This talk focuses on research opportunities for Industrial Engineers (IE) in the area of engineered decision systems.
We start with an overview of the national and global trends that have had or will have significant impact on the IE research enterprise. We will then discuss the upcoming reorganization of the Engineering Directorate and its implications for IE researchers. Given these exogenous constraints, we will discuss potential strategies for maintaining/enhancing competitiveness of IE researchers in securing extramural funding.
In light of the strategic research areas identified by the Engineering Directorate, we will focus on engineered decision systems as a potential target area for IE researchers. The talk will present current NSF investments in the area, ranging from manufacturing and service to infrastructure systems. Finally, upcoming opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative research in this area will be highlighted.