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Industrial Engineering: Mission and Objectives

Mission Statement

The mission of the Industrial Engineering (IE) Program at WPI is to prepare undergraduate students for professional engineering practice, providing the foundation for careers of leadership in challenging global and technological environments. We strive to accomplish this through:

• An innovative, project-based curriculum
• An emphasis on core industrial engineering skills with modern applications
• A flexible curriculum responsive to student interests and changes in the competitive environment
• An environment that encourages faculty/student interaction
• A culture that encourages the active involvement of students in their learning.

Educational Objectives

(Statements that describe the expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after graduation)

1. Industrial Engineering Knowledge and Design Skills. Graduates should be able to support operational decision-making and to design solutions that address the complex and changing industrial engineering problems faced by organizations, using modern concepts and technology.
2. Communication Skills. Graduates should be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using electronic tools and graphical information.
3. Teamwork and Leadership Skills. Graduates should be able to serve as change agents in the organizations that employ them, based on strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility and a willingness to take the initiative.

Program Outcomes

(Statements that describe what students are expected to know and are able to do by the time of graduation.)

1. Industrial Engineering Knowledge and Design Skills
   1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve industrial engineering problems.
   2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
   3. An ability to design and improve integrated systems of people, materials, information, facilities and technology.
   4. An ability to apply core industrial engineering concepts, using the updated techniques, skills and tools necessary for industrial engineering practice.
   5. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a societal context.
   6. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, including statistics as well as integral and differential calculus.
   7. An understanding of fundamental physical laws.
2. Communication Skills
   8. An ability to communicate effectively.
3. Teamwork and Leadership Skills
   9. An ability to work effectively on multi-disciplinary teams.
   10. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
   11. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
   12. A knowledge of contemporary issues.
   13. An understanding of global issues.
   14. An understanding of change management in organizational settings.

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Last modified: Aug 04, 2003, 10:46 EDT

Department of Management
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Phone: +1-508-831-5218 - Fax: +1-508-831-5720 - mgt@wpi.edu