October 5, 2012
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HISTORY and
PERSPECTIVE of
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
History of Engineering and Development of
Industrial Engineering
 Industrial and Systems Engineering

2
Science and Engineering
 Engineering
and
science
have
developed in a parallel, complementary
fashion, although not always at the
same pace.
3

Whereas science
is concerned with
the quest for basic
knowledge,
engineering is concerned with
the application of scientific
knowledge to the solution of
problems and to the quest for a
“better life”.
4

Obviously, knowledge cannot be applied
until it is discovered, and once
discovered, it will soon be put to use.

In its efforts to solve problems,
engineering provides feedback to science
in areas where new knowledge is
needed.
5
Thus, science and engineering
work hand in hand.
6

Although “science” and “engineering” each
have distinguishing characteristics and are
regarded as different disciplines, in some
cases a “scientist” and an “engineer”
might be the same person.

This was especially true in earlier times
when there were very few means of
communicating basic knowledge. The
person who discovered the knowledge
also put it to use.
7
Is Engineering a Job, or an Occupation, or a
Profession?

What is the
difference
between a job,
occupation and
a profession?
8
Job- definition
regardless of skill level and responsibility,
any work for you are paid for.
 “a piece of work; especially : a small
miscellaneous piece of work undertaken
on order at a stated rate” (MerriamWebster Dictionary)

9
Occupation- definition
Being employed and
making a living.
 An activity that serves
as one's regular
source of livelihood; a
vocation.

10
Profession?

We now know the
difference
between a job
and an
occupation so
what makes up a
profession?
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Attributes of a Profession

The profession
requires extensive
formal education
12
Attributes of a Profession

Special
organizations set
and enforce
various standards
for members of the
profession
13
Attributes of a Profession

A significant
service is provided
to the public
14
Attributes of a Profession
The work requires
significant skill,
 Judgment, and
 Discretion

15
Professional or Not?
Are professional athletes actually
“professional”?
 What about carpenters?

16
Professional or Not?

So what can we conclude?
 Athletes and carpenters DO NOT meet the
standards required to be considered
professions
 Medicine,Law, and Engineering ARE
professions
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ENGINEERING
“ the profession in which a knowledge of the
mathematical and natural sciences gained by
study, experience, and practice is applied with
judgement to develop ways to utilise,
economically, the materials and forces of nature
for the benefit of mankind ”
18
The Modern Era
We choose 1750 as the beginning of
modern engineering for two reasons:
1.
Engineering schools
appeared in France in the
eighteenth century.
2.
The term civil engineer was
first used in 1750.
19

Principles of early engineering
were first taught in military
academies and were
concerned primarily with road
and bridge construction and
with fortifications.

This portion of academic training was
referred to as military engineering. When
some of the same principles were applied
to nonmilitary endeavors, it was only
natural to refer to these as civilian
engineering, or simply civil engineering.
20
An important advancement was the
development of a practical steam engine
that could perform useful work.
 Once such an engine was available
(approximately 1700), many mechanical
devices were developed that could be
driven by the engine.
 These
efforts
culminated
in
the
emergence of mechanical engineering
as a distinct branch in the early nineteenth
century.

21
The first significant application of electrical
science was the development of the
telegraph by Samuel Morse (approximately
1840). Thomas Edison’s invention of the
carbon-filament lamp (approximately 1880)
led to widespread use of electricity for
lighting purposes.
 This,
in turn, spurred very rapid
developments
in
the
generation,
transmission, and utilization of electrical
energy for a variety of laborsaving
purposes. Engineers who choose to
specialize in this activity were naturally
labeled electrical engineers.

22
Along
with
the
developments
in
mechanical and electrical technology were
accompanying developments in the
understanding of substances and their
properties.
 The science of chemistry is concerned
with understanding the nature of matter
and in learning how to produce desirable
changes in materials. The field of
engineering endeavor naturally became
known as chemical engineering.

23

As industrial organizations merged to
capitalize on the rapidly developing array
of technological innovations, the size and
complexity of manufacturing units
increased dramatically. Mass production
was made possible through two
important concepts:
1. Interchangeability of parts.
2. Specialization of labor.

Through mass production the unit cost of
consumer
products
was
reduced
dramatically.
24
During the early part of this movement it
was recognized that business and
management practices that had worked
well for small shops and farms simply
were inadequate for large, complex
manufacturing organizations.
 The need for better management systems
led to the development of what is now
called “industrial engineering”.

25

This five major engineering disciplines
(civil, chemical, electrical, industrial, and
mechanical) were the branches of
engineering that emerged prior to the time
of World War I.

These developments were part of the
industrial revolution that was occurring
worldwide, and the beginning of the
technological revolution that is still
occurring.
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The Engineering Process
Engineers solve problems, but so do
mathematicians.
 Engineers analyze, but so do statisticians
and economists.
 Engineers design systems. Do others?


We can say that the distinguishing
characteristic of engineering is that it is
concerned with the design of systems.
27

What is design? Certainly, design involves
a considerable amount of creativity.
 Is design then simply an art that one learns
through experience? Or are there design
principles that can be learned and applied?

Synthesis is a term whose meaning is
almost the same as design. Perhaps we
can develop an understanding of design
by discussing the two terms synthesis and
analysis.
28

Analysis is concerned with resolving
something into its basic elements;
synthesis is concerned with combining
elements into a whole.

Typically, analysis is concerned with
existing systems. Synthesis is usually
concerned with a new or improved
system.
29
Problem symptom
or expression
of need
Problem definition,
including statement
of desired outcome
Analysis
Synthesis of
alternative
solutions
Decision
(selection of one
alternative)
Solution, system,
or method
Fig. 1.1.
Basic engineering
process
30
31

Industrial Engineering emerged as a profession as a
result of the industrial revolution and the
accompanying need for technically trained people
who could plan, organize, and direct the operations
of large complex systems.

The need to increase efficiency and effectiveness of
operations was also an original stimulus for the
emergence of industrial engineering.
32
Evolution of Operations Management

Craft production
 process of handcrafting products or services for
individual customers

Division of labor
 dividing a job into a series of small tasks each
performed by a different worker

Interchangeable parts
 standardization of parts initially as replacement
parts; enabled mass production
33
Evolution of Operations
Management (cont.)

Scientific management
 systematic analysis of work methods

Mass production
 high-volume production of a standardized product for
a mass market

Lean production
 adaptation of mass production that prizes quality and
flexibility
34
Historical Events in Operations Management
Era
Industrial
Revolution
Scientific
Management
Events/Concepts
Dates
Originator
Steam engine
Division of labor
Interchangeable parts
Principles of scientific
management
1769
1776
1790
James Watt
1911
Frederick W. Taylor
Time and motion studies
1911
Frank and Lillian
Gilbreth
Activity scheduling chart
1912
Henry Gantt
Moving assembly line
1913
Henry Ford
Adam Smith
Eli Whitney
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Historical Events in Operations
Management (cont.)
Era
Human
Relations
Operations
Research
Events/Concepts
Dates
Originator
Hawthorne studies
1930
1940s
1950s
1960s
1947
1951
Elton Mayo
Abraham Maslow
Frederick Herzberg
Douglas McGregor
George Dantzig
Remington Rand
1950s
Operations research
groups
1960s,
1970s
Joseph Orlicky, IBM
and others
Motivation theories
Linear programming
Digital computer
Simulation, waiting
line theory, decision
theory, PERT/CPM
MRP, CIM
36
Historical Events in Operations
Management (cont.)
Era
Events/Concepts
Dates Originator
JIT (just-in-time)
1970s
Taiichi Ohno (Toyota)
TQM (total quality
management)
1980s
W. Edwards Deming,
Joseph Juran
1990s
Wickham Skinner,
Robert Hayes
1990s
Michael Hammer,
James Champy
Quality
Revolution Strategy and
operations
Business process
reengineering
37
Historical Events in Operations
Management (cont.)
Era
Events/Concepts
Dates Originator
Globalization
European Union, and other 1990s
trade agreements
2000s
Numerous countries
and companies
Internet
Revolution
Internet, WWW, ERP,
supply chain management
1990s
ARPANET, Tim
Berners-Lee SAP,
i2 Technologies,
ORACLE,
PeopleSoft
E-commerce
2000s
Amazon, Yahoo,
eBay, and others
38
Eli Whitney



© 1995 Corel Corp.
Born 1765; died 1825
In 1798, received government
contract to make 10,000
muskets
Showed that machine tools
could make standardized parts
to exact specifications
 Musket parts could be used
in any musket
39
Frederick W. Taylor
Born 1856; died 1915
 Known as ‘father of scientific
management’
 In 1881, as chief engineer for
Midvale Steel, studied how tasks
were done
 Began first motion & time studies
 Created efficiency principles

40
Taylor: Management Should Take
More Responsibility for
 Matching
employees to right job
 Providing the proper training
 Providing proper work methods and tools
 Establishing legitimate incentives for
work to be accomplished
41

Frederick W. Taylor is credited with
recognizing the potential improvements to
be gained from analyzing the work content
of a job and designing the job for
maximum efficiency.

Taylor’s methods brought about significant
and rapid increases in productivity.
42
Frank & Lillian Gilbreth





Frank (1868-1924); Lillian
(1878-1972)
Husband-and-wife
engineering team
Further developed work
measurement methods
Applied efficiency methods
to their home & 12 children!
(Book & Movie: “Cheaper by
the Dozen,” book: “Bells on
Their Toes”)
© 1995 Corel Corp.
43



Frank B. Gilbreth extended Taylor’s work
considerably.
Gilbreth’s primary contribution was the identification,
analysis, and measurement of fundamental motions
involved in performing work.
By classifying motions as “reach”, “grasp”,
“transport”, and so on, and by using motion pictures
of workers performing their tasks, Gilbreth was able
to measure the average time to perform each basic
motion under varying conditions. (THERBLIG)
44
Henry Ford
Born 1863; died 1947
 In 1903, created Ford
Motor Company
 In 1913, first used
moving assembly line
to make Model T
 Unfinished product
moved by conveyor
past work station
 Paid workers very well for 1911 ($5/day!)

© 1995 Corel
Corp.
45
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W. Edwards Deming





Born 1900; died 1993
Engineer & physicist
Credited with teaching Japan
quality control methods in
post-WW2
Used statistics to analyze
process
His methods involve workers
in decisions
47
Another early pioneer in
industrial engineering was
Henry L. Gantt, who devised the
so-called Gantt chart.
 The Gantt chart was a
significant contribution in that it
provided a systematic graphical
procedure for preplanning and
scheduling work activities,
reviewing progress, and
updating the schedule.

48
49

W.A. Shewhart developed
the fundamental principles of
statistical quality control in
1924. This was another
important development in
providing a scientific base to
industrial engineering
practice.
50

Many other industrial engineering pioneers
contributed to the early development of the
profession. During the 1920’s and 1930’s much
fundamental work was done on economic aspects of
managerial decisions, inventory problems, incentive
plans, factory layout problems, material handling
problems, and principles of organization.

Although these pioneers are too numerous to
mention in this brief chronology, more complete
historical accounts are available elsewhere.
51
ENM102, INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL
ENGINEERING, 2006
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Definition of Industrial Engineering

The following formal definition of industrial
engineering has been adopted by the IIE:
 Industrial Engineering is concerned with the
design, improvement, and installation of integrated
systems of people, materials, information,
equipment, and energy. It draws upon specialized
knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical,
and social sciences together with the principles
and methods of engineering analysis and design
to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be
obtained from such systems.
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Industrial Engineering Education
Topics that later evolved into industrial
engineering subjects were initially taught
as special courses in mechanical
engineering departments.
 The first separate departments of
industrial engineering were established
at Pennsylvania State University and at
Syracuse University in 1908.

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Industrial Engineering Education



An IE option in mechanical engineering was
established at Purdue University in 1911.
The practice of having an IE option within a
mechanical engineering department was the
predominant pattern until the end of World War II.
Following the World War II, separate IE
departments were established in colleges and
universities throughout the country.
55

The American Institute of Industrial Engineers was
founded in 1948. The AIIE provided, for the first time,
a professional organization devoted exclusively to
the interests and developments of the industrial
engineering profession.
56
Impact of Related Developments

The evolution of the industrial and
systems engineering profession has
been affected significantly by a number
of related developments.
 Operations Research
 Digital Computers
 Emergence of service industries
57
Impact of Operations Research (OR)

This approach originated in England and the United
States during World War II and was aimed at solving
difficult war-related problems through the use of
science, mathematics, behavioral science,
probability theory, and statistics.

Following World War II the concepts of OR were
extended to problems in industry and commerce.
58
Impact of Digital Computers
Another development that has had a
significant impact on the IE profession is
the digital computer.
 Digital computers permit the rapid and
accurate handling of vast quantities of
data, thereby permitting the IE to design
systems for effectively managing and
controlling large, complex operations.

59
 Computer
simulation is emerging as the
most widely used IE technique.

A recent development that is having a
profound (although still uncertain) impact
on industrial engineering is computeraided design (CAD) and computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM).
60
Emergence of Service Industries
In the early days of the industrial
engineering profession, IE practice was
applied almost exclusively in
manufacturing organizations.
 After World War II there was a growing
awareness that the principles and
techniques of IE were also applicable in
nonmanufacturing environments.

61
Relationship to Other Engineering Disciplines
Military Engineering
Mathematics
and Physics
Civilian Engineering
Chemistry
Mechanical Engineering
Chemical
Engineering
Electrical
Engineering
Psychology
Industrial Engineering
Early Management Philosophy
Computer
Science
Statistics
Operations
Research
Social Sciences
Industrial and Systems
Engineering
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Challenges of the Future
The world has a finite amount of
nonrenewable resources. One of the
major challenges for future engineers is to
learn to accomplish the engineer’s
mission in recognition of these
constraints.
 Another major challenge facing the
engineering profession is to design
systems and processes that are
compatible with our natural environment.

63

A major challenge that future engineers will
encounter is that of designing products that are safe
and reliable.

There is also an icreasing emphasis on improved
quality.

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the
engineering profession is to become involved in
political issues and to provide assistance to
lawmakers in the design of social systems.
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