Thursday, April 16, 2026

Management Module for Industrial Engineering

 


Management Module for IE

IE as a function and as a department needs to be managed. IE studies and projects are to be managed. Hence IEs need management inputs in their educational programs. Presently in IE programs a well developed management module appropriate to creating management expertise in industrial engineers is not there.

Mikell Groover in his  Book - Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work specially includes management of work in the title.

He gave the following chapters under management of work in third edition of the book.

Ch.27 Work organization
Ch. 28 Worker Motivation and Social Organization of Work
Ch. 29 Job Evaluation and Performance Appraisal
Ch. 30 Compensation Systems

Industrial Engineering Projects - Formulation, Communication and Implementation

Industrial Engineering - A to Z 2026 - Theme Reveal Post

 




2026 A to Z Blogging April Challenge - Theme Reveal Post

The theme is Industrial Engineering - A to Z 2026.

Will have articles in the discipline of industrial engineering on selected topics.

What is industrial engineering? It is an engineering disciplines that focuses on increasing productivity of resources used in engineering systems and processes. To elaborate it further we can identify product IE, facilities IE, Process IE that involves machine effort IE and human effort IE. Productivity increase will result in lower costs and more goods and services for the society with the same inputs. Productivity science, Productivity engineering and Productivity management are important tasks of industrial engineers.

I am consolidating  my  industrial engineering A to Z posts of various years and also posts in the blog in a big compilation.

The above consolidation will be released as an E-book.

My earlier Ebook of blog posts was a big success.

Most popular IE publication on Academia.Edu platform.  11,950+ Downloads/Views in one location. 14,000+  Downloads/Views from 3 locations.
INTRODUCTION TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. EBook. FREE Download.
A Collection of Blog Posts on Industrial Engineering. Introduction to Modern Industrial Engineering: History, Principles, Functions and Focus Areas.




Important dates for 2026:
March 9 - 14 Theme Reveal
March 23 - April 4 Sign-up
May 4 - 9 Reflections
May 11 - Road Trip opens
------------------

If you are a blogger join the challenge.


You can reveal your theme.



#AtoZChallenge  Topics and Posts for 2026

Posts appear on all week days starting from 1st April.

Applied Industrial Engineering - IE Applied to Agentic AI


Behavioral Aspects in  IE

C.B. Going 1911 - Text Book - Principles of Industrial Engineering - Cost Reduction and Cost Management by Industrial Engineers

Decision Making in IE



Goals of IE

Health Aspects of IE

Innovations by IEs

Job Shop IE - Shahrukh Irani

Knowledge Management for IE

L.D. Miles - Value Engineering - Product Industrial Engineering - Low Cost Products and Processes for IE

Management Module for IE

New Technologies Adoption by IEs in Processes Under Their Productivity Management

Operations Management and IE

Production and Industrial Engineering - A Popular Branch of Engineering

Quality Related Interventions by IEs

Respect for People and Personal Relations - Assertion by F.W. Taylor

Society Prosperity - Industrial Engineering Effectiveness

Total Industrial Engineering

Understanding Processes

Value Addition by IEs

What is New in  IE in 2025-2026?

X-Platform - Industrial Engineers' Participation

YouTube - Industrial Engineering Videos by Narayana Rao

Zeal for Industrial Engineering - Productivity - Cost Reduction


Topics for 2026 - Brief Introduction


Applied IE - Agentic AI

Applied IE is explained as IE in New Technologies - IE with Technologies.

As each new technology appears, applied IE of that technology begins.


The Emerging Agentic Enterprise: How Leaders Must Navigate a New Age of AI
Findings from the MIT SMR-BCG Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy Global Executive Study and Research Project
November 18, 2025

Agentic AI  offers possibilities not only to improve cost efficiency but also to expand revenue, accelerate innovation, compress learning curves, and restructure organizations. Without a strategic approach that aligns these objectives, organizations risk limiting returns on their investments.

Industrial engineers have to understand and incorporate AI agents into processes.


Behavioral Aspects in  IE

IEs use behavioral science discoveries and behavioral management approaches in their discipline.

C.B. Going 1911 - Text Book - Principles of Industrial Engineering - Cost Reduction and Cost Management by Industrial Engineers


Cost reduction is final goal of industrial engineering. Cost reduction in all organizations of the society will give more GDP from the resources. Hence there is economic prosperity in the society.

Decision Making in IE

In IE number of decisions are to be made.


IE has to be effective in an organization to provide expected cost reduction.


Flow is an important aspect in processes and systems.

Goals of IE

Cost reduction is the ultimate goals
Cost reduction happens through productivity improvement of each resource and total factor productivity or total resource productivity.
Incomes of employees have to go up.
Employees have to be comfortable, healthy and happy.

Health Aspects of IE

IE has to evaluate the occupation health aspects of its process changes to increase productivity

Innovations by IEs

Industrial engineers have to create useful process changes through inventions and innovations.

Magazine Spring 2026 Issue
Turn Customer Complaints Into Innovation Blueprints


Job Shop IE - Shahrukh Irani

Job shop IE is the focus of a book by Shahrukh Irani.

Knowledge Management for IE

Industrial engineering is based on knowledge of engineering and IEs have to update the engineering knowledge of  Industrial engineering department as well as others in the organization on a daily basis,

L.D. Miles - Value Engineering - Product Industrial Engineering - Low Cost Products and Processes for IE

Searching the environment of low cost materials, low parts and products and low cost processes is also a daily activity for IED.

Management Module for IE

IE as a function and as a department needs to be managed. IE studies and projects are to be managed. Hence IEs need management inputs in their educational programs.

Mikell Groover in his  Book - Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work specially includes management of work in the title.

He gave the following chapters under management of work in third edition of the book.

Ch.27 Work organization
Ch. 28 Worker Motivation and Social Organization of Work
Ch. 29 Job Evaluation and Performance Appraisal
Ch. 30 Compensation Systems




New Technologies Adoption by IEs in Processes Under Their Productivity Management

New technologies useful for productivity improvement for the processes under their jurisdiction or ownership have to be identified by IEs. They have to learn the basics of the new technology and arrnage for pilot study in their own facility or technology supplier's facility.

Operations Management and IE

Industrial engineering plays a major role in studies of facilities, layouts and processes used in operations management.

Production and Industrial Engineering - A Popular Branch of Engineering

This is a popular specialization in many institutions.

Quality Related Interventions by IEs

Reducing defects is a task for industrial engineering. They also try to reduce cost of inspection activities.

Respect for People and Personal Relations - Assertion by F.W. Taylor

This aspect of Taylor's writing was ignored and an opinion was created that Taylor did not consider the dignity of  human factor and their physical and psychological well-being.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT F.W. TAYLOR SAID IT IN 1912?

"Almost all of the best suggestions for improvements come from intelligent workmen who are cooperating in the kindliest way with the management to
accomplish the joint result of producing a big surplus which can be divided between the two sides equitably."

The quotation is from Testimony of Taylor before an investigation committee in 1912.


Society Prosperity - Industrial Engineering Effectiveness

Industrial engineering helps the economies to produce more out of the resources used. When IE is done effectively in many organizations, society will have more economic prosperity.

Total Industrial Engineering


Circulating Industrial Engineering Newsletters to all the employees in the company can develop total industrial engineering, industrial engineering furthered by the participation of all employees.


Access Essays on F.W. Taylor's Writing - Belt Drive Design, Productivity System and Section, Shop Management, Productivity Science of Machining, and Scientific Management

Celebrate the birthday of F.W. Taylor in your Industrial Engineering Department and Company. Share what you are implementing in your company from Taylor's Ideas.

Birthday of F.W. Taylor 20th March. Modern Industrial Engineering March  2026 Issue - Taylor Month of IE - Contribution of F.W. Taylor to Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management - Implemented and Neglected

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-2026-issue-taylor-month-ie-contribution-fw-industrial-kvss-71nlc


Understanding Processes

Industrial engineers have to understand processes given to them for productivity improvement in their organization.

Mikell Groover - Book - Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work

            How to Create / Develop the Chart or Diagram? - Mikell Groover.

Analyst has to become intimately familiar with the process and develop a graphic to represent it.

Steps.

Analyst observes and records information about the process

One-on-one interviews with those familiar with the process

A graphic model of the process is developed based on these interviews

Group meetings with personnel familiar with process

The analyst records the discussion of the meeting.

A graphic model of the process is developed based on the group meetings

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2019/12/understanding-process-plans-by.html


Value Addition by IEs

What is the value to be added by IEs?

What is New in  IE in 2025-2026?

There is a bulletin board to record some new developments in engineering and industrial engineering.

X-Platform - Industrial Engineers' Participation

Is IE a popular topic on X-Platform?

YouTube - Industrial Engineering Videos by Narayana Rao and Others.

YouTube - the video sharing platform has many videos related to industrial engineering.

Principles of Industrial Engineering - Taylor - Narayana Rao - IISE 2017 Pittsburgh Conference Paper


Engineering in Industrial Engineering - Product/Process Industrial Engineering

Zeal for Industrial Engineering - Productivity - Cost Reduction

Industrial engineers must have the zeal to contribute to the engineering professions as well as society through industrial engineering - the discipline that focuses on cost reduction through productivity increasing engineering changes and innovations.

Important to recognize.
April 4 - Birthday of Charles Buxton Going (1863)  - Principles of Industrial Engineering - Book in 1911
April - C.B. Going Month of Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management


You can see the list of theme reveal posts in




Blogs visited in 2026

https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2026/03/theme-reveal-atozchallenge-blog-hop-2026.html

https://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-small-town-legends.html

https://jannghi.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-to-z-blogging-2026-theme-reveal.html

https://n8ltg.blogspot.com/2026/03/atozchallenge-theme-reveal.html   - Interesting theme - "stuff in my life that I'm grateful for."  Let me see what I can add as a comment on each post.

https://karenjonesgowen.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-theme-for-a-to-z-challenge.html   -   living as an American Expat in (mostly) Mexico.
https://ballau.blogspot.com/2026/03/blogging-from-to-z-april-2026-theme.html - Photos - Travels to Islands

https://earlieryears.blogspot.com/2026/03/april-to-z-challenge-theme-reveal.html -  Living in Kashmir: A Year of People, Places and Memories.

https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-z-blogging-challenge-2026-theme-reveal.html   198         0s world

https://repeatsamb.blogspot.com/2026/03/blogging-from-to-z-2026-theme-reveal.html  Fluevogs - What are Fluevogs? Fun shoes designed by John Fluevog in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

https://waffle-with-wendy.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-z-blogging-challenge-2026-theme-reveal.html  grandmother

https://getlostinlit.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-z-challenge-theme-reveal.html    A-Z Bookish Topics/Discussions.

https://tao-talk.com/2026/03/09/a-to-z-2026-aka-a2z-theme-reveal/   These goddesses



Ud. 9.3.2026
Pub. 8.3.2026







Tuesday, April 14, 2026

L.D. Miles - Value Engineering - Product Industrial Engineering - Low Cost Products and Processes for IE

 


Value Analysis Techniques


Miles provided 13 ideas as value analysis techniques (Each technique linked to a video).
 
  1. Avoid generalities
  2. Get all available costs
  3. Use information from the best source
  4. Blast create and refine
  5. Use real creativity
  6. Identify and overcome roadblocks
  7. Use industry experts to extend specialized knowledge
  8. Get a dollar sign on key tolerances
  9. Utilize vendors’ available functional products
  10. Utilize and pay for vendors’ skills and knowledge
  11. Utilize specialty processes
  12. Utilize applicable standards
  13. Use the criterion, “would I spend my money this way?”
Blast create and refine and Utilize specialty processes are related to low cost products or parts and low cost processes.


Brief Explanation of the VE Analytical Techniques 

Blast, Create and Refine

Blast
To do blast activity, the basic functions to be accomplished by a product or a component are given the focus and alternative products, materials and processes are brought into the picture. These alternatives need not entirely accomplish all the basic functions completely. These alternatives need to qualify on the basis of accomplishing some important part of the function or functions in a very economical manner. The alternatives are in the consideration list even if they can accomplish important part of the function based on some modifications. During this activity, the amount of the function which would be accomplished by the suggested or identified alternatives and the cost involved are ascertained.

Create
Use real creativity to generate alternatives to improve the ideas of blast stage, to accomplish large part of the required function with accompanying increase in cost. Increase in functions obtained needs to be accounted by increase in cost.

Refine
The solution obtained in create stage is further sifted and refined by adding features which provide further functions and fully accomplish the desired function. Miles stated that this blast, create and refine technique delivered the total function with the same reliability but at a cost of one-half to one-tenth of the original for many components and products.



Utilize specialty processes and special tools


Miles defines specialty process as an applicable process which would reliably accomplish the needed function for significantly lower cost and which either exists or could, and would be developed by some one who leads in the technology involved if he understood the need for it.

Miles gave the opinion that even persons engaged in value work take time to recognize specialty processes. In 1961, he gave the delay as three years. Other engineers take around 10 years to recognize specialty processes. The purpose of identifying and emphasizing this point in the list of VE techniques is to reduce this time lag.

Special tools also provide value opportunities. Value engineers have to be on the lookout for appearance of special tools.




Low-cost additive manufacturing materials are primarily driven by thermoplastic filaments for FDM/FFF printers, with PLA (Polylactic Acid) being the most affordable ($20–$30/kg) and beginner-friendly option. Other low-cost, versatile, or specialized materials include ABS, PETG, TPU for flexible parts, and PLA-based composites for increased rigidity or aesthetic properties. 

Top Low-Cost Materials (FDM/FFF)
PLA (Polylactic Acid): Excellent for prototypes and beginner projects due to its low cost ($20–$30/kg), ease of printing, and availability.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Durable and heat-resistant, often used for functional prototypes, though it requires higher temperatures and a heated chamber.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol): Combines ease of use (like PLA) with higher strength and chemical resistance (like ABS).
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): Flexible and resilient material used for creating dampeners, toys, and phone cases.
PLA Composites (Wood/Metal filled): These are PLA blends containing wood fibers or metal powder (copper, bronze), offering unique textures and aesthetics, often at a similar price point to standard PLA. 

Low-Cost Specialized Approaches
Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing (ECAM): A highly cost-effective, low-energy approach to metal 3D printing that uses electrochemical deposition rather than expensive lasers or powder beds.
Pellet Additive Manufacturing (PAM): Uses, cheaper pelletized polymer feedstock instead of specialized filaments, significantly reducing raw material costs for larger prints.
Recycled Filaments: Using recycled materials can lower costs and increase environmental sustainability. 

Key Considerations for Cost Saving
Material Cost: PLA remains the most cost-effective option.
Waste Management: Using methods like PAM (Pellet Additive Manufacturing) or recycling systems minimizes material waste, decreasing the overall production cost.

How Much Does 3D Printing Cost? 2026 Ultimate Guide
Updated
Aug 22, 2025


Cost Factor            FDM (Filament)          Resin (SLA/LCD)
Standard Material    $20–$30 / kg           $40–$80 / kg




https://protomont.com/what-are-the-most-affordable-3d-printer-filaments-on-the-market-2/


HardwareX
Volume 11, April 2022, e00292
HardwareX
Low cost 3D printing of metals using filled polymer pellets
































Monday, April 13, 2026

Knowledge Management for Industrial Engineering

 


System Industrial Engineering requires knowledge.


Process Industrial Engineering requires knowledge.


Operation Industrial Engineering requires knowledge.


Element Industrial Engineering requires knowledge.


Product Industrial Engineering requires knowledge.


Knowledge has external and internal components.


External Objective knowledge may be available for sale. But somebody has to identify and purchase and them make it available to many persons in the company.


Internal knowledge has also objective knowledge and informal or knowledge which is only with the people who did a project and service. An internal knowledge system must accumulate knowledge and make it available to many in the organization.


Four Components of Knowledge Management


The four important components of knowledge management are people, process, content/IT, and strategy. Regardless of the industry, size, or knowledge needs of your organization, you always need people to lead, sponsor, and support knowledge sharing. You need defined processes to manage and measure knowledge flows. You need knowledge content and IT tools that connect the right people to the right content at the right time. And finally, you need a clear and documented strategy for using KM to meet the most important and urgent needs of the business.

What are the Best Four Components of Knowledge Management? | APQC


Knowledge Management Software Reviews and Ratings 

Best Knowledge Management (KM) Software Reviews 2026 | Gartner Peer Insights


What Is Knowledge Management? | IBM










Automation - Examples and Case Studies

 


Webinar TMF - Automating the production of mineral insulated temperature sensors


The Machines Factory


 1 Apr 2026

During this short session we will introduce TMF and present our latest developments aimed at automating key steps in the production process of mineral insulated temperature sensors.


Topics we will cover:

• Introduction to The Machines Factory and its vision for sensor production automation

• Overview of our currently available machines, including the CS-1100 straightening and cutting machine and SH-600 spool holder

• Presentation of our latest developments: the laser grooving unit

• Concept of the sorting carousel for automated handling of cut parts

• Live demonstration of the CS-1100 machine

• Q&A session

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSyl7xHsZ0g




Association for Advancing Automation

900 Victors Way, Suite 140, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48108 

Automated Inspection of Electronic Assemblies

01/28/2025


Our advanced camera system provides a fully automated solution for inspecting various connector geometries, enabling precise and efficient quality assurance.


Application and Solution

In the production of electronic assemblies, our camera system was integrated to perform a comprehensive set of inspections, including:

Pin Inspection: Verifying the presence, alignment, and integrity of connector pins

Coding Inspection: Ensuring correct coding for compatibility and proper assembly

Pluggability Inspection: Validating connectors for proper fit and alignment

Label Content Inspection: Verifying label data, including OCR (Optical Character Recognition), OCV (Optical Character Verification), and DM (Data Matrix) code grading

Multiple cameras were deployed in the system, strategically positioned to capture high-resolution images of critical components. The system processes images in real-time to identify defects or inconsistencies, ensuring production quality.


Performance Highlights

Speed and Efficiency: Achieved a maximum image processing and evaluation time of 1.5 seconds per inspection

Precision: Delivered position accuracy of ± 0.01 mm for traversing axes

Font Size Testing: Inspected text as small as 1 mm font size, ensuring readability and compliance with labeling standards

https://www.automate.org/vision/case-studies/automated-inspection-of-electronic-assemblies

A supplier.

senswork Vision Systems

senswork is an expert in machine vision systems and specializes in optical inspection, industrial image processing and testing equipment manufacturing. Our ready-to-use camera technologies for automation and quality assurance are used every day by our renowned customers in numerous industries.







Top 6 Factories in Korea that use Automation


First factory shown manufactures vacuum cleaner

_____________________


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ-M_nX4qXA

______________________


Hand Pallet Trucks - Mass Production


______________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSMwrOMK1bQ

______________________






Ud. 13.4.2026, 2.2.2025

Pub. 21.7.2023



Saturday, April 11, 2026

Job Shop Industrial Engineering - Job Shop Lean - Shahrukh Irani

 Job Shop Lean: An Industrial Engineering Approach to Implementing Lean in High-Mix Low-Volume Production Systems Hardcover – 18 May 2020

by Shahrukh A. Irani (Author)

https://www.amazon.in/Job-Shop-Lean-Implementing-Low/dp/0367472252




https://www.iise.org/uploadedFiles/Webcasts/Public/Adapting-Lean-HMLV.pdf

Houston's manufacturers can utilize services of Dr. Shahrukh through the internship assignments of IE students.


Shahrukh Irani

A GUIDE TO ISE (Industrial & Systems Engineering) PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF HOUSTON'S MANUFACTURERS


Calling all manufacturers in Houston regardless of your size, type of manufacturing you do, etc. As the saying goes "From little acorns grow mighty oaks!" Well, in this case, the little acorn is to simply host me for a 1/2 day visit to tour your factory floor. But, prior to my visit, you will need to complete and return to me a questionnaire that helps me to prep for any such factory visit.


After the visit is over, I will send you a Trip Report that contains my observations, diagnostics and recommendations for actions you can take to improve factory operations. At this point, you can decide to not have any further dealings with me. HOWEVER, if you desire to benefit from the numerous industry outreach programs that the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at UH has to offer Houston's Manufacturers, you could start either by (1) hiring our students as interns or by (2) hosting one or both my courses on Lean and Job Shop Lean. 


If you do either or both the above, you would have laid the foundations for reaping the benefits of partnering with my department as has McWane Plant & Industrial Inc. They hired Sultan Ahmed Mohammed and Ujwal Rayala, CLSSGB as interns in Summer 2024. At that time, they did about $600K per month in revenue. Today, they do anywhere between $1 million and $1.2 million, thanks in main to the stellar work of Sultan who is currently a full-time Senior Manufacturing Engineer with MPI.

If you are in shock at the prospect of reading a 300-page document, please rest easy! Just submit this guide to your favorite LLM, say ChatGPT or Claude, and have it summarize any section that appears in the Table Of Contents. In fact, I could send you the summary that I generated! :-) :-) :-)

If you are interested, or even have questions, please dm me at your convenience.

Thank you.

Dr. Shahrukh Irani

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shahrukh-irani-8b25a55_ise-outreach-programs-to-benefit-houstons-ugcPost-7445875160324304896-s48H








Friday, April 10, 2026

Innovations by Industrial Engineers - Recent LinkedIn Posts on Innovations

 

Industrial engineers have to innovate. They have to identify and implement new engineering ideas and products in their processes and operations. They have to use creativity to maximize the output from engineering ideas currently in use in the company as well as new ideas that are now adopted.

What are some of the recent posts on innovation on LinkedIn




Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and a pioneer of the personal computer revolution, shares candid perspectives on innovation, intellectual property, leadership, and collaboration, shaped by real successes, failures, and bold ideas.


His personal stories and practical insights offer a fresh perspective on how innovation comes to life, not just as ideas, but through the way we develop, protect, and scale them.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7447663848331079681/


Innovation is a team effort. 

Here, engineers from countries around the world come together to brainstorm new ideas, create boundary-pushing solutions and redefine industry standards. See Chief Engineer Lena’s thoughts on being part of an international engineering team and explore engineering here



Defining INNOVATION 

Innovation is not just a new idea.

It is a valuable idea.

Barbara Salopek makes a powerful distinction:

Not all ideas are innovation.
Not even all patents are innovation.

Innovation happens when an idea:
• Creates real value
• Solves a meaningful problem
• Works in the real world
• Generates impact (and often revenue)

Innovation is not about the idea.  It is about the value it creates.

Watch a presentation here:



The culture shift that fuels innovation at work





Interesting Picture Presentation
Exploring the journey of innovation through New Product Development and Re-engineering—where ideas evolve into impactful solutions and continuous improvement drives success.


Mette Storvestre

PhD Corporate Entrepreneurship



Yes, Incremental Innovation Matters

In my PhD research, one insight kept resurfacing: In mature organisations, incremental innovation, not only what Jens Stoltenberg once called a “moon landing,” that truly moves the needle.

McKinsey’s 2022 data is clear:
82%+ of revenue growth come from everyday improvements
12%+ from adjacent innovation (new markets, new tech)
6%+ from radical innovation

How to build a real competitive advantage?
Embracing the human side of innovation by including all innovation modes and building a culture where continuous improvements from the many are recognised and valued. That’s where a substantial growth opportunity lies, and where everyday work becomes more meaningful for more people.

References
Bellis, P., Dell'Era, C., & Verganti, R. (2026). Reframing Through New Minds: How External Experts Unlock Problem Reframing Through Reasoning Logics. Journal of Product Innovation Management.
McKinsey & Company (2022, 7th July). Choosing to grow: The Leader's blueprint.