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The article focuses on the need for creativity and innovation in engineering product designs. It notes that industrial engineers are well-positioned by education and experience to work creatively and lead innovative projects in all economic sectors. Use of tools and statistical techniques in improving efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing processes in the aerospace industry that led to creativity and innovation within the industry. INSET: ATTEMPTED RESUSCITATION.

The article presents a Six Sigma approach to resolve production disruptions through equipment breakdown at industrial organizations. According to the article, problem investigation, analysis, and optimization can be achieved through strategic breakdown repair. However, the article recommends against Six Sigma methodology in respect to innovation, research, and development. A case study concerning an automatic assembly line includes a chart displaying possible breakdown causes. Preventative maintenance is recommended. INSET: NOT THE WAY TO INNOVATE.

The article discusses the importance of effective workforce planning. It mentions that it leads to stronger economies and nation building. It notes that most business enterprises need the support of workforce to carry out fundamental operations and meet their goals. It points out that its implementation is made to predict accurate requirement and distinguish the right candidate pool to hire, retain and empower it. Furthermore, it is required at strategic and operational levels which apply stochastic optimization techniques and determine operational work hours respectively.

The article deals with the implementation of lean principles by U.S. businesses using value stream mapping, which analyzes the entire value stream for a product from the raw material to the finished state. It presents the calculation of the percentage of value-added time and the inventory efficiency for manufacturing, transactional and administrative processes. It discusses the concept of activity efficiency, as well as if it applies to a work cell. It presents a diagram showing an analysis of a primed process.

The article focuses on the evolution of Taiwan's economy from labor-intensive industry to the technology-based industry. Industrial engineers (IE) have played a significant role in its economic growth. They have helped establish production lines and improve shop floor efficiency. The country is known for its agile manufacturing capability, with companies that help realize ideas into products and production. As the semiconductor manufacturing technology enters the deep-submicron technology node, issues of design for manufacturability have precipitated the industry's problems which are addressed by IE researchers in the country. INSET: TAIWAN'S FUTURE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER.

The article discusses the important processes of service and manufacturing in business enterprises. The concept of service centered on efficient resource allocation in the delivery of online video contents. The approach highlighted by the authors is a novel architecture and performance analysis of transient queues. In manufacturing, the authors described an effective scheduling of robotic production cells, in which the processing times are variable. This method could result in optimization of returns on a large capital investment.

Presents two research studies on the current issue of "Institute of Industrial Engineer Transactions," which focuses on the quality and reliability in industrial management. Determination of manufacturing process of a system for the quality of final product; Scope of tolerance to a system for product quality requirements; Advancement of electro-mechanical components in private and public sectors from improved procedures that enhance the longevity and quality of critical engineering systems.

The author discusses the need for industrial engineers to optimize manufacturing processes for common sense. He notes that engineers optimize processes for cost, time, inventory and other metrics, but they face difficulties in optimizing processes for common sense. He recommends creating a culture where people are expected to think critically and act responsibly.

The article discusses how to handle project justification to avoid the dispproval of a manufacturing project. According to the author, detailing the justification requires a lot of homework because it is the return on investment (ROI) of the project and project leaders must determine the ROI on the efficiency and effectiveness between current and future processes. It is said that it is important to keep track of running time, down time, cycle time, scrap and failure mode and to quantify the control in order to calculate the potential benefit of the project.

The article focuses on the seven aspects of lean thinking which influence the people's mindset towards industrial management. It is stated that the lean thinking challenges personal philosophy in business settings, encourages the use of economic solutions for industrial problems and takes any one to the higher level of efficiency. Lean thinking covers the entire process of manufacturing which leads to greater impact in the marketplace. Lean thinking requires dedication and openness around goals, expectations and outcomes.

The article reports on the development of Ford Motor Co. in 2007 through its virtual ergonomic technology in the U.S. The company is boosting its virtual ergonomic technology because it is the key reason for the increase of 11 percent in their quality performance in 2007. Allison Stephens, the company's ergonomic technical specialist, states that the technology provides real benefits such as fewer injuries, lower-cost tooling changes, higher quality and faster time to markets. It is explained that the virtual manufacturing process, which is conducted by the company, begins by applying product specifications to the manufacturing plant to create a computer-generated virtual assembly line.

The article provides information on the new polishing tool for silicon wafers developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF in Magdeburg, Germany. The tool has several piezosensors and piezoactors which allows the tool to constantly control the pressure on wafer and intensifies the tool's pressure on the surface of the material when it comes across an impurity or a material defect during the polishing process. The equipment also facilitates continuous monitoring of the fabrication process of silicon wafers that will be used for solar cells and computer chips.