Enhancing Industrial and Systems Engineering Education through Academic-Industry Alliances

Industrial and System Engineers (ISE) utilize a wide breadth of knowledge and problem solving skills to engage people, technology, and organizations with the goal of understanding a system to improve performance. Since an efficient supply chain is critical to business success, ISE curriculum typically includes supply chain management concepts to effectively prepare students to work within manufacturing operations. At the heart of a manufacturing supply chain are production, distribution, and logistics systems, which are thus integral parts of supply chain management education. Typical textbook approaches employ situational analysis and chapter problems to convey mathematical models and heuristics. However, case studies and simulation methods are preferred approaches to enhance learning, problems solving, teamwork, and foster concept retention. This paper will illustrate the implementation and utilization of a strategic academic-industry collaboration partner with a global support system and pedagogy to teach supply chain management through case studies and simulations. The academic alliance is used to promote practical and future-oriented education while providing access to the latest ERP software and data analytic technology. Case studies integrating enterprise management software provide hands-on experience, conceptual development, and an understanding of key business process often impacted by engineering initiatives. A manufacturing simulation is also used to engage students in key supply chain management concepts including demand planning, production planning, materials requirement planning, bill of materials management, and managerial accounting. The simulation operates a manufacturing company in a commercial software environment, and requires teamwork and coordination of effort vital to good systems engineering. Included in the analysis are the resources needed by a University to engage with an academic alliance, example curricula and simulations available, training methods, and start up plans. An undergraduate course framework designed to provide a comprehensive pedagogy for supply chain management concepts within an engineering discipline is also provided.  Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) is a systems oriented, interdisciplinary engineering field encompassing engineering, management, and human factors with the primary purpose of analyzing interactions within complex networks. For example, ISE is the “distinguished home” of the Industrial and Management Engineering program, founded in 1933 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ISE integrates a quantitative engineering approach with qualitative insight, and works closely with other disciplines, such as computer science and management. A review of nationally ranked University web pages show that typical career paths for ISE graduates included careers in manufacturing to improve operations inside manufacturing plants. More recently, ISE roles have expanded outside the plant to design and improve supply chains and transportation systems that connect manufacturing facilities. The need to incorporate supply chain management (SCM) content is indirectly confirmed as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) “four pillars” includes “manufacturing systems and operations” as part of manufacturing knowledge for product producing enterprises. An exploratory study by a paper presented at the 2015 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition postulated the criticality of integrating SCM concepts within manufacturing curriculum. Based on a study of two and four year colleges with manufacturing engineering technology curricula located within highly ranked U.S. manufacturing regions, the authors established “the importance of supply chain efficiency and reliability to ensure the timely launch of product” and continued cost control. Critical skills identified for manufacturing oriented graduates included procurement and logistics, which are key SCM components. The research determined that only approximately 50% of industrial, manufacturing, or manufacturing technology engineering departments offered supply chain courses. The data in the 50% was also skewed, with industrial engineering typically being the department providing some level of SCM courses, whereas the manufacturing related disciplines were less frequent. Nepal and Kumar (2015) identify the next research into skills gaps related to information technology and the globalized marketplace, this paper proposes a solution based on Enterprise Resource Planning education supported by global Academic Alliances. As Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a core application of information technology Academic Alliances, the relationship between SCM and ERP is first established by this paper. Next, Academic Alliances are defined along with their place within higher education by establishing benefits to students, academic institutions, and faculty pedagogy. As Academic Alliances are primarily a tool for active learning content, the Kolb Learning Cycle is introduced as the foundational theory for the application of Academic Alliance pedagogy presented herein. A quantitative assessment of over 200 students and nine course sections is discussed to confirm the positive impact in utilization of Academic Alliances and the technology access they provide.