College of Engineering

Industrial and Systems Engineering

ise.vt.edu G. Don Taylor, Jr., Head and Charles O. Gordon Professor E.M. Van Aken, Associate Head and Undergraduate Program Director C.P. Koelling, Assistant Head and Graduate Program Director John Grado Professor: J.G. Casali John W. Hancock, Jr. Chair: P.E. Torgersen Paul T. Norton Professor: S.C. Sarin W. Thomas Rice Professor: H.D. Sherali Professors: M.P. Deisenroth; B.M. Kleiner; M.A. Nussbaum; R. Sturges; K.P. Triantis Associate Professors: E.K. Bish; K.P. Ellis; L.K. Harmon; C.P. Koelling; T.E. Lockhart; J.A. Nachlas; J.P. Shewchuk; T. Smith-Jackson; M.R. Taaffe; E.M. Van Aken Assistant Professors: M.J. Agnew ; D.R. Bish; L.M.A. Chan; Y. Merzifonluoglu; R. Pasupathy; W. W. Winchester III Faculty Affiliates1: D.Y. Gao; J. Terpenny Adjunct Faculty: B. Fraticelli; J. Meredith; L. Travis; D. Young Professors Emeritus: B.S. Blanchard; W.J. Fabrycky; P.T. Kemmerling; K.H. E. Kroemer; H.A. Kurstedt; D. L. Price; J.W. Schmidt, Jr.; H.L. Snyder; W.G. Sullivan; W.W. Wierwille; R.C. Williges Associate Professor Emeritus: P. Ghare; M.L. Spengler Academic Advisor: J. Vest 1Faculty with regular appointments in other departments Overview Program Educational Objectives and Program Outcomes Program Requirements Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Overview

The Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has three primary objectives relating to its academic mission:

1. to provide the highest quality education for preparing undergraduate and graduate students for a lifelong experience in the rapidly changing field of industrial and systems engineering, and to further prepare these students for future leadership roles in the industrial and systems engineering profession, in business and in industry;
2. to conduct research toward advancing the frontiers of industrial and systems engineering, supporting the industrial and economic growth of Virginia and the nation, and providing faculty with the latest knowledge and techniques for dissemination in the classroom; and,
3. to serve the industrial engineering profession, industry, and society.

Industrial and systems engineering is one of the most exciting and diverse engineering disciplines. ISE is concerned with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated work systems of people, materials, equipment and technology, processes, information, and capital. The industrial engineer is concerned with creating value and improving performance results achieved from integrated systems, whether that involves improving quality and productivity, reducing costs and non-value adding activities, improving customer satisfaction, or improving worker safety.

The applications for industrial engineering capabilities include industry, government, and service organizations. For example, graduates of the ISE program at Virginia Tech work in manufacturing facilities, distribution warehouses, hospitals, airlines, railroads, banks, amusement parks, the military, federal government, and management consulting firms. The boundaries of where IEs make contributions are limitless.

The mission of the ISE Undergraduate Program is to graduate industrial and systems engineers having a broad education with coverage of manufacturing systems, operations research, human factors engineering and ergonomics, and management systems, supported by a foundation in mathematics and sciences. The ISE curriculum explicitly encompasses coursework useful in addressing not only the technical elements of work systems, but also the organizational, economic, and human elements. Our aim is to provide graduates with the knowledge and capabilities to enable them to successfully pursue careers in industrial engineering or, if qualified, to continue on to graduate study.

Industrial and systems engineering emphasizes instruction in fundamental engineering principles based on the physical sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, and statistics. These principles are applied in practical design experiences throughout the undergraduate curriculum.


Course work in the physical and chemical sciences and mathematics provides a solid background for basic engineering science courses, which in turn support more focused courses in industrial engineering, covering topics in operations research, production/manufacturing systems, ergonomics and safety, and management systems. In all these areas, analysis and design activities are supported by modern computing and software tools taught in the curriculum.

Students gain valuable hands-on, laboratory experience in manufacturing processes, work methods, computer simulation, and human factors engineering. State-of-the-art laboratory facilities associated with the undergraduate curriculum include the ISE Computer Laboratory, which contains state-of-the-art computers and printers to support the needs and requirements of industrial and systems engineering students that are not available through access to personal computers or in other laboratories; the Student Design Center, with computer support and other resource material for student design projects; the Manufacturing Systems Engineering Laboratories, which contain robotics and automation equipment, conventional and numerically controlled machine tools, and welding and foundry facilities; the Work Methods and Human Factors Laboratory, which is used for in-class exercises and experiments in work measurement, motion economy and time study, psychophysics, human audition and vision, and work station design.

The capstone course in the ISE Undergraduate Program is a two-semester Senior Design class (ISE 4005-6) where students work in project teams with an external company sponsor to solve a complex problem. This capstone course provides ISE students with real-world project experience that develops technical and professional skills, such as teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning skills. Student project teams present their project findings at our annual Senior Design Symposium attended by company sponsors and the ISE Advisory Board.

The course work totals 136 hours and includes 21 credit hours of electives and 13 credit hours of Liberal Education Area electives, which provide students with the opportunity to explore other areas of engineering, as well as cultural, societal and creative experiences, which makes for a well-rounded, diverse, and globally-aware engineer.

The ISE program also provides students with the opportunity to pursue a Business Minor, which enhances an already strong business and engineering background. Students may also choose to pursue a Math Minor, which provides additional strength to a program already rich in mathematics and statistics. Each minor requires the completion of only two additional courses (6 credit hours) above and beyond the ISE curriculum. Students and employers alike are seeing the benefits of these minors for adding value to the ISE major.

Many ISE students seek to participate in Undergraduate Research to satisfy elective requirements in the curriculum. The opportunity to work more closely, in some cases, on a one-on-one basis with our outstanding faculty can provide more in-depth development of ISE capabilities and a more enriching educational experience.

The department participates in the Cooperative Education Program, in which qualified students may alternate semesters of study with semesters of professional co-op employment or internships. Students are encouraged to pursue these experiences before they graduate to make them more competitive in the work force. Students are also encouraged to participate in career fairs and job interviews on and off campus.

The ISE department also provides students with significant scholarships, on an undergraduate and graduate level, to encourage and acknowledge high academic performance and achievements.

Graduate programs leading to the M. Engr., M.S., and Ph.D. are offered (see Graduate Catalog). The graduate programs include concentrations in manufacturing systems, human factors engineering and ergonomics, operations research, management systems, and general IE. The ISE department also coordinates on- and off-campus master's degree programs in systems engineering (M.S.) and engineering administration (M.E.A.).

Program Educational Objectives and Program Outcomes

The ISE faculty have defined the following Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) and Program Outcomes that support our Undergraduate Program and Department mission. PEOs are statements that describe the expected accomplishments of ISE graduates within 3-5 years after graduation. Program Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do at the time of graduation.

Program Educational Objectives: Within 3-5 years of graduation, ISE alumni will have:

1. Created value through the modeling, analysis, design, selection, and implementation of integrated solutions using appropriate methodologies and tools to improve performance (quality, productivity, safety, efficiency, and/or speed) of work systems.
2. Provided leadership and worked effectively in collaborative team environments with others of varying backgrounds and organizational levels.
3. Pursued professional development through graduate study and/or continuing education in industrial engineering or related areas.
   

Program Outcomes: At the time of graduation, ISE students will have the:

1. Ability to apply computational and industrial engineering tools and techniques encompassing manufacturing systems, operations research, human factors and ergonomics, and management systems.
2. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and physical and social sciences to IE problems.
3. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve structured and unstructured IE problems.
4. Ability to model, analyze, and evaluate work systems and processes, using appropriate experimental design, measurement tools/techniques, and data.
5. Ability to generate and evaluate alternatives to design an integrated work system or process through a systems perspective.
6. Ability to evaluate the impact of IE solutions in the broader context of the organization and society, with an appreciation of different cultures and perspectives.
7. Knowledge of the role of industrial engineers in contemporary issues.
8. Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences and using written, oral, and visual media.
9. Understanding of professionalism, good citizenship, and ethical behavior.
10. Ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams.
11. Understanding of the need for continued professional development and ability to engage in life-long learning.
    

The Industrial and Systems Engineering program at Virginia Tech is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone (410) 347-7700.

Program Requirements

The required classes for the ISE undergraduate degree are shown below for each year. These requirements are based on the ISE 2009 Checksheet for students graduating in 2009. Students completing the BSISE curriculum prior to or after 2009 should consult the appropriate checksheet (available on the ISE web site or in the ISE Academic Advisor’s office).

First Year
First Semester
ENGL 1105: English II	3
CHEM 1035: General Chemistry for Engineers	3
CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Lab for Engineers	1
MATH 1114: Linear Algebra	2
MATH 1205: Calculus I	3
ENGE 1024: Engineering Exploration	2
Elective	3
Credits	17
Second Semester
ENGL 1106: English II	3
PHYS 2305: Foundations of Phys I w/lab	4
MATH 1206: Calculus II	3
MATH 1224 Vector Geometry	2
ENGE 1104: Exploration Digital Future or ENGE 1114: Exploration Engineering Design	2
Elective	3
Credits	17
Second Year
First Semester
PHYS 2306: Foundations of Phys II w/Lab	4
MATH 2224: Multivariable Calculus	3
ISE 2014: Engineering Economy	2
ENGE 2314: Eng. Problem Solving w/ C++	2
ENGE 2344: Computer-Aided Drafting	1
ESM 2104: Statics	3
Credits	15
Second Semester
MATH 2214: Differential Equations	3
STAT 4105: Theoretical Statistics	3
ISE 2204: Manufacturing Processes	2
ISE 2214: Manufacturing Processes Lab	1
ISE 2404: Deterministic Operations Research	3
ESM 2304: Dynamics	3
MSE 2034: Materials Engineering	3
Credits	18
Third Year
First Semester
STAT 4706: Statistics for Engineers	3
ISE 3014: Work Measurement and Methods Engr	3
ISE 3414: Probabilistic Operations Research	3
ISE 3614: Intro to Human Factors Engineering	3
ECE 3054: Electrical Theory	3
Elective	1
Credits	16
Second Semester
ISE 3214: Facility Planning and Material Handling	3
ISE 3424: Discrete-Event Computer Simulation	3
ISE 3624: Industrial Ergonomics	3
ISE 3024: Data Mgt for Industrial Engineers	3
Electives	6
Credits	18
Fourth Year
First Semester
ISE 4005: Project Management and Sys. Design	3
ISE 4204: Prod. Planning and Inventory Control	3
ISE 4404: Statistical Quality Control	3
Electives	9
Credits	18
Second Semester
ISE 4006: Project Management and Sys. Design	2
ISE 4304: Global Issues in Indus. Mgt.	3
Electives	12
Credits	17

Notes:
a) These program requirements are based on the ISE 2009 Checksheet; students graduating before or after 2009 should see the ISE Academic Advisor;
b) A C- or better must be obtained in ISE, STAT, and MATH courses that are prerequisites for more advanced ISE courses (see Catalog descriptions for specific prerequisite requirements for each course);
c) Electives must be taken to satisfy the 13 credit hours of Liberal Education Area requirements, 6 credit hours of Non-Technical Electives, 6 credit hours of Engineering Science Electives, 3 credit hours of Technical Electives (for Class of 2008 and after), and 6 credit hours of ISE Technical Electives – students should refer to the ISE Undergraduate Handbook and ISE 2009 Checksheet for specific requirements in each Elective area;
d) For more information about the ISE curriculum and requirements, contact the ISE Academic Advisor at 540/231-6388 or the ISE department at 540/231-6656.