Industrial and Systems Engineering

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Overview

The mission of the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is to:

• Prepare undergraduate and graduate students for life-long success and leadership in the profession, in industry, and in higher education;
• Conduct and disseminate research that advances knowledge; and
• Serve the profession, industry, and society.

Industrial and systems engineering is one of the most diverse fields in engineering. 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 of 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. 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 prepare industrial and systems engineering students to create value for organizations, the profession, and society. We achieve this mission by recruiting, retaining, and educating high quality and diverse students and by creating a rigorous and collegial environment enabling students to learn industrial engineering methods and tools, built upon a foundation of mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, and to apply them in any global organizational setting. Students are able to achieve academic and professional success through opportunities to participate in various educational experiences, to develop capabilities as future leaders, and to embark on a lifelong journey of professional development and learning.

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The ISE faculty, with input from our external Advisory Board, employers, and students, have defined the following Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) and Student Outcomes for our Undergraduate Program. PEOs are statements that describe the expected accomplishments of ISE graduates within 3-5 years after graduation. Student 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:

• Created value by applying appropriate industrial and systems engineering tools to design/redesign integrated systems/processes, solve problems, implement innovative solutions, and improve organizational outcomes.
• Provided formal or informal project, administrative, or technical leadership.
• Pursued professional development and knowledge enhancement via graduate study and/or continuing education in industrial engineering or related areas.
• Communicated effectively with different audiences and stakeholders using written, oral, and visual media.
• Worked effectively in teams having attributes such as varying organizational backgrounds, positions, geographic locations, and demographic compositions.
• Served the profession, community, and society as exemplified in our motto Ut Prosim.

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

(1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
(2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
(3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
(4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
(5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
(6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
(7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Industrial and Systems Engineering program at Virginia Tech is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Curriculum

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 to continue on to graduate study.

ISE 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, manufacturing systems engineering, human factors engineering and ergonomics, and management and systems engineering. 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 experience in multiple areas of our curriculum in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities associated with the undergraduate program. These include the ISE Senior Design Center, with computer support and other resource material for student design projects; the Harris Manufacturing Processes Laboratories, which contain robotics and automation equipment, machining equipment, conventional and numerically controlled machine tools, and welding and foundry facilities; the Human Factors Work Measurement and Methods Engineering Laboratory, which is equipped and used for in-class exercises and experiments in work measurement, motion economy and time study, psychophysics, human audition and vision, and work station design. Students also have the opportunity to work on Undergraduate Research with faculty and graduate students in the many ISE research labs and groups.

The capstone course in the ISE Undergraduate Program is a two-semester class, ISE 4005-6 Project Management & System Design (also referred to as "Senior Design"), where students work in project teams with an external company sponsor to solve a real-world problem. This experience provides ISE students with actual project experience that develops technical and professional skills, such as teamwork, communication, project management, and life-long learning skills, in addition to developing capabilities in applying IE tools and techniques. Student project teams present their project findings at our annual Senior Design Symposium attended by company sponsors and the ISE Advisory Board.

For the 2020 graduation requirements, the course work totals 127 hours. Electives 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 minors, such as a Business Minor, Green Engineering Minor, or Statistics Minor. Specific information about minors available to ISE students can be found in the ISE Undergraduate Student Handbook, posted on the ISE web site. 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 & Internship 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 many significant scholarship opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels to encourage and acknowledge high academic performance and achievements. The ISE department also maintains bilateral student exchange agreements with international universities, where students can take ISE courses which will transfer back to their BSISE. Students may also select other universities at which to perform a study abroad semester.

Graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. are offered (see Graduate Catalog). The graduate programs include concentrations in manufacturing systems engineering, human factors engineering and ergonomics, operations research, and management and systems engineering. The ISE Department also coordinates on- and off-campus master's degree programs in systems engineering (M.S.) and engineering administration (M.E.A.). The department also offers the accelerated undergraduate/graduate program for students interested in pursuing their Master's degree in ISE. More information is available on the ISE Department website.

Program Requirements

The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing degree requirements information, students should always choose the year of expected date of graduation. Graduation requirements are referred to via university publications known as "checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.

The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.

Please visit the University Registrar website at https://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html for degree requirements.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with one of the ISE Academic Advisors to discuss the BSISE curriculum.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (ISE)

2004: INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Introduction to the industrial and systems engineering profession through exposure to problems, principles, and practice. Integrated systems approach to problem solving. Foundation of data manipulation and preparation for problem analysis. Development of communication skills, career opportunities, importance of professionalism, ethics, contemporary challenges, lifelong learning, and introduction to the ISE Department. (1H,3L,2C)

2014: ENGINEERING ECONOMY
Concepts and techniques of analysis for evaluating the value of products/services, projects, and systems in relation to their cost. Economic and cost concepts, calculating economic equivalence, comparison of alternatives, purchase versus lease decisions, financial risk evaluation, cash flow sensitivity analysis, and after-tax analysis. (2H,2C)

2034: DATA MANAGEMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERS
Investigation of data modeling, storage, acquisition, and utilization in industrial and systems engineering via manual and computerized methods. Development of effective spreadsheet applications. Design and implementation of relational databases via entity-relationship modeling, relational schema, and normalization. Web-based database applications. Interface design and the system development life cycle applied to data management applications. All topics covered within the context of typical industrial and systems engineering problems. Pre: CS 1044 or CS 1064. (3H,3C)

2204: MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Survey of manufacturing processes including casting, forming, machining, welding, joining, and non-traditional processes such as laser-beam and electrical-discharge machining. Basic structure of metals, physical, and mechanical properties and their relationship to manufacturing. Process planning and the effect of plans on cost, safety, and the environment. Impact of product design on manufacturability: design for manufacture, assembly, etc. Also include topics in inspection and testing, jigs and fixtures, and numerical control. C- or better required in ENGE 1104 or ENGE 1114 or ENGE 1434 or ENGE 1216. Pre: ENGE 1104 or ENGE 1114 or ENGE 1216 or ENGE 1414. (3H,3C)

2214: MANUFACTURING PROCESSES LABORATORY
Laboratory exercises and experimentation in manufacturing processes. Emphasis on using production machines and equipment to make products using multiple manufacturing processes, coupled with inspection per engineering drawings. Processes include assembly, casting, machining, forming, welding, and non-traditional machining, performed manually and/or via computer programming. Also covers basic shop floor operation and documents used for monitoring and controlling part production. (3L,1C)

2404: DETERMINISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH
I Deterministic operations research modeling concepts; linear programming modeling, assumptions, algorithms, modeling languages, and optimization software; duality and sensitivity analysis with economic interpretation; network models (formulations and algorithms), including transportation problems, assignment problems, shortest path problems, maximum flow problems, minimum cost network flow problems, minimal spanning tree problems. A C- or better required in MATH 1114 or MATH 2114. Pre: MATH 1114 or MATH 2114. (3H,3C)

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

2994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

3004: INDUSTRIAL COST CONTROL
Fundamentals of general and cost accounting practices applied to manufacturing and service organizations. Cost accounting, standard cost determination, cost and budgetary control systems. C- or better required in ISE 2014. Pre: 2014 or ME 2024. (4H,3C)

3214: FACILITIES PLANNING AND LOGISTICS
Theory, concepts, and methods for designing and analyzing facilities and material flow in manufacturing, storage, and distribution environments. Topic areas include material handling systems, facility layout, facility location, warehousing, distribution, logistics, and transportation. C- or better in ISE 2014, 2404, and 3414. Pre: 2014, 2404. Co: 3414. (3H,3C)

3414: PROBABILISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH
This course introduces probability models used to investigate the behavior and performance of manufacturing and service systems under conditions of uncertainty. Major topics include probability, conditioning, elementary counting processes, and Markov chains and Markov processes. Emphasis is on the use of these tools to model queues, inventories, process behavior, and equipment reliability. C- or better required in STAT 4105, MATH 2224 or 2204, MATH 2214 or 2214H, and ISE 2004. Pre: 2004, STAT 4105, (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H), (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H), (CS 1044 or CS 1064). (3H,3C)

3424: DISCRETE-EVENT COMPUTER SIMULATION
Analysis and design of work systems through static and dynamic simulation. Topics include an introduction to systems analysis and modeling, simulation optimization, model development and testing, and problem analysis through simulation. C- or better required in ISE 3414 and STAT 4105. Pre: 3414, STAT 4105. (2H,3L,3C)

3434: DETERMINISTIC OPERATIONS RESEARCH II
Advanced concepts in deterministic operations research, including theory of complexity, integer programming, advanced linear programming techniques, nonlinear programming, dynamic programming. Covers modeling languages and optimization software for integer programming and nonlinear programming problems. Grade of C- or better required in ISE 2004, 2404 and MATH 2204 or 2224. Pre: 2404, (MATH 2224 or MATH 2204), ISE 2004. (3H,3C)

3614: HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING AND ERGONOMICS
Investigation of human factors, ergonomics, and work measurement engineering, with emphasis on a systems approach toward workplace and machine design. Discussion of basic human factors research and design methods, design/evaluation methods for work systems and human machine interactions, human information processing, visual and auditory processes, display and control design, and effects of environmental stressors on humans. C- or better required in ISE 2004. Pre: 2004. Co: STAT 4105. (3H,3C)

3624: INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
Introduction to ergonomics and work measurement with an emphasis on people at work. Discussion of methods for work measurement, ergonomic assessment, and evaluation, with major topics including productivity and performance, manual materials handling, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, safety, training and legal issues. C- or better required in ISE 3614. Pre: 3614, ESM 2104. (3H,3C)

4004: THEORY OF ORGANIZATION
A theory of cooperative behavior in formal organizations, including the structure and elements of formal organizations. The executive process and the nature of executive responsibility also are examined. (3H,3C)

4005-4006: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMS DESIGN
4005: Capstone design experience for ISE majors. Structured systems engineering and project management methods and tools to plan, manage, and execute technical industrial and systems engineering projects. Students work in teams to apply industrial and systems engineering and project management tools to define and analyze a real-world problem. 4006: Continuation of capstone design experience for ISE majors. Designing, implementing, and evaluating work system solutions. Communication of solutions to various project stakeholders. C- or better in all prerequisites. Pre: 2034, 2214, 3214, 3424, 4404 for 4005; 4005, 3624, 4204 for 4006. Co: 3624 for 4005. 4005: (3H,3C) 4006: (2H,2C)

4015,4016: MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THEORY, APPLICATIONS, AND DESIGN
Systems approach to management, domains of responsibility, structured and synergistic management tools, management system model, contextual frameworks, information portrayal, automation objectives model, evaluation, shared information processing, information modeling. A management process for definition, measurement, evaluation and control, the organization as an information processor, corporate culture, scoping agreements, schemas and management elements, structured design. (3H,3C)

4204: PRODUCTION PLANNING AND INVENTORY CONTROL
Planning and control of operations in both manufacturing and service industries. Effective management and utilization of resources and the production of cost effective products and services. Principles, models, and techniques used for production planning and inventory control. C- or better required in ISE 2404, ISE 3414, and STAT 4706. Pre: 2404, 3414, STAT 4706. (3H,3C)

4214: LEAN MANUFACTURING
Overview of Lean Manufacturing principles, theory, methods, and techniques in modern manufacturing enterprises. Lean philosophy and basic concepts, master production scheduling and production smoothing, assembly line sequencing, setup time reduction, U-shaped line balancing/operation, machine arrangement, kanban, autonomation, and value stream mapping. Investigation and discussion of lean manufacturing case studies. C- or better required in ISE 4204. Pre: 4204. (3H,3C)

4264: INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
A survey of the various technologies employed in industrial automation. This includes an emphasis on industrial applications of robotics, machine vision, and programmable controllers, as well as an investigation into problems in the area of CAD/CAM integration. Examination of the components commonly employed in automation systems, their aggregation and related production process design. Laboratory work is required. C- or better required in ISE 2204 or ISE 2214. Pre: 2204 or 2214. (2H,3L,3C)

4304: GLOBAL ISSUES IN INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT
Industrial management topics of current interest explored from a global perspective. Current domestic and international challenges resulting from a global marketplace and the proliferation of information and technology. Industrial management and organizational performance, total quality management, business process re-engineering, leadership, organizational change, role of communication and information, and ethics. Examination and comparison across international boundaries. (3H,3C)

4404: STATISTICAL QUALITY CONTROL
Application of statistical methods and probability models to the monitoring and control of product quality. Techniques for acceptance sampling by variables and attributes are presented. Shewhart control charts for both classes of quality characteristics are examined in depth. The motivation for each method, its theoretical development, and its application are presented. The focus is upon developing an ability to design effective quality control procedures. C- or better required in ISE 3414, STAT 4105, and STAT 4706. Pre: 3414, STAT 4105, STAT 4706. (3H,3C)

4414: INDUSTRIAL QUALITY CONTROL
Implementation of statistical quality control techniques in an industrial setting. Development and analysis of cost models for use in the design of optimal quality control plans. Also included are new techniques, advanced quality control models, and an examination of the role of industrial statistics in the overall product quality assurance function. C- or better required in ISE 4404. Pre: 4404. (3H,3C)

4424: LOGISTICS ENGINEERING
Introduction to the key issues in the integrated support of a product or process. Synthesis of topics from earlier studies to provide a cohesive approach to their applications. Logistics engineering provides a survey of product support issues and methods of resolving them within the context of the overall production activity. C- or better required in ISE 3414. Pre: 3414. (3H,3C)

4434: SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONS ENGINEERING
Mathematical models, algorithms, and tools to support the design/redesign and management of supply chain systems. Resiliency, reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of supply chains; collaboration and coordination among the different decision-makers in supply chains; impact of new developments on supply chain engineering, including the growth of the internet and e-commerce, the need to build suitable and environmentally-friendly supply chains. Mathematical modeling and system-wide optimization of the entire supply chain system under certainty. Pre: 2404, 3414. (3H,3C)

4624: WORK PHYSIOLOGY
Anthropometry, skeletal system, biomechanics, sensorimotor control, muscles, respiration, circulation, metabolism, climate. Ergonomic design of task, equipment, and environment. C- or better required in 3624. Pre: 3624. (3H,3C)

4644: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HAZARD CONTROL
Survey of occupational safety. Topics include: history of occupational safety; hazard sources related to humans, environment, and machines; engineering management of hazards. C- or better required in ISE 3614. Pre: 3614. (3H,3C)

4654: PRINCIPLES OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Introduction to the foundations of the field of Industrial Hygiene, that discipline devoted to the anticipation, recognition, measurement, evaluation, and control of occupational health hazards. Includes biological (e.g. microbial agents, allergens), chemical (e.g. solvents, carcinogens, dusts), and physical (e.g. radiation , temperature) hazards. Overview of control of health hazards, such as personal protective equipment, administrative controls, and engineering controls. Will involve lecture and participatory "case-study" activities. Will provide ample opportunity for hands-on use of monitoring equipment, protective equipment and controls testing devices. (3H,3C)

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.