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President's Message
Dear members:
May 2009 is fast approaching and plans have been put in place for the Annual Conference. This year it will be held in Miami, Florida, at the Doral Resort and Spa - a location that will appeal especially to the golfers among us. For those who would rather do sightseeing or visit the beach, you will have many wonderful entertainment choices as well.
Construction tracks
There are two Construction Tracks - the Solutions Track and the Research Track in conjunction with IERC.
The Solutions Track for Construction is chaired by Mr. Al Attah of Macval Associates of Dallas, Texas. The Research Track for Construction is chaired by Dr. Craig Harvey of Louisiana State University.
This year we have partnered with the Ergonomics Division to have a joint Research Session that features issues in Ergonomics that have a major effect on construction worker productivity and safety. Labor costs account for more than 40% of the cost of most construction projects; consequently any factors that may affect the productivity of workers can have a major impact on the bottom line.
By now you may have received a schedule that shows all the conference offerings and activities. Please look at the timing and locations of the respective presentations and make plans to attend both the Construction Research presentations and the Solutions track.
Overall, the construction presentations in both tracks cover a wide range of topics including: lean design, lean construction, green technology/sustainability, ergonomics, quality management , Six Sigma, productivity improvement, safety management, automation, alternative materials, etc. We have also scheduled a Roundtable session in which academic and industry experts will examine the IE's role in construction and develop ideas on a "way forward" that sees our members taking advantage of more opportunities in that industry in the future. Student Paper Competition:
Once again, the CONAM Group of Companies has generously agreed to sponsor the Student Paper Competition for 2008-2009. The competition invites papers and projects demonstrating or describing the use of Industrial Engineering tools in a construction environment. The writer of the winning paper gets a $1,500 cash prize and $1,000 in travel expenses. Although the deadline is close, it is not too late to submit a paper to the competition. There are a few weeks left! Competition details |
| Enhancing Construction Performance through Work Force Diversity
By Lincoln Forbes, PH.D.,P.E.
Recent events in the highest echelons of power in the U.S. government have brought the subject of diversity into public discourse more than ever before in recent history. Diversity may be defined as the variability in the work force. Rasmussen, 1996, states that the work force is comprised of a variety of backgrounds, styles, perspectives, values, and beliefs as assets to the groups and organizations with which they interact. Some of its characteristics are inherited, while others are acquired. Today's customers have come to expect world-class quality in the goods and services they purchase. The management of diversity is essential for creating an enviornment in which people from different walks of life can come together as a unified team to produce world-class quality. Full article |
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Announcement of Student Paper Competition
For presentation at the 2009 Annual Conference
May 30 - June 3, 2009
Thanks to the ConAm Group, we are pleased to announce the Student Paper Competition for 2008-2009. The ConAm Group is a builder and developer of residential projects throughout the United States and is sponsoring a student competition for papers and projects demonstrating or describing the use of Industrial Engineering tools in a construction environment.
The papers should demonstrate or describe the use of techniques such as lean methods, quality management, green technology/sustainability, simulation, optimization, automation, alternative materials, etc. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit papers. The winner will receive a cash gift of $1500 and up to an additional $1000 for air/hotel/miscellaneous travel expenses will be presented at the 2009 IIE Annual Conference in Miami, Florida. Papers will be due by March 9, 2009 and the winner will be notified by April 3, 2009. Papers must be no more than 10 pages in length and follow the requirements summarized in the Competition Guidelines. As this is a student competition, papers co-authored by professors are excluded from the competition, but your professor's assistance is welcome.
To ask questions and submit papers via e-mail, contact Bonnie Cameron or 1-800-494-0460, extension 105 |
The time to participate in the Student paper competition is at hand. This is a wonderful opportunity for us as students to gain exposure throughout the Construction Division as well as IIE. The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. As the announcement for the competition states, the winner will receive a cash gift of $1500 and up to an additional $1000 for air/hotel/miscellaneous travel expenses. Also, the winning paper will be presented at the 2009 IIE Annual Conference! Papers will be due by March 9, 2009, and the winner will be notified by April 3, 2009. The deadline is close, so if you are planning on participating you need to keep the deadline in mind. Papers must be no more than 10 pages in length and follow the requirements summarized in the competition guidelines. One rule of the competition is that submitted papers cannot be co-authored by professors. I encourage all students to explore the application of IE skills and techniques to solving problems in the construction industry. We as students have the opportunity to look at the industry with a new generation of eyes. We have the opportunity to become leaders. The student paper competition and participation in the Construction Division is a great start!
I would love to hear from any and all students about research, work experience, or any other kind of experience/information regarding construction. Are there any classes at your school that have helped you in understanding construction? Have you had the opportunity to apply an IE technique to a construction related problem? Send to Lincoln Forbes and they will be included in the next Construction Division newsletter. | |
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IIE Annual Conference and Expo 2009
Institute of Industrial Engineers conference - open to all
May 30 - June 3
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Miami, Florida
Industry managers, top-notch researchers and outstanding educators reveal creative and innovative solutions at the Institute of Industrial Engineers Annual Conference and Expo 2009, an event open to all involved in process improvement, at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida. The conference includes research presentations from more than 700 individuals representing industry and academia plus more than 80 industry-focused practical solutions, keynote speakers, awards, simulation competition, facility tours, networking, student events and everything about industrial and systems engineering you could ask for and more. For information, or call (800) 446-0460 x 102.
Student and team rates are available. CEUs and PDHs are available. |
Pearls of wisdom
"It shall be done--sometime, somewhere--so, why not by you?"
--Ophelia Guyon Browning | |
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