Industrial and Systems Engineering

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https://ise.utk.edu/

Kobza, John E., PhD, Department Head
Jin, M., PhD, Associate Head

Professors
Jin, M., PhD – Lehigh
Kobza, J.E., PhD – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Li, X., PhD – Arizona State
Sawhney, R.S., PhD – Tennessee
Terpenny, J., PhD – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Associate Professors
Ostrowski, J.A., PhD – Lehigh
Yu, A.J. (UTSI), PhD – Louisiana State University

Assistant Professors
Hwangbo, H., PhD – Texas A and M University
Khojandi, A., PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Medal, H., PhD – Arkansas
Shylo, O.V., PhD – Florida

Other Faculty
Blache, K., PhD – Wayne State
Halstead, P., BS – State University of New York
Kress, R., PhD – University of Arizona
Martin, H.L., PhD – Tennessee
Lin, Z., PhD – UC-Davis
Mao, J., PhD – Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Nimbalkar, S., PhD – Rutgers
Omitaomu, O., PhD – Tennessee
O’Shaughnessy, L.K., MS – Tennessee
Ostrowski, F., MS – East Carolina University
Perumalla, K., PhD. – Georgia Institute of Technology
Panquit, V., PhD – University of Bourgogne
Powers, S., PhD – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Richards, H., PhD – UNC Greensboro
Rose, A., PhD – Tennessee
Simonton, J.L. (UTSI), PhD – Texas Tech
Stanfill, K. PhD – Florida
Tolk, J. (UTSI), PhD – Texas Tech
Vlok, P., PhD – University of Pretoria
Wenning, T., MS – University of Dayton

Emeriti Faculty
Bontadelli, J.A., PhD – Ohio State
Claycombe, W., PhD – Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Ford, R., PhD – Tennessee
Garcia-Diaz, A., PhD – Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
Garrison, G.W. (UTSI), PhD – North Carolina State
Hungerford, J.C., PhD – Ohio State
Kirby, K.E., PhD – Tennessee
Kuo, W., PhD – Kansas State

Originally, the industrial engineering profession focused on manufacturing. Today’s industrial engineers will be involved in the design of systems and processes to produce and deliver goods and services not only in manufacturing, but also in the service industries and government sectors. Today’s industrial engineers are concerned with the design of integrated systems involving people, materials, finances, equipment, processes, energy, and information, so that the overall system functions efficiently and human needs are adequately met. Industrial engineering is distinctive in two respects – industrial engineers typically work on problems or systems that include human beings as a major variable and industrial engineers are by definition systems engineers, whose unique combination of skills can be applied to many working environments.

It is this emphasis on people, science, and technology that distinguishes industrial engineering from the other engineering disciplines. Industrial engineers’ objective is to achieve the best possible results for the benefit of humankind in terms of safety, quality, and productivity. Industrial engineers create value through a total systems approach, scientific method, engineering design, and integration of new technologies. In common with all engineering disciplines, industrial engineering is based on mathematics and the physical sciences. However, industrial engineering also emphasizes the life sciences and social sciences. This concern for the human element leads to system designs that enhance the quality of life for all people, both as producers and consumers of products and services.

Career choices for industrial engineers range from retail distribution, logistics and transportation, banking, healthcare delivery, corporate management, municipal management, aerospace systems, research groups, government employment, as well as manufacturing. In all areas of manufacturing, service, and government, there is increasing emphasis on the goal of improving quality and productivity. Industrial engineers work closely with the top management in these sectors to achieve this goal.

Industrial engineering graduates possess the knowledge, technical skills, and professionalism for their entry into industry or graduate study. They are prepared for life-long learning and for service to society. Many will achieve prominent roles in management.

Students majoring in industrial engineering are eligible to participate in the Engineering Cooperative Program and other student activities in the Tickle College of Engineering. Industrial engineering majors interested in the Engineering Cooperative Program should visit Office of Cooperative Engineering or consult with their faculty advisor.

Goals

The goals of the industrial engineering undergraduate program are to prepare students to contribute to the profession of industrial engineering and to prepare them for further study, including professional and graduate education.

Educational Objectives

The IE program educational objectives have been developed to address the needs of our constituencies and to be consistent with and supportive of University of Tennessee mission and programmatic goals. Within 3-5 years of graduation,

• Graduates will meet or exceed the expectations of employers of Industrial engineers,
• Qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if desired.
• Graduates will pursue leadership positions in their profession and/or communities.

This curriculum emphasizes on the knowledge and skills necessary to design integrated systems of people, materials, funding, equipment, and energy such that the overall systems function at an optimal level and such that the needs of human components of the system are met. The solid, broad base in engineering, combined with education in applying engineering methodology to traditionally non-engineering problem areas as provided through the industrial engineering curriculum, leads to participation by industrial engineers in an unlimited range of fields including retail distribution, banking, health care delivery, corporate management, municipal management, food industry, as well as traditional areas of manufacturing.

The department offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering, accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Five-Year BS-MS Program

The department offers a Five-Year BS-MS program with a major in industrial engineering for qualified students. The primary component of the program is a qualified student may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate courses and have them count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. The student may also take an additional 9 credit of courses, while working towards their bachelor’s, which will count only for the master’s degree. Qualifications for admission to the program are:

• The student must have an earned minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 to be considered for admission to the program. Conditional admission may be granted the student after completing 65 hours of the required coursework.

• Conditional admission must be obtained before taking a graduate course that is to be used to satisfy the requirements of both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School.

• Full admission may be granted after completing 96 hours of required coursework and with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 in the required coursework.

• Conditional and full admission of a student into this program must be approved by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, the Tickle College of Engineering, and the Graduate School.

• Full admission must be obtained before taking a graduate course that is to be used to satisfy the requirements only for the master’s degree. These courses must be identified in advance, with the proposed master’s advisor or the Industrial Engineering Graduate Program Coordinator.

• Any course taken for graduate credit prior to satisfying all requirements for the bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering must be approved by the department head or designee and the Graduate School.

• A student will not be eligible for a graduate assistantship until the student is enrolled as a graduate-level student in the Graduate School, has satisfied all of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, or the student is in the final semester of the bachelor’s degree and has completed all undergraduate industrial engineering coursework.

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