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Industrial Revolution
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James Watt: Invention of the Steam Engine
James Watt's steam engine allowed factories to emerge, enabling location flexibility, cheaper power sources, and economies of scale (mass production). -
Adam Smith’s: “Wealth of Nations”
Smith presented labor division and capitalism, promoting innovation and the foundation of factory systems and cost control (to reduce waste and increase productivity). -
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Charles Babbage: Task Specialization and Cost Efficiency
Babbage studied the impact of task division, learning time, and switching between tasks. He proposed to pay the workers based on their skilled operations. -
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Eli Whitney and Simeon North: Interchangeable Parts
They developed a system where parts were mass-produced and used in various products, reducing specialized skills. -
Frederick W. Taylor: Dividing Work to Increase Efficiency
He improved efficiency by breaking work into smaller tasks and helped develop scientific management, which included planning work and training workers. -
Hugo Diemer & William Kent: First Industrial Engineering Curriculums
Established the first academic programs in Industrial Engineering at Pennsylvania State and Syracuse University respectively. -
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Frank & Lillian Gilbreth: Motion Studies and Ergonomics
They studied work motions and time to introduce the concept of ergonomics and efficient job design which will become crucial in the 1920s and 1930s. -
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Harrington Emerson: Efficiency Through Training and Dispatching
Promoted scientific management through the selection and training of employees and dispatching (shop floor control). -
Henry Towne: Productivity Sharing
Advocated fair compensation for workers who helped increase gains thanks to productivity and called for professionals interested in problems of manufacturing and management. -
Henry Gantt: Gantt Chart and Worker Incentives
Created a visual tool for task scheduling (Gantt Chart), incentive plans, and proper worker training. -
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First World War
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Hawthorne Studies: Human Relations Role
Western Electric studies showed that attention to workers and collaboration improved productivity. -
Maynard, Stegemerten & Lowry: Importance of Motion Study
Promoted motion study and good work methods as keys to productivity improvement. -
Walter Shewhart: Quality Control
Published his book “Economic Control of the Quality of Manufactured Product” demonstrating that sampling is an effective tool for controlling production quality. -
A.H. Mogenson: A Well Done Job
Claimed that people who know any job best are the workers doing that job. -
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Second World War
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WWII: Industrial Engineers in Military Planning
Industrial Engineering methods were crucial for organizing military operations and improving production during war, creating new techniques and devices. -
AIIE Founded: Professional Recognition of Industrial Engineers
The American Institute of Industrial Engineers was created to support the growing discipline. -
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IE Evolves From Observation to Quantitative Methods
IE began relying on mathematical models for decision-making in production and operations, making it competitive over other engineerings. -
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IE Education: Focus on Math-Based Tools
Linear programming, queuing theory, and simulation entered mainstream IE training and practice. -
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Second Phase in the History of IE
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From Direct Labor to Project Engineering
Industrial engineers began focusing more on system design and indirect roles than on shop floor labor. -
IE’s Role Grows
Industrial engineers began leading manufacturing/service integration and software/hardware development. -
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Islands of Automation: Inefficient Technology Without Integration
Isolated computer systems created inefficiencies due to lack of connectivity between automated areas. -
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Third phase in the History of IE
Reassessment, self-study, and growth -
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IE Reassessment: Lessons from Japan
IEs reflected on poor results vs. Japanese industry success, emphasizing problem-solving over tool use. -
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Further Control Over Companies
Engineers began shaping company strategy and long-term planning beyond just operations. -
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Integrated Systems
Improved system coordination. -
New Coverage
The line between industries faded: The hybrid systems and complex technology environments where the new place for industrial engineers. -
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The Future
Waste-free processes, submicron and nanoscale manufacturing, biotechnology and collaboration software systems represent opportunities for industrial engineers in anticipation of future development.