production. Or they test the products...

International flavor: bot president shares thoughts with IIE Hong Kong.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)(Board of Trustees)(Institute of International Education)(Louis Martin-Vega)
September 1, 2007... It was a meeting of East and West in May when IIE leadership met face-to-face with one of the Institute's many international counterparts. IIE Board of Trustees President Louis Martin-Vega, Ph.D., P.E., visited members of IIE Hong Kong...

Cheering operational excellence: lean and Quality Conference ADDS benchmarking, workshops.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)(Conference news)
September 1, 2007... If your job requires you to reduce costs and improve overall quality for your company, then Atlanta is the best place to be late this month, say IIE conference organizers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The annual Lean and Quality Conference...

New school year means new award nominees: nominations open for honors, scholarships, fellowships.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)
September 1, 2007... There are three signs that fall is near: the start of a new school year, football season, and nominations for IIE awards and scholarships. While watching hours of college football may not help a professional or future industrial engineer...

Bahadir Aral, Ph.D., was among five graduate students at Texas A & M University who received the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award from the university.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Bahadir Aral, Ph.D., was among five graduate students at Texas A & M University who received the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award from the university. Aral was honored for his instruction in industrial and systems engineering. He received it...

Balabhaskar Balasundaram, Ph.D., was among five graduate students at Texas A & M University who received the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award for his instruction in industrial and systems engineering.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Balabhaskar Balasundaram, Ph.D., was among five graduate students at Texas A & M University who received the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award for his instruction in industrial and systems engineering. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical...

Louis A. Martin-Vega, Ph.D., P.E., president of the IIE Board of Trustees, received the 2007 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award by the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Fla.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)
September 1, 2007... Louis A. Martin-Vega, Ph.D., P.E., president of the IIE Board of Trustees, received the 2007 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award by the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Fla. Martin-Vega is dean of the College of Engineering at...

Al Morelli was named president of Searchtec Consulting Group, a manufacturing consulting firm.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Al Morelli was named president of Searchtec Consulting Group, a manufacturing consulting firm. A member of IIE since 1977, Morelli is a former president of the IIE chapter in Orange County, Calif. Morelli is an industry professor in the...

Hammerhead Industries Inc.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Heavy Duty Gear Kepper Instrument Tether helps keep expensive and vital instruments within reach. The spring-loaded, self-retracting security system mounts to the wearer's belt, providing low-profile tethering that avoids snags and that...

Occidental Leather.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(engineers weare)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Engineers who need organization and easy access to tools while on the go can find their desires fulfilled with Occidental Leather's Stronghold Brief. The carrier includes two outer sleeve pockets, a main sleeve for portfolios or a laptop, two...

McGuire-Nicholas.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(information about engineering pouch)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A tool belt can often be cumbersome to wear. McGuire-Nicholas recommends using its 18-Pocket Pouch with Kickstand to avoid unwanted ergonomic stress. Uniquely designed holders carry hammer, sticking tape, and measuring tape, among other items....

ToolPak.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(information about buckets (Excavating machinery))(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... ToolPak's BucketPak isn't an average bucket. It has multiple carrying modes that include the standard bucket handle and a shoulder strip padded with high-density foam that is supported by twist-proof clips. The BucketPak includes 38 pockets, a...

Woodcraft.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(information on engineering vests)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Woodcraft's Tool Vest provides comfort by distributing the weight of tools on one's shoulders. Several pockets keep necessary tools within reach. Two 6-by-6 inch breast pockets feature bottom snaps and straps, allowing the pockets to swing out...

Skillers Workwear.(WHAT ENGINEERS WANT)(use of rubber in maufacturing engineering belts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Rubber work restraints rarely provide the support needed to work long hours without backache. Skillers' Ergo Belt provides workers with the necessary relief. The ergonomic belt is made of Cordura on the outside for extra durability and is...

Work perfect: the day we strive for.(interview of Gerard O'Connor employee of The Adelaide and Meath Hospital )(Interview)
September 1, 2007... I'm both the chief medical scientist in the laboratory medicine department and the laboratory manager for this service in what is a university teaching hospital of about 600 acute beds. Any large university hospital would have a large...