System Engineering - Systems Engineering - Bibliography

Foundations of Systems Engineering

https://sebokwiki.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Systems_Engineering

 

March 2026

Narayana Rao KVSS

Professor (Retired), NITIE - Now IIM Mumbai - Offering FREE IE ONLINE Course Notes

What is the role of industrial engineering in systems engineering? Can you give some important issues.

Answer by Leon McGinnis

Professor Emeritus at Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engneering

Jan 1975 - Present · 51 yrs 3 mos

--

Perhaps a better question is: What is the role of systems engineering in industrial engineering? Industrial engineers often are involved in the design or improvement of large systems such as distribution centers, factories, supply chains, health care systems, etc. These all typically involve multiple disciplines (mechanical, electrical, civil engineering; architecture; controls; robotics; etc), exhibit multiple interacting subsystems, have multiple stakeholders often with conflicting objectives, have lengthy design/build cycles, have long lives, and are very expensive. In other words, they are large, expensive, long-lived artifacts that must operate effectively under changing conditions. An excellent target for adding systems engineering methods and tools to the IE's toolbox.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7253861949694709761

Very good content. - SEH 2.0 Fundamentals of Systems Engineering

Encyclopedia

Updated Feb 6, 2019

https://www.nasa.gov/reference/2-0-fundamentals-of-systems-engineering/

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002012487

System engineering; an introduction to the design of large-scale systems

[by] Harry H. Goode [and] Robert E. Machol.

Published: New York, McGraw-Hill, 1957.

Physical Description: 551 p. illus. 24 cm.

Full view available

Financial engineering;

Main Author: Goldman, Otto Berger.

Language(s): English

Published: New York, J. Wiley & sons, inc.; [etc., etc.] 1923.

Edition: 2d ed.

Subjects: Engineering

Physical Description: x, 325 p. incl. tables, diagrs. 23 cm.

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001511865

Industrial Engineering search results - interesting

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/browse?type=lcsubc&key=Industrial%20engineering&c=x

Previous Title: Industrial engineering

Language(s): English

Published: New York.

Note: v. 3-6: Engineering digest.

v. 1-2 have title: Technical literature.

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008616632

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433069057721&view=1up&seq=96    The page is titled industrial engineering

Gilbreth

1907

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433069057721&view=1up&seq=188&q1=gilbreth

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433069057721&view=1up&seq=339&q1=gilbreth

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433069057721&view=1up&seq=361&q1=gilbreth

Ud. 27.3.2026,  17.7.2025

Pub. 23.6.2021

Systems Engineering in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE)

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

SECOND EDITION

Alexander Kossiakoff

William N. Sweet

Samuel J. Seymour

Steven M. Biemer

The following characteristics are commonly found in successful systems engineers. 

They 

 1. enjoy learning new things and solving problems, 

 2. like challenges, 

 3. are skeptical of unproven assertions, 

 4. are open - minded to new ideas, 

 5. have a solid background in science and engineering, 

 6. have demonstrated technical achievement in a specialty area, 

 7. are knowledgeable in several engineering areas, 

 8. pick up new ideas and information quickly, and 

 9. have good interpersonal and communication skills.

Industrial engineering is concerned with design, installation and improvement of systems having machines, men, material, energy and information to produce goods and service. Its special focus is on specifying, evaluating and improving results expected from these systems.

Therefore industrial engineering focuses on results expected from engineering systems at the design stage, installation stage and operation stage.

Both industrial engineering and system engineering need knowledge, achievement and expertise in multiple engineering areas.

Ch. 2. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LANDSCAPE

 The essence of the systems engineering viewpoint is  making the central objective the system as a whole and the success of its mission. This, in turn, means the subordination of individual goals and attributes in favor of those of the overall system. The systems engineer is always the advocate of the total system in any contest with a subordinate objective.

A Balanced System 

 One of the dictionary definitions of the word “ balance ” that is especially appropriate to system design is “ a harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in a design or a composition. ” An essential function of systems engineering is to bring about a balance among the various components of the system, which, it was noted earlier, are designed by engineering specialists, each with expertise on optimizing the characteristics of a particular component.

 A broader and robust perspective to systems approaches to solve very extensive complex engineering problems by integrating engineering, management, and social science approaches using advanced modeling methodologies is termed “ engineering systems. ” The intent is to tackle some of society ’ s grandest challenges with significant global impact by investigating ways in which engineering systems behave and interact with one another including social, economic, and environmental factors. This approach encompasses engineering, social science, and management processes without the implied rigidity of systems engineering. Hence, applications to critical infrastructure, health care, energy, environment, information security, and other global issues are likely areas of attention. 

This "engineering systems" is appropriate for systems with which industrial engineering is concerned. These systems include customers, suppliers and operators.

Systems Engineering Viewpoint 

 The systems engineering viewpoint is focused on producing a successful system that meets requirements and development objectives, is successful in its operation in the field, and achieves its desired operating life. In order to achieve this definition of success, the systems engineer must balance superior performance with affordability and schedule constraints. In fact, many aspects of systems engineering involve achieving a balance among conflicting objectives. For example, the systems engineering typically must apply new technology to the development of a new system while managing the inherent risks that new technology poses. 

 Throughout the development period, the systems engineer focuses his or her perspective on the total system, making decisions based on the impacts and capabilities of the system as a whole. Often, this is accomplished by bridging multiple disciplines and components to ensure a total solution. Specialized design is one dimensional in that it has great technical depth, but little technical breadth and little management expertise. Planning and control is two dimensional: it has great management expertise, but moderate technical breadth and small technical depth. But systems engineering is three dimensional: it has great technical breadth, as well as moderate technical depth and management expertise.

Systems Efficiency Engineering - A Focus Area of Industrial Engineeering

Blog Post Publication Date: 6.6.2013

Published still earlier as Knol number 869.

Systems efficiency engineering is one of the focus areas of industrial engineering according to me. The other area of focus is human effort engineering.

Functional design of a system and efficiency design of system are different activities. In mechanical engineering, design of a mechanism and design of machine elements to implement the mechanism are different activities. A machine requires first a mechanism design and then machine element design. Then somebody has to do a process design to manufacture each element and then assemble them into an assembly. Similarly functional design of a system and efficiency design of a system are two different activities under division of labor.

Is efficiency engineering a new word that I am coining for the first time? No. Efficiency engineering was used in the past by many authors and thinkers. The new thing that I want to emphasize is the difference between functional engineering or design and efficiency engineering or design. Industrial engineering has focused on efficiency of systems.

References to Efficiency Engineering

Efficiency Engineering – Requirements for Tools from Industrial Practice

Andreas Möller*, Martina Prox**

University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr.1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany

Hamburg, Große Bergstr. 219, 22767 Hamburg, Germany

E-mail: m.prox@ifu.com

   

http://www.iscp.org.cn/clcm2008cn/Papers/62-Efficiency%20engineering_Umberto_Prox.pdf 

BMG Efficiency Engineering

Cost Efficiency through Efficiency Engineering

http://www.bmgeng.ch/e/titel/documents/FS_KostenEff_e_WebFile_001.pdf

 

Efficiency Engineering

http://www.shoetemps.com/efficiency_engineering.htm

Efficiency engineering. Improved methods program brings savings in money, manpower.

1: Hospitals. 1969 Aug 16;43(16):77-8 passim.

Taylor, Frederick Winston

Publication: Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History

Publication Date: 01-JAN-00

Taylor promoted his ideas about efficiency engineering of both people and machine processes that would help speed up work.

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0193-13543_ITM

I am now conceptualizing the two areas of efficiency engineering as Human Effort Engineering and Systems Efficiency Engineering.

THE CORE PURPOSE OF SYSTEM EFFICIENCY ENGINEERING IS TO BROKER KNOWLEDGE WITHIN OUR NETWORK TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WITHIN A SYSTEM AND IMPROVE ITS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. WE BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS BY ENABLING THEM TO OUTSOURCE COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE FIRM TO OUR DEDICATED TEAM FOR ANALYSIS AND INPUT. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE HELPING CLIENTS SOLVE AND IMPLEMENT CHANGE AND ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS, COMPLETE FEASIBILITY STUDIES OR ASSIST IN INNOVATION AND ITS MANAGEMENT. WE CONSIDER EVERY PROCESS AND ENVIRONMENT AS A SYSTEM AND THEREFORE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ANALYSE AND SCRUTINISE SYSTEMS IN A RANGE OF SECTORS TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFICIENCY FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHIER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.

http://www.systemefficiency.com.au/

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Efficiency Improvement Techniques of Industrial engineering 

1. Process Analysis 

2. Operation Analysis 

3. Time study

4. Value engineering

5. Statistical quality control

6. Statistical inventory control and ABC Classification Based Inventory Sytems

7. Six sigma

8. Operations research

9. Variety reduction

10. Standardization

11. Incentive schemes

12. Waste reduction or elimination

13. Activity based management

14. Business process improvement

15. Fatigue analysis and reduction

16. Engineering economy analysis

17. Learning effect capture and continuous improvement (Kaizen, Quality circles and suggestion schemes)

18. Standard costing

19. 5S

20. SMED

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Some More References

Improving Information System Efficiency Through Statistical Process Control 
Authors: Kenneth C. Gilbert ; James M. Reeve ;Richard A. Wannemacher

Published in:  Information Systems Management, Volume 7, Issue 2 1990 , pages 8 - 14

Electronic air cleaner improves system efficiency

http://www.dynamicaqs.com/commercial/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=5&Itemid=46

Improve the Energy Efficiency of Fan Systems Fan System Assessment Tool (FSAT) Saves Energy

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/pdfs/fsat_fs.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficiency_Movement

Scientific Management, as it was called, involved the application of the scientific method to understand business problems and improve workplace efficiency. Previously, most managers lacked quantitative data and information and thus often relied on hunches and educated guessed to manage their business. By the early 1900’s, Scientific Management evolved into “efficiency engineering” with its main focus being optimization of a single process (i.e. point optimization), and then later “industrial engineering” whose focus expanded to system optimization – i.e. improvement of interrelated processes.

(M.L. “Bob” Emiliani is a university professor, researcher, author, historian of progressive management, and executive trainer. in http://www.leanceo.com/too-much-selfish-thinking/)

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Related Knols

Introduction to Industrial Engineering - Course at NITIE

Industrial Engineering - Knols of Narayana Rao K V S S

Industrial Engineering Techniques - Articles, Books, Courses

Organizing for Industrial Engineering: Historical Evolution of Thinking

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Original knol - Knol Number 869 http://knol.google.com/k/ systems-efficiency-engineering-a-focus-area-of-industrial-engineeering

Related Articles

System Efficiency Engineering - Industrial Engineering

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2019/07/system-efficiency-engineering.html

Ud. 19.5.2023

Pub. 6.6.2013

System Efficiency Engineering - IE Component - Bibliography

Industrial engineering is system efficiency engineering.

Management and Basic Engineering is system effectiveness engineering in the first instance.

Effectiveness first - Efficiency next.

Articles, Papers and Reports on Efficiency Engineering , Evaluation and Improvement

A Template for Efficiency in Machine Shop - 2005

A Tool List to Reduce Cost in Ship Yard - 1985

Bibliography of Industrial Efficiency and Factory Management - 1920

Construction Productivity Project - Industrialized Housing Project - 2005

Cutting Tools Help Machine Shop to Improve Efficiency - 2008

Cycle Time Reduction and Strategic Inventory Placement across a Multistage Process - MS dissertation - 1993 - MIT

Efficiency Movement - Wikipedia Article

Energy saving at houses

2008 Energy efficiency intervention in Gujarat, India

2008 Energy efficiency projects in Vietnan

Efficiency Improvement and Biomass

Efficiency Engineering in Dark Room (Radiology department)

Improvements in Efficiency of Melting for Die Casting - US Office of Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities in Cement Making - An Energy Star Guide for Energy and Plant Managers - Energy Analysis Department - 2008

High Efficiency Foundation Drilling Machines

Household Engineering - A Correspondence Course on the Application of Efficiency Engineering and Scientific Management to the Every Day Tasks of Housekeeping

How to get top shop efficiency

Journal Supply Chain Efficiency Improvement  Project  Draft Final Report 2008

Monitoring of machine tools improves machine uptime and shop efficiency

National Grid Energy Efficiency Initiatives

Reducing Cost in LTL Crossdock Terminal by Improving Layout - 2000

Refrigeration efficiency improvement by reducing the difference between temperatures of heat rejection and heat absorption - patent information

Efficiency improvement for shared communication networks - patent information

Enhancing efficiency in CNG Gas Use  February 2012, Pakistan

Productivity Audit - Shoichi Saito  -  Maynard Handbook article

Taylor-Made (19th Century Efficiency Expert Frederick Taylor) Taylorism is is invoked even today

The Efficiency Movement in Florida Baptist History - Dr. Glenn Hewitt 1987

Water Efficiency Self Assessment Guide for Commercial and Industrial Buildings - 2011

System Efficiency Engineering Consultants

Efficiency Engineering Incorporated

ENEFEN Energy Efficiency Engineering Limited -Thermal Energy Consultants

Jackson Productivity Research Incorporated

Metso - Efficiency Improvement Studies

3E Energy Ltd - Economic Efficiency Engineering - Reduction of site energy use and operating maintenance cost - New Zealand



Search Links


Google search for "Efficiency improvement"

Yahoo search for "Efficiency Improvement"

Related materials

The New Management of Engineering - Patrick O'Connor

Ud. 30.6.2022

Pub. 10.2.2012

Concept and Principles of System Efficiency Engineering

Industrial Engineering is System Efficiency Engineering.

Its Main Components are Machine Effort and Human Effort Efficiency Engineering.

Synonyms: #Productivity #CostReduction  #Efficiency  #WasteElimination

Systems have many sub-systems or components. A manufacturing system has manufacturing  and administrative sub-systems. The manufacturing system can have many factories. In each factory multiple products are produced and each product has a process of manufacturing and products may use common facilities. The processes have operations. In each operation machines and men work on materials.  Machines and men have various elements that have an impact on the effectiveness and efficiency.

Effectiveness of a business system is production of goods and services at prices and quality that satisfy the customers. Then only there will be business revenues through sales. Efficiency is related to the cost incurred in producing goods of right quality. Efficiency is more if cost of production is lesser and lesser without affecting the quality of parameters of importance of the customers. Product redesign and process redesign are attempted by companies to change material specifications, dimensions and ways of processing in a way that maintains the expected performance of the product. For this purpose, the new inventions and innovations are utilized apart from the ideas that come to mind due to learning effect and creative outbursts of all employees.

We can say may areas in industrial engineering, like product IE, process IE, facilities IE, operation IE, Engineering Element level IE, Process machine effort IE, Process human effort IE etc., taking care of various sub-systems or components of engineering systems or production systems. 

Effectiveness First and Efficiency Next.  Organizations have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. Processes have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. Operations have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. - Narayana Rao

Difference between Performance Engineering (Effectiveness Engineering) and Value Engineering (Efficiency Engineering)

L.D. Miles brought out this difference more clearly. Designing a product to given specification and getting a prototype made that is acceptable to customers is a demanding task. This is performance engineering. Redesigning this working prototype to manufacture it at the lowest cost without sacrificing any feature that the customer desires is value engineering (efficiency engineering). These two activities can be better performed as two separate activities and this will give better results. As Adam Smith noted, division of labor improves productivity. Industrial engineering is efficiency engineering while traditional engineering disciplines are effective engineering disciplines.

Adam Smith

In particular economic growth, to be interpreted as growth in per capita income, has to be reconducted to two factors: labor productivity and the proportion of productive to unproductive workers. Labor productivity, which is considered the most important of the two, essentially depends on the division of labor which: a) improves the dexterity of the worker; b) allows the worker to save the time necessary to switch among different activities; c) puts the worker in the condition of inventing machines to facilitate his job.

Principles of Efficiency - Harrington Emerson

Harrington Emerson contributed to the systems efficiency focus of industrial engineering. His book Twelve Principles of Efficiency was classic.

He discussed efficiency design of organization through 12 principles

1. Clearly defined ideals.
2. Common sense
3. Competent counsel
4. Discipline
5. The fair deal
6. Reliable, immediate and adequate records
7. Despatching
8. Standards and schedules
9. Standardized conditions
10. Standardized operations
11. Written standard-practice instructions
12. Efficiency-reward

Harrington Emerson - A Pioneer Industrial Engineer - Principles of Efficiency

Babbage Principle

In "On the Economy of Machine and Manufacture", Babbage described what is now called the Babbage principle, which identified advantages with division of labour. Babbage noted that highly skilled—and thus generally highly paid—workers spend parts of their job performing tasks that are "below" their skill level. If the labour process can be divided among several workers, it is possible to assign only high-skill tasks to high-skill and -cost workers and leave other working tasks to less-skilled and paid workers, thereby cutting labour costs. (page 137-138).

Role of Efficiency

Producers exist to convert inputs into desired goods and services in an efficient manner. Given that output prices and factor prices are determined in competitive markets, efficiency means exploiting existing production technology to the greatest extent possible. Profits earned by the entrepreneur represent the reward for taking risks (facing an uncertain demand for the output) and achieving efficiency in production (relative to competing producers) -- profits that are least equal to what the entrepreneur could earn by working for someone else.

Sentences from Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell,  Principles of Management, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968, on Efficiency.

p. 742

The goal of all managers in all enterprises must be the effective accomplishment of purpose (whatever it is) with the most efficient utilization of resources-human and material-at their disposal.

The purpose of business is to satisfy the economic wants of people, and, since resources are scarce, their efficient use is a moral requirement.

p. 744

It is not enough to produce economic goods; the first duty of business is to produce them efficiently.

Since businessmen obtain control scarce resources by the purchase or lease of land and capital and hire human services, they have a moral responsibility for using them efficiently in the production

It is the business of the state to make sure through legislation and regulation that the private economy does not fail in its function to efficiently utilize resources to maximize the satisfaction of consumer wants for economic goods and services.

Principle of Suboptimization

PRINCIPLE OF SUBOPTIMIZATION

Optimizing each subsystem independently will not in general lead to a system optimum, or more strongly, improvement of a particular subsystem may actually worsen the overall system. The principle of suboptimization provides the basis for a link between organizational structure and the policies adopted.

The well-being of an element is dependent on the well-being of the system of which it is a part. It is sometimes necessary for an element to limit its goals and actions in order to preserve the well-being of the system. In acting to achieve its goals one element may come to constrain the actions of another element to the point of serious injury to the other element.

(  http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ASC/PRINCI_SUBOP.html    )

Marginal Productivity Theory

Resources are employed till their marginal productivities are equal for the addition unit of payment for optimizing the resources employed in the production.


On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures  http://books.google.co.in/books?id=4QWZq4FDoH4C
Only preview available

Division of Labor and Economic Growth: From Adam Smith to Paul Romer and Beyond
http://time.dufe.edu.cn/article/romer/5.pdf

The optimization principles - role of efficiency - http://www.digitaleconomist.org/optimization.html

Principle of Productivity Science - Narayana Rao

Productivity science

Productivity Improvement: Pick and Pass Sorting

March 11, 2021

Vinayak Shete

Manager Solution Design at Addverb

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/productivity-improvement-pick-pass-sorting-vinayak-shete/

2. Productivity engineering

5. Industrial engineering optimization

6. Industrial engineering economics

8. Human effort engineering for increasing productivity

10. Operator comfort and health are to be taken care of.

11. Work measurement

12. Selection of operators

14. Productivity training and education to all

15. Employee involvement in continuous improvement of processes and products for productivity improvement.

16. Productivity incentives

17. Hearty cooperation

18. Productivity Management

20. Productivity measurement

21. Cost measurement

______________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8CdWfZZdU&t=697s

______________

Selected Statements Circulated in Social Media

Adam Smith: Economic growth, to be interpreted as growth in per capita income, has to be reconducted to two factors: labor productivity and the proportion of productive to unproductive workers. Labor productivity, which is considered the most important of the two, essentially depends on the division of labor.

Principles of Efficiency - Harrington Emerson: Ideals - Specialist - Reliable, immediate and adequate records - Schedules & Despatching -  Standards - Standardized conditions - Standardized operations - Written standard-practice instructions - Efficiency-reward.

Charles Babbage: Profits earned by the entrepreneur represent the reward for taking risks (facing an uncertain demand for the output) and achieving efficiency in production (relative to competing producers) -- profits that are least equal to what the entrepreneur could earn by working for someone else.

Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell: The goal of all managers in all enterprises must be the #effective accomplishment of purpose (whatever it is) with the most #efficient utilization of resources-human and material-at their disposal.

Concept and Principles of System Efficiency Engineering.

Industrial Engineering is System Efficiency Engineering.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/02/principles-of-system-efficiency.html

Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell:    The purpose of business is to satisfy the economic wants of people, and, since resources are scarce, their #efficient use is a moral requirement.

Concept and Principles of System Efficiency Engineering.

Industrial Engineering is System Efficiency Engineering.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/02/principles-of-system-efficiency.html

Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell:  It is not enough to produce economic goods; the first duty of business is to produce them efficiently.

Concept and Principles of System Efficiency Engineering.

Industrial Engineering is System Efficiency Engineering.

https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2012/02/principles-of-system-efficiency.html

Related Article

System Efficiency Engineering - Bibliography

Ud.   8.5.2022, 25.1.2022, 28.12.2021

Pub 17.2.2012

 Effectiveness First and Efficiency Next.  Organizations have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. Processes have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. Operations have to be effective and efficient simultaneously. - Narayana Rao

System Efficiency Engineering - Methods, Subjects, Techniques, and Tools

Authors

• Narayana Rao

Published

All Rights Reserved

Version 5

Last edited: 14 Feb 2010

Exported: 26 Nov 2011

Original URL: http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/2utb2lsm2k7a/2311

System efficiency engineering is one of the components of industrial engineering. Actually, the purpose of industrial engineering is efficiency improvement. Productivity is part of efficiency. Productivity is defined as output divided by input. It is calculated for a period like a year or month. The inputs can be individual resources or combinations of inputs. Efficiency also considers the state of resources after their use in processes. If the operators participating in a process are unhappy after the activity, it is part of inefficiency. Industrial engineers have to redesign the processes, not only to increase output in a single period, but also to maintain the resources in good sustainable condition to do work in the future.

Efficiency engineering is a term used by many to describe scientific management and industrial engineering. 

Judith Merkle[1] used the term "A Permanent Revolution in Efficiency Engineering" as subheading in his book Management and ideology: the legacy of the international scientific management movement, published by  University of California Press in 1980.

The following methods or techniques are available in industrial engineering to support system efficiency. Some of them are taught as full subjects in industrial engineering curriculums.

1. Engineering Economics or Engineering Economy.

2. Layout efficiency studies - Study of distance moved by materials and operators

3. Method Study includes process analysis or study and operation analysis or study.

4. Operations Research

5. Organization and Methods or Office Systems Study

6. Planning and Control Systems Improvement

7. Statistical Inventory Control

8. Statistical Quality Control

9. Value Engineering.

References

1. Judith Merkle, Management and ideology: the legacy of the international scientific management movement,  University of California Press, 1980.

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=HtO8n7PA_E4C

Updated 23.4.2022, 5.2.2022, 14.2.2010

Process Systems Engineering - Introduction

 

Process systems engineering (PSE) in the pharmaceutical industry: past and future

Process Systems Engineering (PSE) has had a profound impact in the chemical, petroleum and petrochemical industry in the last 30 – 40 years.

By Christos Georgakis, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Systems Research Institute for Chemical and Biological Processes, Tufts University and Gregory M. Troup, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc

15 December 2013

Applications of Systems Engineering in the Chemical and Process Industries

DWT Rippin

(Notes in 1994 course in Economics and Costing for Maintenance, Narayana Rao)

The Carnegie Mellon Process Systems Engineering (PSE) group represents one of the largest university research efforts for process systems engineering in the United States. Over the past four decades, the PSE group (Professors Biegler, Gounaris, Grossmann, Sahinidis, and Ydstie) has changed the global landscape of process systems engineering, providing intellectual leadership in complex decision-making issues faced by process industries, such as the petrochemical and emerging energy technology industries. Our underlying approach is based on developing and advancing systematic modeling and solution methods for multi-scale process systems engineering, covering the full spectrum from the molecular to the enterprise level.

https://www.cheme.engineering.cmu.edu/research/process-systems.html

Process Systems Engineering  - IIT Bombay

Process Systems Engineering (PSE) focuses on a complete, life cycle view of the manufacturing process in chemical engineering, beginning from the scale of molecule discovery &  scale up to the other end of spectrum relating to achieving manufacturing excellence and minimizing environmental impact. The PSE research has been focusing on these various individual steps in the life cycle of process engineering from both theoretical as well application perspectives.

https://www.che.iitb.ac.in/research-area/process-systems-engineering

"Systems Approach" — What is It?

Leonard C. Silvern

Educational Technology

Educational Technology

Vol. 8, No. 16 (August 30, 1968), pp. 5-6 (2 pages)

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44422967

Facets of Systems Science

George J. Klir

Springer Science & Business Media, 21-Nov-2013 - Business & Economics - 664 pages

This book has a rather strange history. It began in Spring 1989, thirteen years after our Systems Science Department at SUNY -Binghamton was established, when I was asked by a group of students in our doctoral program to have a meeting with them. The spokesman of the group, Cliff Joslyn, opened our meeting by stating its purpose. I can closely paraphrase what he said: "We called this meeting to discuss with you, as Chairman of the Department, a fundamental problem with our systems science curriculum. In general, we consider it a good curriculum: we learn a lot of concepts, principles, and methodological tools, mathematical, computational, heuristic, which are fundamental to understanding and dealing with systems. And, yet, we learn virtually nothing about systems science itself. What is systems science? What are its historical roots? What are its aims? Where does it stand and where is it likely to go? These are pressing questions to us. After all, aren't we supposed to carry the systems science flag after we graduate from this program? We feel that a broad introductory course to systems science is urgently needed in the curriculum. Do you agree with this assessment?" The answer was obvious and, yet, not easy to give: "I agree, of course, but I do not see how the situation could be alleviated in the foreseeable future.

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=2kX2BwAAQBAJ

Systems engineering

http://yamm.finance/wiki/Systems_engineering.html

Fact Gathering for Office System Efficiency Engineering Studies

Office Work Study - Industrial Engineering

The staff members are asked to write down their job description as they feel they are doing it, under various heads, for a representative period – work, month etc. They are asked to prepare a statement of duties and responsibilities under selected heads and to make an estimate of the total attendance time devoted to each activity as well as time absorbed by miscellaneous affairs, waiting, etc.

___________________________________________

Relevant Facts

A large part of system efficiency studies consists of getting facts.  The fact collection must be done selectively and as economically as possible. In gathering facts, the nature and amount of work, its purpose, the people who do it, the place and time of doing it, and the methods used are to be ascertained.

Nature

What is done?

The process and the result are to be recorded.

Amount

Can a measure be found for each action?

Words and answers like ‘often’ or ‘frequently’ need to challenged and efforts are to be made to get a numerical estimate of the frequency.

Purpose

Why is the work done?

Persons

Who does the work?

Place

Where is the work done?

Time

When is the work done?

Means

How is the work done?

This includes method, movement, equipment and supervision.

 Methods of collecting and getting information

Information provided through records

Organization charts, work distribution lists, work statistics, statements of procedures and actions taken reports etc. are useful and valuable sources of information.

Job description by staff

The staff members are asked to write down their job description as they feel they are doing it, under various heads, for a representative period – work, month etc. They are asked to prepare a statement of duties and responsibilities under selected heads and to make an estimate of the total attendance time devoted to each activity as well as time absorbed by miscellaneous affairs, waiting, etc.

Direct observation of work

The system study person can himself observe procedures and record. He can discuss various steps of the procedure with the employee concerned at the time of observation.

Interview and discussion

Interviewing is a most important part of the fact collection exercise. Arrangement for an interview should always be made through, or with the knowledge of, the immediate supervisor of the person to be interviewed. The system study person should make a rough plan of the enquiry indicating the kind of information needed and the scope of enquiry based on the job description provided to him by the organization as well as the employee concerned.

During an interview the analyst should have an informal manner. He should take great trouble to put the other person at ease. He must pose his questions carefully, avoiding anything which implies criticism of the individual, or of the work done, or which may be interpreted as injuring prestige. He should be impersonal, making it clear that he is engaged upon a study of the work and is not probing into the actions of the individuals. He needs to play down any idea that he is an expert in the specific work and stress the value of the main features of efficiency study approach. It helps if he uses the term ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ in conversation and interview. He should listen patiently and attentively – but also be able to guide the conversation over the required subject matter without dominating it.

As far as possible, interviews should be time to suit the work requirements and staff convenience. Normal work should not be seriously disturbed. Incoming telephone calls, enquiries and the like must be recognized as inevitable disturbances; the extent of such interruptions, the reasons for them and the manner n which they are treated may provide useful information about the job.

The best point at which to examine work is where it is done; this may mean that interviews are undertaken by the side of the desk where the employee is functioning.

Written questionnaires

Written questionnaires can be used where more number of similar jobs are being performed to get information in a structured manner.

Discussions with senior staff

Discussion with senior staff regarding the facts recorded for each staff member may reveal additional facts.

Sampling

Sampling studies are undertaken to record relevant facts.

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Warehouse Productivity - Efficiency Improvement

2018
________________

________________

Productivity Improvement and  Warehouse Optimization Techniques

   



Industrial Engineered Labor Standards

Industrial engineering has human effort engineering component. It consists of motion studies and design incorporating research of ergonomics and work measurement.

According to industrial engineering principles, the output of individual operators in a group can differ by 100%. Also, in a non incentive fixed payment system, operators work at 67% of the industrial engineering standard output.  That means the average worker produces output at only 67% of the standard. So a warehouse or DC operating without a formal labor management program that includes labor standards and incentives operates at about 65-70% of its potential output. This means that by adopting labor standards and payment systems that compensate workers for their productivity compared workers in other establishments, warehouses can improve  labor productivity by 30-35%, without burdening workers.

Motion Studies

While the mere act of measuring workers has proven to increase performance, the real productivity gains come from getting everyone doing the right tasks the right way. For example, if you have 100 workers in your DC, you will have 100 different ways in which the workers will do their jobs, if you have not specified particular methods. What are the chances that every one of them is the most efficient? The answer is ZERO. Motion study attempts to record the way motions are performed to do various tasks in the warehouse, and evaluates them to find out best practices of the operators. Then the best practices can be specified as standard methods. Apart from that motion studies can assess even the best practice in terms of certain principles of motion economy. When there is a need they improve the present best practice further. Thus motion studies improve productivity.

Motion study based job design and the development of standards is not necessarily something a warehouse management system will do for you. System-directed work from the system can accomplish the "right tasks" part, but getting everyone to do their tasks the "right way" is more complicated. It requires good motion design, and creating fair and accurate labor standards to measure the workers against these methods.

Man-Machine Task Improvement

Motion study has its focus on the motions performed by a worker. But is he doing task with proper tools, machines or equipments and machine movements?. Operation analysis and process improvement methods of industrial engineering contribute in eliminating waste in man-machine tasks.

By using experienced industrial engineers to study your jobs, equipment, and environment, the single most efficient method for completing each job and task can be determined. This critical steps of developing preferred methods, motions and engineered standards, along with proper training and change management, provides a quantum jump in productivity in companies.

Assigning Right Tasks to Reduce Time Taken to do Multiple Tasks

 Task interleaving:

Once you know how long it should take to complete each task based on preferred methods and engineered standards, you can leverage this information in a number of ways to improve labor productivity and utilization. System-directed task interleaving, also known as dynamic task management, is an automated function that allots tasks to workers by optimizing total time taken. Workers waste time if they have to travel back and forth from a central location to pick up their next assignment. By utilizing task interleaving, workers are directed to their next task from the location where they completed the present task,  based on priorities, proximity and their qualifications. With system-directed work, workers receive their next assignment on their mobile devices as soon as the previous task is completed, eliminating wasted travel. For example, a forklift driver replenishing an item in racks might be directed to pick a nearby pallet and take it to a loading dock or return a stack of empty pallets to a palletizer as the next task.

Also, by intelligently grouping picks into "batches" modern warehouse management solutions can significantly increase picking efficiency by enabling workers to pick multiple orders at the same time. This reduces travel and order fulfillment times.

Slotting


In warehousing, slotting is the intelligent positioning of merchandise for the purpose of optimizing order fulfillment efficacy. Slotting involves identifying the most efficient placement for each item in a distribution center or warehouse.

If the inventory in your DC has any degree of seasonality, if you support weekly/monthly campaigns for promotional item fulfillment, or if you have a fair amount of new SKU introductions into your facility, you could benefit substantially from placing them in forward racks or pick areas. Proper slotting of high velocity SKUs can significantly reduce pick travel time as well as minimize pick-line congestion, thus making pickers much more productive.

Slotting tasks can be handled  by the warehouse management solution, such that any re-slotting is minimum and decisions related to reslotting are also taken in an optimal way.                    

MAKING THE SYSTEMS WORK FOR YOU

No one process or system will single-handedly maximize your productivity.

Could your DC layout better facilitate your current and future operations? Do you have industrial engineers trained in developing preferred methods and engineered standards? Who will handle the critical change management process?


Warehouse Industrial Engineering - Warehouse Efficiency Improvement - Bibliography


Updated on 29 May 2020, 24 October 2016




   

System Efficiency Engineering - Interesting Web Pages and Reports

Efficiency improvement is also referred to by the term cost reduction. Efficiency improvement is not directly aiming revenue expansion but it is focusing on supply chain efficiency with respect to an accepted marketing or sales goal of the organization. But as efficiency improves and cost is reduced, the organizations may be able to lower prices and get more revenue for product that have elastic demand. But the immediate focus of system efficiency project is improvement in efficiency within the context of a targeted production and sales plan.

Industrial engineering is a discipline that focuses on improving the efficiency of  production and distribution systems.

_______________

Michelin's Industrial Engineering organization

"Eliminate - combine - reduce" is the theme of Michelin's Industrial Engineering organization. Our IEs are trained to leverage their engineering and analytical competencies to systematically create solutions that result in cost savings for the company. Interfacing with people, technology, and business, Michelin IEs are on the front line each day to facilitate continuous efficiency improvement in all areas of the organization.

Industrial Engineer
 Requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or industrial engineering or equivalent technical degree.

Conducts productivity improvement and cost reduction projects in the Group Services environment
Works in direct cooperation with employees and managers in the study and implementation of projects through the application of the Michelin IE method and related techniques. Project work includes work processes and flow analysis, organizational benchmarking, manpower planning, and productivity and efficiency improvements.
Begins employment with a training program that combines in-plant project and classroom work in IE functions, methods, and tools.

http://careers.michelin-us.com/you/career-paths/corp-services/industrial-eng.html

 accessed on 8.2.2010


Michelin's Obsession with Quality
"In our company, we have production people and we have quality people," Selleck explained in his keynote address at the IW Best Plants conference on Tuesday. "What makes us strong is that at Michelin, the quality people are kings. They are the czars."
Travis M. Hessman
APR 25, 2013
https://www.industryweek.com/operations/quality/article/21960311/michelins-obsession-with-quality

Power to the workers: Michelin’s great experiment
Inside the company’s ‘responsabilisation’ project
 Andrew Hill MAY 11 2017
https://www.ft.com/content/4767ebf6-33f7-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e

______________

Light Metals 2013 pp 163-167|
Bayer Process Efficiency Improvement
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-65136-1_29

TOC for Wiki Improving Process Efficiency with Business Process Accelerator
IBM Wiki -
http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/lfwiki.nsf/dx/Table_of_Contents_for_Wiki_Improving_Process_Efficiency_with_Business_Process_Accelerator

Improving Software Process Efficiency - 2002 MS thesis
http://www.bth.se/fou/cuppsats.nsf/all/a5cb3e848628d41bc1256bdb0060bb32/$file/mythesisMSE_2002_20.pdf

Performance Monitoring to Improve Service Quality and Efficiency Through Better Management of Bus Operators
http://www4.uwm.edu/cuts/bench/kimpel.pdf

Energy Efficiency in Local Municipality Operations
http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/ee_municipal_operations.pdf

Process Cycle Efficiency Improvement Through Lean: A Case Study 2011
http://www.thinkinglean.com/ijlt/articles/vol2/issue1/020203m.pdf

Streamlining operations: Discrete manufacturers pursue improved efficiency (EIU Survey during 2007-08)

http://graphics.eiu.com/upload/Streamlining%20operations_14%20July%2008.pdf

Production Efficiency Improvement: A Case Study in Roasted and Ground Coffee Industry, 2007

http://iat.sut.ac.th/food/FIA2007/FIA2007/paper/O4-02.pdf

Improving Packing Efficiency for Shipping Container, 2007

http://www.ijcim.th.org/v15nSP4/P26SEARCC_ImprovingPackingEfficiency.pdf

Efficiency savings in Forestry Commission Scotland

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/21120816/42

Public Transport Efficiency Project

http://www.andynash.com/pte-project2/PTEhome.html

ENERGY PROJECT CASE STUDY BOILER EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT

http://www.idfa.org/files/boiler_efficiency_improvement.pdf

Refractories - Opportunities for Energy Efficiency
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/industries_technologies/imf/pdfs/refractoriesreportfinal.pdf

Example of Business Operational Efficiency Improvement at Food Supermarkets through Implementation of USCOS (2006)

http://www.oki.com/en/otr/2006/n206/pdf/otr-206-R19.pdf

Improving Energy Efficiency In Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations (2006)

http://ies.lbl.gov/drupal.files/ies.lbl.gov.sandbox/60288.pdf

MANAGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT at Dow Chemical Company (2006)

JOE ALMAGUER, ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEADER

http://txspace.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/5618/ESL-IE-06-05-04.pdf?sequence=4

OPTIMIZING THE SCHEDULING OF THE MILITARY POLICE: A STUDY IN EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT IN THE U.S. ARMY,
Proceedings of the Academy of Production and Operations Management, Volume 1, Number 1 New Orleans, 2004

http://sbaer.uca.edu/Research/allied/2004/operationManagement/pdf/04.pdf

"Efficiency Improvement and Business Excellence"
Address by Dr. Dirk Suwelack, Member of the Board of Management, Bayer CropScience AG (2004 results)

http://www.bayercropscience.com/BCSWeb/CropProtection.nsf/id/AdrDrSuw_EN

Automotive Efficiency Improvement  Case Study

http://www.tacteng.com/site/cs/Automotive%20Efficiency%20Improvement%20Case%20Study.pdf

Efficiency Improvement Possibilities in CCGT Power Plant Technology  (2001)

http://www.imteag.com/2-PGA-2001.pdf

MAINTAINING THE SOLUTION TO OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT (1995)

http://www.pnl.gov/dsom/publications/26005.pdf

Original knol - http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/system-efficiency-engineering/2utb2lsm2k7a/ 2277


Use the Google Search Results for Process efficiency

Updated on 2 March 2020
29 August 2012

Physical Internet - Efficient Sustainable Logistics Movement

Universal interconnection of logistics services

A Physical Internet where goods travel in modular containers for the sake of interconnection in open networks. 

Ballot, E, B. Montreuil and F. Fontane (2010).

Topology of Logistic Networks and the Potential of a Physical Internet

CGS-Production and Logistics Systems, École des Mines de Paris, France et CIRRELT, Université Laval, Québec, Canada


Abstract : The topology of the logistic networks that contribute contemporary logistics is minimally examined or challenged in the assessment and improvement of the performance of supply chains, logistic and freight transportation. In this paper, it is shown that the topology of logistic networks has a major performance impact and that it can be significantly improved if the actual organization of flows is substituted by an organization founded on the universal interconnectivity of logistic networks: the Physical Internet.

The performance of contemporary vs. Physical Internet enabled network topologies is measured and contrasted through transportation throughput requirements, flow travel, and total costs.

Ballot, E., B. Montreuil & C. Thivierge (2012),


Montreuil B. (2011)

Towards a Physical Internet: Meeting the Global Logistics Sustainability Grand Challenge

Logistics Research, Vol. 3, No. 2-3, p. 71-87.


Abstract : This paper starts with the assertion that the way physical objects are currently transported, handled, stored, realized, supplied, and used throughout the world is unsustainable economically, environmentally, and socially. Evidence supporting this assertion is exposed through a set of key unsustainability symptoms.

It suggests exploiting the Digital Internet metaphor to develop a Physical Internet vision toward meeting this grand challenge. The paradigm breaking vision is introduced through a set of its key characteristics. The paper then proceeds with addressing the implications and requirements for implementing the Physical Internet vision as a means to meet the grand challenge.

It concludes with a call for further research, innovation, and development to really shape and assess the vision and, much more important, to give it flesh through real initiatives and projects so as to really influence in a positive way the collective future.

Functional Design of Physical Internet Facilities: A Road-Rail Hub 

in Progress in Material Handling Research: 2012, MHIA, Charlotte, NC (2012).


Abstract : Montreuil, Meller and Ballot enumerated the type of facilities that would be necessary to operate a Physical Internet (PI, π), which they termed, “π-nodes.”

This paper is part of a three-paper series for the 2012 IMHRC where the authors provide functional designs of three PI facilities. This paper covers a PI road-rail hub. The purpose of a PI road-rail node is to enable the transfer of PI containers from their inbound to outbound destinations. Therefore, a road-rail π-hub provides a mechanism to transfer π-containers from a train to another one or a truck or from a truck to a train. The objective of the paper is to provide a design that is feasible to meet the objectives of this type of facility, identify ways to measure the performance of the design, and to identify research models that would assist in the design of such facilities. The functional design is presented in sufficient detail as to provide an engineer a proof of concept.

Montreuil, B., R.D. Meller, C. Thivierge, C., and Z. Montreuil (2012),

Functional Design of Physical Internet Facilities: A Unimodal Road-Based Crossdocking Hub

in Progress in Material Handling Research: 2012, MHIA, Charlotte, NC (2012).


Abstract : As part of the 2010 IMHRC, Montreuil, Meller and Ballot proposed a set of facility types that would be necessary to operate a Physical Internet (PI, π), which they termed π-nodes. This paper is part of a three-paper series for the 2012 IMHRC where the authors provide functional designs of three PI facilities. This paper covers a unimodal road-based crossdocking hub designed specifically to exploit the characteristics of Physical Internet modular containers so as to enable the efficient and sustainable transhipment of each of them from its inbound truck to its outbound truck. The objective of the paper is to provide a design that is feasible to meet the objectives of this type of facility, identify ways to measure the performance of the design, and to identify research models that would assist in the design of such facilities. The functional design is presented in sufficient detail as to provide an engineer a proof of concept.


First work in the field of flows transportation

Sarraj, R., E. Ballot, S. Pan, D. Hakimi, B. Montreuil (2013),

Interconnected logistic networks and protocols: simulation-based efficiency assessment, 

in International Journal of Production Research (2013).


Abstract : Logistic networks intensely use means of transportation and storage facilities to deliver goods. However, these logistic networks are still poorly interconnected and this fragmentation is responsible for a lack of consolidation and thus efficiency. To cope with the seeming contradiction of just-in-time deliveries and challenging emissions targets, a major improvement in supply networks is sought here.

This new organisation is based on the universal interconnection of logistics services, namely a Physical Internet where goods travel in modular containers for the sake of interconnection in open networks.

If from a logical point of view, merging container flows should improve efficiency, no demonstration of its potential has been carried out prior to the here reported research. To reach this potentiality assessment goal, we model the asynchronous shipment and creation of containers within an interconnected network of services, find the best path routing for each container and minimise the use of transportations means. To carry out the demonstration and assess the associated stakes, we use a set of actual flows from the fast-moving consumer goods sector in France. Various transportation protocols and scenarios are tested, revealing encouraging results for efficiency indicators such as CO2 emissions, cost, lead time, delivery travel time, and so forth.

As this is a first work in the field of flows transportation, the simulation model and experiment exposes many further research avenues.

http://physicalinternetinitiative.org/publications.htm


A Presentation on Physical Internet

Physical Internet Manifesto

http://physicalinternetinitiative.org/index.php