The work, 鈥淕rand Challenges in Industrial and Systems Engineering,鈥� shares a set of eight key areas in which the profession can make significant contributions to society. A concept that originated from the grand challenges introduced by the National Academy of Engineering a decade ago, the idea to put forth a similar effort focused on industrial engineering was introduced by Pegasus Professor Waldemar Karwowski, chair of the 麻豆原创 Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, and University Distinguished Professor Gavriel Salvendy.

A global team of 18 authors from three continents and five countries, including the U.S., China, France, India and South Korea, contributed to the work, representing expertise in areas such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. Despite the monumental task at hand, the team鈥檚 collaborative effort in synthesizing their ideas into eight areas took just over a year in the making.

Karwowski says that the profession is ideally suited to play a pivotal role in addressing the world鈥檚 most pressing economic, environmental, sustainability and health and well-being issues.

鈥淪cientific and engineering expertise requires a deep understanding of social and human factors to design systems that improve efficiency and productivity, enhance resilience and safety, and promote sustainability in the future age of pervasive artificial intelligence (AI),鈥� Karwowski says.

He adds that the discipline must evolve to remain relevant and practical in the 21st century by integrating systems thinking, AI capabilities and real-world problem solving into education and practice.

鈥淥ur discipline faces unprecedented challenges in an era of exponential technological growth and increasing system complexity,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he profession can play a crucial role in addressing complex economic, health, environmental and sustainability challenges facing contemporary society.鈥�

Karwowski served as a keynote speaker at this summer鈥檚 North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management hosted by 麻豆原创, where he shared the grand challenges with attendees:

• AI for Business and Personal Use
  This area leverages AI technology in decision-making and system design operations. It recognizes AI鈥檚 revolutionary impact on society, as the internet has done in the past.

• Cybersecurity and Resilience
  The need to protect critical infrastructure and information, while ensuring the capability for system recovery, is the focus of this challenge. Systems engineering tools can identify risks, protect systems and design resilient infrastructures.

• Sustainability: Environment, Energy and Infrastructure
  The profession must create optimization models to use resources that balance environmental protection with economic development. Solutions can be developed using a systems perspective by studying the relationships with humans, organizations and the natural environment.

• Health Issues
  Through process optimization and technology integration, the profession can significantly enhance healthcare delivery systems by creating systems that improve patient care and reduce costs.

• Sociotechnical Issues
  A collaborative approach to problem solving that uses systems thinking, a method that examines problems by studying relationships, can help address sociotechnical issues to build resilient communities.

• Logistics and Supply Chain
  Improving global distribution networks through logistics and supply chain management can address global disruptions, resource scarcity and changes in consumer demand.

• System Integration: Humans, Automation and AI
  By developing frameworks that allow humans and technology to work together, systems and operations can work seamlessly while also mitigating risks like trust, transparency and skill development of humans and machines.

• Industrial and Systems Engineering Education
  The profession plays a critical role in preparing future engineers for interdisciplinary collaboration. This includes curriculum development, integrating large language models into problem solving and combining operations research with machine learning and AI models.

鈥淥ur discipline has been changing following developments in technology and the widespread use of AI,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淚n all these challenges, the use of AI is mentioned in one way or another. The world is rapidly changing and technology is changing the field of industrial engineering.鈥�

Their work is already gaining traction in the field. Karwowski says the paper received more than 7,500 views in just five months. It has been cited in three works so far, much more quickly than the typical year it takes for many papers to receive a single citation, signaling a burgeoning interest from researchers.

The team is making a concerted effort to share the grand challenges with the profession. Karwowski has shared the paper with his colleagues at other universities, where it was well accepted. One of the paper鈥檚 authors, Laura Albert, department chair of industrial and systems聽engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed the paper in her blog and as a podcast guest.

In addition, Karwowski was invited to present the paper to the industry advisory board for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. The presentation was well received and he left with an important request from the board to serve as the next step in sharing the grand challenges: to develop a customized version of the paper specific to industry.

鈥淚 think this paper will definitely help our profession to understand what research we should be doing in the future and how should we adopt our educational programs to be able to do the research that is needed to be able to implement its results for the benefit of people everywhere, for the benefit of humankind,鈥� he says.

His devotion to his research and desire to improve the human condition earned him the honor of being named a 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow in the section of engineering. He is the 17^th current 麻豆原创 leadership and faculty member to earn the honor.

Karwowski, who also serves as chair of within the (CECS), joins 501 other esteemed fellows across 24 different AAAS-recognized disciplines.

鈥淚 was a bit surprised that I was elected,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut of course, it was a pleasant surprise, and I鈥檓 very honored.鈥�

鈥淏eing an active fellow means greater recognition at the national level,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淵ou really must have demonstrated significant contributions to science and education. Since my work in human factors is interdisciplinary, and crosses the issues of engineering, management, psychology, neuroscience, I think that that鈥檚 very fitting.鈥�

On Sept. 21, Karwowski and other new fellows will receive a certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin (representing science and engineering, respectively) to commemorate their election at a forum in Washington, D.C., which will also mark the 150^th anniversary of the AAAS.

Karwowski was elected, 鈥渇or distinguished contributions to the field of human factors and ergonomics, particularly for modeling and simulation of human performance in complex systems,鈥� according to AAAS.

Being elected an AAAS Fellow is a tremendous accomplishment, says Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the聽Science聽family of journals.

鈥淎s we celebrate the聽150^th anniversary of the AAAS Fellows Program, AAAS is proud to recognize the newly elected individuals,鈥� Parikh said in a press release. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 class聽embodies scientific excellence, fosters trust in science throughout the communities they serve and leads the next generation of scientists while advancing scientific achievements.鈥�

A Super Science

Ergonomics and human factors are so much more than workplace buzzwords or esoteric theories for Karwowski. He defines them as sciences that apply to how we relate to everything.

鈥淓rgonomics is a super science,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淔rom the moment we are born, we interact with the outside world. Understanding these interactions 鈥� not just with computers or cars, but with one another 鈥� is crucial to improving the human condition worldwide. Our goal is to make our lives as productive and joyful as possible.鈥�

The contemporary field of human factors and ergonomics aims to understand how people interact with any system, at any level, and at any age, Karwowski says. His research focuses on enhancing efficiency and satisfaction while reducing fatigue and human error.

鈥淢y field is relatively new, dating back to World War II, when it became crucial to understand how people operate systems without fatigue or errors,鈥� he says.聽 鈥淭his initial focus on military has now expanded to manufacturing, service systems, space exploration, leisure, entertainment and everyday activities.鈥�

Karwowski has seen the field greatly broaden with even more opportunities to fine tune and study human factors and ergonomics. Advances in technology have allowed him and his peers to explore an emerging field of “neuroergonomics.”

Karwowski, who holds over 20 editorial roles in various academic publications, co-founded and serves as a field-chief-editor for the Frontiers in Neuroergonomics scholarly journal due to his interest in this new discipline.

鈥淭he field of neuroergonomics is young,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淲e can now better understand brain signatures of daily activities, getting to the core of neural basis of human cognition and its limitations. This is fundamental to understanding human performance at a deeper level.鈥�

Analyzing cognitive feedback to prevent error or fatigue and see where it happens, is crucial in understanding how we work and interact with the world around us, Karwowski says.

鈥淲e use knowledge of our neuronal processes to understand our limitations and capabilities for efficient and safe work,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e must also design systems with these factors in mind.鈥�

A Perfect Fit

Karwowski鈥檚 pursuit of improving the human condition through ergonomics research is possible through 麻豆原创鈥檚 arsenal of resources and ease of access, he says. The university鈥檚 commitment to fostering research and interdisciplinary partnerships aligns with his ambitions.

鈥淭here are no limits to what you can achieve here at 麻豆原创,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he environment here is conducive to collaboration across departments and colleges. I鈥檝e worked with people from psychology, computer science, sociology, mathematics, business and other engineering departments. It鈥檚 very easy to do that here.鈥�

Karwowski joined 麻豆原创 as a professor in 2007 after working at the University of Louisville. He received his master鈥檚 in production management from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland and his doctorate in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University.

Karwowski says he felt embraced and guided by his peers when he became chair of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems. 麻豆原创 professors Charles Reilly, Gavriel Salvendy, CECS Dean Michael Georgiopoulos, and former CECS Dean Marwan Simaan were especially supportive, he says.

鈥淎s a new chair, I benefited greatly from Professor Marwan Simaan, my mentor, who helped me adapt to my role as chair,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淚 wanted to continue my development as a researcher and scientist. Thanks to great staff support and talented graduate students, I was able to advance my research while serving as chair. The environment here allows me to mentor many Ph.D. students and continue my research.鈥�

Karwowski, who has advised 60 doctoral students throughout his career, says above all else the mentorship he鈥檚 provided young scientists is the most gratifying accomplishment of his career.

鈥溌槎乖� attracts excellent domestic and international students,鈥� Karwowski says. 鈥淭hey are the backbone of education and research. 鈥� Our graduate students鈥� contributions should never be forgotten. They motivate us to excel as we strive to educate them and enable them to gain the knowledge needed to make significant contributions to the world.鈥�

Other current 麻豆原创 leadership and faculty who have been previously inducted as AAAS fellows include:

• Peter Delfyett (2022; 麻豆原创) College of Optics and Photonics Pegasus Professor and University Distinguished Professor
• Ronald DeMara (2022; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor
• Talat Rahman (2020; 麻豆原创) College of Sciences Pegasus Professor, distinguished professor
• Alexander N. Cartwright (2016; State University of New York)
  麻豆原创 President
• Martin Richardson (2015; 麻豆原创)聽College of Optics and Photonics Pegasus Professor, Northrup Grumman professor
• Louis Chow (2012; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor
• Peter Hancock (2012; 麻豆原创) College of Sciences Pegasus Professor and provost distinguished research professor
• Zhihua Qu (2012; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor, Thomas J. Riordan and Herbert C. Towle chair
• Ni-Bin Chang (2011; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor
• Charles Reilly (2010, 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science assistant vice provost, professor
• Debra Reinhart (2009; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor Emerita
• Mubarak Shah (2009; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Trustee chair professor
• Issa Batarseh (2008; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor
• Sudipta Seal (2008; 麻豆原创) College of Engineering and Computer Science Chair and professor
• Al Sattelberger (2002; Los Alamos National Laboratory) College of Sciences Courtesy research scientist
• Marwan Simaan (1999; University of Pittsburgh) College of Engineering and Computer Science Florida 21st Century chair, distinguished professor

The Scroll and The Quill were separate societies in the 1980s at 麻豆原创; the scroll representing research achievement and the quill representing creative achievements such as published books and plays. In 2015, Faculty Excellence revamped the society, honoring legacy members and welcoming new faculty into this prestigious organization.

More than 60 faculty members and guests attended the Oct. 30 reception at the Burnett House.

鈥淭his society is a community of scholars who have continued to advance 麻豆原创鈥檚 transformational impact for at least a decade, inspiring students, fellow faculty and the community,鈥� said Jana Jasinski, vice provost for Faculty Excellence.

The 2018 inductees are:

To help create the systems engineering workforce that is needed to tackle society鈥檚 most pressing technology development and integration challenges, IBM is investing more than $2 million in software, in-kind donations and consulting. Through this relationship, 麻豆原创 students gain hands-on experience using IBM鈥檚 most popular systems engineering software. In addition to its use in classroom activities, the IBM software gives students and faculty tools to compete for grants and participate in advanced research projects. IBM executives and technical staff provide input into the development of IASE curriculum and coursework, and support the university鈥檚 efforts to create a learning environment that emulates the real world of systems engineering.

Intelligence is being infused into the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable physical goods to be developed, manufactured, bought and sold. These same systems also facilitate the movement and delivery of global products and services that support worldwide markets such as finance, energy and healthcare.

With these technological advancements, comes a new level of complexity, as organizations struggle to integrate systems, processes and data feeds. As a result, the demand for systems engineering and related skills is expected to grow significantly. In its 2010 Career Guide to Industries Report , The US Department of Labor predicts that computer systems design and related professions will add about 656,400 jobs over the decade, placing it among the top growth professions, which also include biomedical engineering, home healthcare and financial examination

鈥淪ystems Engineering, as a recognized discipline, is relatively young,鈥� said Samantha Brown, president of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). 鈥淭his fact provides the opportunity to those of us involved in advancing the profession to help shape the future and create a skilled workforce to meet the world’s practical challenges. INCOSE achieves success in this mission through collaboration between individuals and with organizations across the globe. We consider IBM an important partner in that work and applaud their commitment to the Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering at the 麻豆原创.

Proliferation of intelligent products increases demand for systems engineers

Systems engineers design and implement computer systems, software and networks, including defining complex system requirements, and determining system specifications, processes and working parameters. Their overall function is to ensure system hardware and software is compatible and capable of performance and business outcomes.

鈥淎t the heart of these products is a new level of innovation and a need for systems engineering expertise that cannot be underestimated,鈥� said Waldemar Karwowski, PhD, professor and chair of the 麻豆原创 . 鈥淲ith the help of IBM, we are preparing students in the IASE program to use the latest tools and technologies to turn complex ideas into reality. 鈥淲e consider IBM an important resource in that work and are grateful for its support of the Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at 麻豆原创.鈥�

IBM鈥檚 sponsorship and support of the IASE is just one example of the company鈥檚 many programs to advance science and technology education around the world. More than 4,000 universities worldwide participate in the company鈥檚 programs that provide free coursework, full versions of hundreds of IBM software products, system access, and other learning tools.

鈥淪oftware is the centerpiece of most sophisticated products and services now found in smart cities, transportation systems, medical devices, and more,鈥� said Dr. Daniel Sabbah, general manager, IBM Rational Software. 鈥淐reating a smarter planet requires a set of advanced skills and expertise that is often missing in today’s workforce. Our work with the 麻豆原创’s Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering continues IBM’s strong tradition of working with educators to provide the tools and support students need to become the next generation of innovators.”

The 麻豆原创 offers both undergraduate and graduate systems engineering course work through the IASE, using the same IBM software used by leading organizations around the world to specify and develop sophisticated software and systems. The IASE is currently involved in various research projects to advance the development of sophisticated health care systems, energy systems, advanced control systems, and systems engineering methodologies. Additionally they are working on user-centered smarter cities, innovative healthcare solutions, energy management systems, human performance modeling, systems and process optimization, intelligent decision support systems and simulation.

For more information about IBM, visit .

About the Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering

The IASE is an interdisciplinary research and education unit of the 麻豆原创’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. The IASE brings industry and academia together to create a systems engineering curriculum based upon real-world tools and business scenarios. IASE projects are conducted through partnerships with industry leaders and governments, and include faculty and students from multiple academic departments and colleges across the university. For more information visit:

Source: IBM , IBM and 麻豆原创 Prepare Graduates for High-Growth Technology Jobs, May 14, 2010.