Teaching Modeling and Simulation in Industrial Engineering Technology Programs: A National Survey

Ali Alavizadeh; Maximo J. Ortega; Maged Mikhail

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Conference: 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Publication Date: June 26, 2016
Start Date: June 26, 2016
End Date: June 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-692-68565-5
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Innovative Graduate Programs and Methods, Developing Master's & Ph.D. Programs and Graduate Teaching Assistants
Tagged Division: Graduate Studies
Page Count: 10
DOI: 10.18260/p.26037
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/26037
Download Count: 626

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Paper Authors

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Ali Alavizadeh Indiana University - Purdue University, Fort Wayne

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Dr. Ali Alavizadeh is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering Technology at Purdue University Northwest (Hammond, IN). Previously, he taught at Purdue University Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, Indiana), The George Washington University (Washington, DC), and Morehead State University (Morehead, KY) in the areas of Industrial Engineering Technology, and Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. His industrial experiences include software engineering, systems engineering and analysis, and production optimization for private, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations. His research interests include complex systems modeling and simulation and their application in healthcare and aerospace.

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Maximo J. Ortega Indiana Tech

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Dr. Maximo Ortega is an Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Indiana Tech. He is responsible for the Automation Laboratory. Dr. Ortega is a Fulbright Scholar and was a member of the Mexican National Academy of Industrial Engineering. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Purdue University from 2001 to 2003. Dr. Ortega earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering at the Chihuahua Institute of Technology, a Master in Science in Industrial Engineering at the Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology, a Master in Science in Educative Mathematics at the Research Center for Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV del IPN) and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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Maged Mikhail Purdue University - Calumet

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Dr. Maged B. Mikhail, Assistant Professor, Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, August 2013.
Dissertation title: “Development of Integrated Decision Fusion Software System For Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring"
M.S., Electrical Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, May 2009.
Thesis title: “Development of Software System for Control and Coordination of Tasks among Mobile Robot and Robotic Arm."
B.S., Electrical Engineering University of El Mina Cairo, Egypt, May 2001.

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Abstract

Session topics: modeling and simulation, course improvement, survey Teaching modeling and simulation in industrial engineering technology programs: A national survey

The purpose of the study is twofold: to learn about the extent to which a course on modeling and simulation is being taught/covered in industrial engineering technology programs in the U.S., and to learn about how the course was structured and offered in terms of group project, method of delivery, etc. In particular, the authors would like to learn whether the graduate programs offer, or have offered, such a course. Moreover, the authors are interested in learning about the recommended software used by those programs that offer, or have offered, such a course.

Discrete-event modeling and simulation provides useful information on how one can modify a system in order to streamline the production flow, decrease waste, remove identified bottlenecks, etc. Plus, in designing new systems, a simulation experiment would help designers run various scenarios to select the optimal alternative among others. Two of the authors have experience in teach a graduate-level discrete-event simulation offered in a Master of Science in Technology course. Yet, they would like to learn from the peers on how they could improve their teaching and the courses offered to better serve the students and the regional industry. However, an initial investigation to identify the programs in which such a course is, or has been offered, did result in only few programs in engineering technology. This motivated the authors to learn about those programs that include such a course in their curriculum.

The authors consulted the ABET’s and the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)’s databases to identified the universities in the United States with a program in engineering technology including industrial engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology, and industrial technology. Also, the request for participation was sent twice to the ASEE’s mailing list to reach out to those programs whose name might not be mentioned in those databases. An online survey, including 19 questions, was prepared, validated, and distributed to those faculty members who were willing and/or were available to participate. Upon their acceptance, a consent letter describing the purpose of the research, its goals, and as such, was sent to them, as was required by Institutional Review Board (IRB). Based on the analyses done on the results of the survey, with exception of one, all the participants mentioned that the offer an undergraduate course. As far as software, there were a variety of simulation software mentioned by the participants such ARENA and ProModel, to name a few. The article will include more discussion and details on other responses on, for example, recommendations on how the course should be offered.

Citation
Format

Alavizadeh, A., & Ortega, M. J., & Mikhail, M. (2016, June), Teaching Modeling and Simulation in Industrial Engineering Technology Programs: A National Survey Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26037

TY - CPAPER
AB - Session topics: modeling and simulation, course improvement, survey
Teaching modeling and simulation in industrial engineering
technology programs: A national survey

The purpose of the study is twofold: to learn about the extent to which a course on modeling and simulation is being taught/covered in industrial engineering technology programs in the U.S., and to learn about how the course was structured and offered in terms of group project, method of delivery, etc. In particular, the authors would like to learn whether the graduate programs offer, or have offered, such a course. Moreover, the authors are interested in learning about the recommended software used by those programs that offer, or have offered, such a course.

Discrete-event modeling and simulation provides useful information on how one can modify a system in order to streamline the production flow, decrease waste, remove identified bottlenecks, etc. Plus, in designing new systems, a simulation experiment would help designers run various scenarios to select the optimal alternative among others. Two of the authors have experience in teach a graduate-level discrete-event simulation offered in a Master of Science in Technology course. Yet, they would like to learn from the peers on how they could improve their teaching and the courses offered to better serve the students and the regional industry. However, an initial investigation to identify the programs in which such a course is, or has been offered, did result in only few programs in engineering technology. This motivated the authors to learn about those programs that include such a course in their curriculum.

The authors consulted the ABET’s and the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)’s databases to identified the universities in the United States with a program in engineering technology including industrial engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology, and industrial technology. Also, the request for participation was sent twice to the ASEE’s mailing list to reach out to those programs whose name might not be mentioned in those databases. An online survey, including 19 questions, was prepared, validated, and distributed to those faculty members who were willing and/or were available to participate. Upon their acceptance, a consent letter describing the purpose of the research, its goals, and as such, was sent to them, as was required by Institutional Review Board (IRB). Based on the analyses done on the results of the survey, with exception of one, all the participants mentioned that the offer an undergraduate course. As far as software, there were a variety of simulation software mentioned by the participants such ARENA and ProModel, to name a few. The article will include more discussion and details on other responses on, for example, recommendations on how the course should be offered.
AU - Ali Alavizadeh
AU - Maximo J. Ortega
AU - Maged Mikhail
CY - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA - 2016/06/26
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Teaching Modeling and Simulation in Industrial Engineering Technology Programs: A National Survey
UR - https://peer.asee.org/26037
DO - 10.18260/p.26037
ER -