Training Industrial Engineering Students as Energy Engineers

Masud Salimian; Yaseen Mahmud; Avis L. Ransom

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Conference: 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Start Date: June 23, 2013
End Date: June 26, 2013
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Innovative IE Curricula
Tagged Divisions: Engineering Management, Engineering Economy, and Industrial Engineering
Page Count: 14
Page Numbers: 23.1262.1 - 23.1262.14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--22647
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/22647
Download Count: 405

Paper Authors

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Masud Salimian Morgan State University

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Faculty at Industrial Engineering Department at Morgan State University.

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Yaseen Mahmud Morgan State University

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Avis L. Ransom Morgan State University School of Engineering

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Early career engagement as a systems and logistics engineer by Department of Defense contractors, Avis Ransom, applied a bachelors in chemistry and MBA in the management and development of technology and in the application of engineering to address DoD requirements. Following 15 years of self employment as a business development consultant, she joined Morgan State University's School of Engineering. As Principle Investigator for a Department of Energy contract to transform the building services industry she works with a team to improve training and education for careers related to the high performance (energy efficient) building industry, develops related curricula, enhances career awareness and develops business strategies to help the industry transformation processes. She seeks to explore the postulate that the industrial engineering core competencies offer significant advantages when learning the complex set of skills and knowledge required to audit and analyze buildings for energy efficiency. As staff for the Dean of the School of Engineering, she develops projects, plans and implements strategies and develops and documents reports, newsletters and proposals.

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Abstract

Training Industrial Engineering Students as Energy EngineersBuildings consume approximately forty percent of all energy consumption in the United States.Most buildings operate far less efficiently that their potential. Industry accounts for about 31%of all energy consumption in the United States. There are many benefits to making commercialand medium sized buildings; and industrial and manufacturing processes more efficient. One isto become more competitive in the international market resulting in the obvious domesticbenefits. Another is the impact on the environment. Even a small increase in overall efficiencyof U.S. commercial buildings and manufacturers would reduce the U.S.’s carbon foot print.Currently, the U.S. workforce is not adequately trained in the area of energy efficiency. TheDepartment of Energy recognizes and is attempting to remedy this with programs such as theGreater Philadelphia Innovation Hub for Energy Efficient Buildings and the continued supportand recent expansion of Industrial Assessment Centers. However at the present time, workersproviding “energy efficiency” services are typically too technical such as researchers andprofessors; or possess inadequate analytical and design capabilities such as technicians andresidential energy auditors.Workers with skills and knowledge in engineering design and engineering economic analyses areextremely valuable in increasing energy efficiency in industry and commercial operations. Theywill both be able to define better solutions, and present compelling cases to managers and ownersto invest in retrofits, upgrades, maintenance and efficient operations in general.Using industrial engineering (IE) as the basis for developing a workforce skilled in science,engineering and business aspects of energy efficiency holds great potential. IEs are trained tohave strong process, material, and economic analysis skills that are needed for this discipline.We will start with an existing ABET accredited IE program with a concentration in “energy” andinfuse lecture and laboratory modules into an established IE curriculum. Course and laboratorywork will be accompanied with hands on field experience in investment grade auditing to makeindustrial operations and commercial buildings operate more efficiently. Field work with beaccomplished with a multidisciplinary team, involve leadership development and decisionmaking and will include assessment, analysis, design, recommendations, return on investmentprojections, report writing, and oral presentation. As the program grows the evaluation ofrecommended outcomes will be added as will the establishment of a best practices database.

Citation
Format

Salimian, M., & Mahmud, Y., & Ransom, A. L. (2013, June), Training Industrial Engineering Students as Energy Engineers Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--22647

TY - CPAPER
AB - Training Industrial Engineering Students as Energy EngineersBuildings consume approximately forty percent of all energy consumption in the United States.Most buildings operate far less efficiently that their potential. Industry accounts for about 31%of all energy consumption in the United States. There are many benefits to making commercialand medium sized buildings; and industrial and manufacturing processes more efficient. One isto become more competitive in the international market resulting in the obvious domesticbenefits. Another is the impact on the environment. Even a small increase in overall efficiencyof U.S. commercial buildings and manufacturers would reduce the U.S.’s carbon foot print.Currently, the U.S. workforce is not adequately trained in the area of energy efficiency. TheDepartment of Energy recognizes and is attempting to remedy this with programs such as theGreater Philadelphia Innovation Hub for Energy Efficient Buildings and the continued supportand recent expansion of Industrial Assessment Centers. However at the present time, workersproviding “energy efficiency” services are typically too technical such as researchers andprofessors; or possess inadequate analytical and design capabilities such as technicians andresidential energy auditors.Workers with skills and knowledge in engineering design and engineering economic analyses areextremely valuable in increasing energy efficiency in industry and commercial operations. Theywill both be able to define better solutions, and present compelling cases to managers and ownersto invest in retrofits, upgrades, maintenance and efficient operations in general.Using industrial engineering (IE) as the basis for developing a workforce skilled in science,engineering and business aspects of energy efficiency holds great potential. IEs are trained tohave strong process, material, and economic analysis skills that are needed for this discipline.We will start with an existing ABET accredited IE program with a concentration in “energy” andinfuse lecture and laboratory modules into an established IE curriculum. Course and laboratorywork will be accompanied with hands on field experience in investment grade auditing to makeindustrial operations and commercial buildings operate more efficiently. Field work with beaccomplished with a multidisciplinary team, involve leadership development and decisionmaking and will include assessment, analysis, design, recommendations, return on investmentprojections, report writing, and oral presentation. As the program grows the evaluation ofrecommended outcomes will be added as will the establishment of a best practices database.
AU - Masud Salimian
AU - Yaseen Mahmud
AU - Avis L. Ransom
CY - Atlanta, Georgia
DA - 2013/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Training Industrial Engineering Students as Energy Engineers
UR - https://peer.asee.org/22647
DO - 10.18260/1-2--22647
ER -