Industrial Engineering Courses

IE 501 Linear Programming and Extensions

This course aims to provide students with a sound theoretical background on linear optimization and its extensions in other optimization areas.  It builds upon previously acquired introductory knowledge on Linear Programming (LP), which includes development of LP models and the workings of the Simplex Algorithm.  Students develop a deeper understanding of the mathematical underpinnings of the Simplex Algorithm and linear optimization in general. Topics include optimality conditions, duality theory, and methods for large scale optimization. Students also practice with using CPLEX, a state-of-the-art optimization software, through a project of their choice.

IE 502 Integer Programming

The aim of this course is to introduce both the practice and the theory of integer programming. The course covers integer programming’s scope and applicability, MILP models, linear inequalities and polyhedral, split inequalities, intersection cuts, valid inequalities, lift-and-project procedure, Benders’ decomposition, and enumeration.
 
IE 504 Heuristic Methods

A large number of real-life optimization problems in engineering are complex and difficult to solve with classical optimization techniques. They cannot be solved in an exact manner within a reasonable amount of time; therefore, using approximate algorithms is the main alternative to solve this class of problems. In this course, students will learn a variety of heuristic methods, which are used to find good but not necessarily optimal solutions to difficult optimization problems within a reasonably short time. The course aims to provide an understanding of the general characteristics and limitations of a wide range of classical and modern heuristics; introduce techniques to design and implement heuristics; and present applications of heuristic methods to different problems.

IE 521 Operations Research and Applications

This course explores issues in the design, implementation, and evaluation of Intelligent User Interfaces that use artificial intelligence technologies such as machine learning, computer vision and pattern recognition. The purpose of the course is to cover three aspects of intelligent user interface design including the development process, supporting device technologies and the related algorithmic knowledge. The course will be organized around reading and discussion of seminal and recent papers from the related literature.

IE 522 Mathematics of Operations Research

The aim of this course is to introduce students the mathematical sophistication of operations research.  Topics to be covered include, methods of proof, convex analysis, sets and functions, metric spaces, and fundamentals of linear algebra. Students will be familiarized with several basic mathematical concepts that are utilized in the fields of engineering, management science and finance.

IE 532 Stochastic Models

This course provides an introduction to stochastic modeling. It covers various topics including conditional probability and expectation, discrete and continuous time Markov chains, and queuing theory. This is a Ph.D. level course and some background on probability is required. The focus of the course is more on thinking probabilistically on operations research/management science related applied problems, rather than a measure theoretic introduction.
 
IE 560 Logistics

The aim of this course is to introduce students the problems in the design and control of modern logistics systems, and quantitative methods for modeling, analyzing and developing solutions to these problems. Topics to be covered include facility location planning, long-haul transportation management, short-haul transportation management and warehousing.

IE 562 Game Theory

Game theory is a mathematical tool developed to understand not only economical market participants’ interactions but also social phenomena observed as a result of these interactions. The aim of this course is to introduce the students the analytical approaches to investigate the strategic interactions of the participants.  Topics to be covered include, utility concept, games in normal form, dominance, Nash equilibrium, pure and mixed strategies, extensive form games, sequential games, games under asymmetric information. Students will be familiarized with the applications of the basic concepts in the fields of engineering, management and economics via case studies.

IE 563 Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is concerned with the efficient integration of suppliers, factories, warehouses and stores so that products are distributed to customers in the right quantity and at the right time. This course aims to provide the knowledge and the tools necessary to develop, implement, and sustain strategies for managing supply chains. The focus is on developing conceptual frameworks and analytical tools for supply chain management. Business case analyses techniques will be extensively used throughout the class to develop the problem identification, critical analysis, and solution and recommendation formation skills in supply chain issues.

IE 568 Production Operations Management

Production environments pose complex systems whose behavior is hard to understand and control without any theoretical foundation. This course aims to provide this foundation for the analysis and design of production and inventory control systems. The emphasis will be on model building and analysis for the development of business strategies and operational policies in the context of various different production environments. Topics covered in this course include deterministic and stochastic inventory models, lot sizing problem and its extensions, models of MRP, JIT and CONWIP, aggregate planning, and production scheduling.

IE 570 Quality Engineering and Management

Quality leadership is recognized as the key to business success. Strong customer focus on all products and services, teamwork throughout all areas of the organization is essential for company competitiveness. This course introduces the quality concept and the fundamental principles of quality management in organizations. The course discusses main aspects of Total Quality Management such as customer-driven quality standards, continuous improvement, quality engineering in product and process design, human factor in total quality management and the cost of quality. The course also involves the review of statistical tools used in quality control such as descriptive statistics, statistical process control, six-sigma, acceptance sampling, and design of experiments. Theoretical knowledge is reinforced with real life applications and case studies.

IE 571 Transportation Planning and Optimization

The aim of this course is to explore the principles and modeling techniques for designing transportation networks and operating them effectively and efficiently. The course covers basic and advanced concepts and methods for designing and planning effective logistics systems.  Upon successful completion, the students will be familiar with the core models used to understand and enhance real world transportation systems. Students are exposed to a general decision process where these models are applied to strategic, tactical and operational level problems faced in transportation systems.  Theoretical information is reinforced with the projects based on different industrial applications.

IE 572 Forecasting in Management

Overview of forecasting in operations planning and control systems and demand management; data aggregation and pyramid forecasting; evaluation of the accuracy of forecasts; overview of judgmental, statistical, qualitative-based statistical, and statistical-based judgmental forecasting methods; time-series, trends, seasonality,; time-series forecasting methods (data acquisition, model identification, forecast generation costs and selecting the “best” method; effects of outliers,
structural change and error evaluation choices on method selection benefits of combining alternative forecasts;; a case study in corporate demand & supply chain management.
 
IE 573 Innovation and Technology Management

This course discusses the strategic  management  of  technology  and  innovation. Our  goal  is  to  develop  managerial  skills,  methodologies  and  critical  thinking  in  order  to  achieve  a sustainable  technological  competitive  advantage  for  the  firm-  this  if  often  expressed  in  superior performing  new  products  and  services. Specific topics dealt with include sources and models of innovation, timing of entry, innovation strategy: assessing and defining strategic directions, collaboration strategies and protection of innovation, organizing teams for innovation and, New Product Development (NPD) processes etc.

IE 581 Data Mining

The purpose of this course is to supplement engineering students with the basic knowledge of data mining techniques. These techniques will include descriptive ones such as clustering, association analysis and sequence analysis and, predictive ones such as decision trees and logistic regression. The theoretical lectures will be coupled by applied studies where the necessary skills for using a data mining software package will also be given. By the end of the course, the students will be able to identify the real life problems where a data mining approach will be useful and apply some of the alternative techniques that can be used to solve those problems.
 
IE 583 Human Factors in Engineering

This course serves as an introduction to human factors and ergonomics focusses on the study the interaction of humans with equipment, products, and the workplace.  Students learn about human cognitive, perceptual and physical capabilities, with the goal of using this information to design workplace systems that are more efficient, effective and safe. Topics related to the human capabilities covered include: principles of body function, muscle physiology, metabolism, energy expenditure, tissue tolerances, human information processing, vision, audition, perception, attention; mental workload assessment; memory, and decision making. Topics related to the design of systems for people include: principles of display-control compatibility, workstation layout, lighting, noise, and the psychological work environment. Topics related to the assessment and design approaches that support the practice of human factors engineering include: task analysis, biomechanics, mental workload assessment, assessment of stress, usability study, and incorporating ergonomics into the product development and manufacturing system design processes.

IE 584 Applied Data Mining

This course introduces and studies the concepts, issues, tasks and techniques of data mining, which is concerned with the extraction of novel knowledge from large amounts of data. Topics include data preparation and feature selection, association rules, classification, clustering, evaluation and validation, scalability and data mining applications and specialized software.

IE 585 Quantitative Methods for Decision Making

This course focuses on basic principles and techniques of management science. Students will learn to use some of the important analytic methods by modeling with spreadsheets, to recognize their assumptions and limitations, and to employ them in decision-making.  The covered topics include modeling, optimization, regression analysis, decision analysis, multi-criteria decision making, simulation, forecasting, inventory models, network models and project management.

IE 586 Financial Analysis and Engineering Economics

The purpose of this course is to supplement engineering students with the knowledge and capability to perform financial analysis especially in the area of capital investment. Important economic concepts such as time value of money, interest rates and inflation will be discussed. Real life situations will be used for demonstration. By the end of the course, the students will be able to associate many problem settings with various types of engineering economic analysis models and will be able to investigate these problems, to formulate the problems using appropriate model structures, and to use software (Excel) to get a solution to the problem of interest.

IE 598 Corporate Entrepreneurship

This course covers the fundamentals of entrepreneurship as it applies to the corporate environment, exploring the practices and challenges of established companies when initiating major business domain or business model innovations.  Through the course, students will be equipped with practical tools to create new business models, establish processes for customer development, and streamline product innovation toward problem-solution fit and product-market fit. Overall, the goal is to understand entrepreneurship as a scientific approach to business development, while inspiring students to build an internal culture for corporate entrepreneurship and innovation within their own organizations.
 
IE 599 Technical Writing and Presentation

Students study different types of technical reports to master the tools to convey specialized knowledge and information to audiences of experts, professionals, and laypeople.
Students prepare an oral presentation on a topic of professional interest and do an individual presentation to the whole group.

IE 670 MsC Term Project

A substantial scientific demonstration Project

IE 680 Seminar

Participation at scientific seminars

IE 690 MsC Thesis

M.Sc. thesis

IE 990 PhD Thesis

Ph.D. Thesis

IE 901/902/903 Fundamental Research I / II / III

Topics include assessment and detailed description of an open research problem, conducting an exhaustive literature survey on the topic, developing a solution to this problem using a novel technique and formulating an experimental, theoretical and/or simulation platform to assess the performance of the developed solution.