IEOM NOW
FROM: LTU RADIO
The IEOM Society International strives to be the premier global organization dedicated to the advancement of the industrial engineering and operations management discipline for the betterment of humanity.
IEOM NOW cultivates critical thinking, research and best practices in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management by spotlighting collaboration and networking among industry, academia, and communities on a globally diverse platform.
Season 1: Episode 12
“IEOM Society Conference Chair: An Interview with Dr. Linda Zhang, Professor of Operations Management”
Description: This interview focused on the challenging role of the IEOM Society conference chair. Dr. Zhang provides an in-depth discussion of her experience serving as the Chair of the 2025 European Conference in Paris, France. The conference chair set the tone for the event and served as the leader responsible for bringing together the resources to ensure an outstanding learning environment. Dr. Zhang provided advice for those who will serve as conference chairs in the future. Dr. Zhang shared some of her experience from attending other IEOM Society conferences around the world. She focused on the quality of the keynote presentation and panel, as well as the importance of networking. Dr. Zhang also mentioned the value of student virtual global competitions at the conferences.
The interview included a discussion on the role of the Global Council. Dr. Zhang has provided her knowledge and expertise to develop policy and long-term planning for the IEOM Society. She mentioned the diversity and broad representation of the Global Council members. Dr. Zhang is a member of the Academy of Fellows. Our discussion explored the role of the Fellows in the future of the IEOM Society. The interview provided an opportunity to explore how to engage the members in the activities of the organization’s vast global community. The results of this discussion were enlightening. Dr. Zhang is an experienced and dedicated researcher and has published extensively on supply chain and logistics. Since the IEOM Society has a strong student focus, we discussed her advice on how we can foster students’ interest in conducting research in this area.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Dr. Linda Zhang, Professor of Operations Management, Department of Management, ISSEG School of Management, Paris, France.
Season 1: Episode 11
“IEOM Society South America: An interview with Professor Vitor Mendes Caldana”
Description: This interview focused on the South American IEOM Society activity in student chapters and conferences. Professor Caldana played a significant role in planning and organizing conferences in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay in close collaboration with the IEOM Society.
The discussion revolved around this role as a conference chair, his work with student chapters, and his ability to navigate various cultural norms. Professor Caldana’s command of Portuguese, Spanish, and English was very good. We discussed his role on the IEOM Society Global Council. Most importantly, Professor Caldana addressed the significant role the IEOM Society plays in students’ learning experiences by attending conferences and participating in virtual global competitions. His time attending conferences and interacting with representatives from many countries was enriching. Professor Caldana shared his experience with his students participating in IEOM Society conferences with their research papers.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Professor Vitor Mendes Caldana, Federal Institute of São Paulo, Sorocaba, Brazil.
Season 1: Episode 10
“IEOM Society Asia Pacific Leadership: An interview with Dr. Wahyudi Supoto”
Description: The interview provided an opportunity to reflect on the IEOM Society’s journey toward establishing a strong community in the Asia Pacific, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Our guest, Dr. Supoto, is a distinguished academic, researcher, and author with more than 25 years of experience.
During the interview, we discussed global engineering education and the IEOM Society’s role in fostering best practices. Dr. Supoto focused on the importance of problem-solving and learning through real-world experiences. Students must be able to apply what they are learning in the classroom. He noted that the IEOM Society has provided students with an opportunity to share their research through participating in virtual global competitions. The challenge for academia is to ensure the curriculum is aligned with industry requirements. Dr. Supoto continues to be a valued resource for the IEOM Society and its vast global community.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Dr. Wahyudi Supoto, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia, and Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering.
Season 1: Episode 9
“The IEOM Society explores the relationship between Industry and Academia: An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Abell”
Description: The interview provided an opportunity to explore the relationship between industry and academia through the perspective of a seasoned professional engineer with many years of real-world experience. Dr. Abell brought his hands-on industry experience in addressing complex engineering challenges in the highly competitive global automotive industry. He provided insight into the evolution of the automobile manufacturing industry, including the integration of AI in the design, engineering, and production processes.
Our conversation brought out Dr. Abell’s perspective on engineering education and the role of academia in preparing students for their profession. He focused on science and mathematics in the curriculum. Mostly, Dr. Abell stresses the importance of students having the opportunity to work in industry as interns before graduation. The IEOM Society deeply appreciated his suggestion on how our organization can collaborate with industry and gain from our vast global network of student chapters. We discussed the IEOM Society virtual global competitions and their research projects. Thank you, Dr. Abell, for your insight and willingness to share a wealth of experience and knowledge with our vast global community.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Jeffrey Abell, Ph.D., P.E., Co-Director of the University of Michigan Advanced Manufacturing Institute and Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he served as the Chief Scientist for Global Manufacturing Systems at General Motors.
Season 1: Episode 8
“IEOM Society Australia: An interview with Dr. Felix Kin Peng Hui”
Description: The interview provided an opportunity to learn more about the IEOM Society in Australia and one of its many supporters, Dr. Felix Kin Peng Hui, at the University of Melbourne. He served as the IEOM Society’s chair for two Australian conferences. During this interview, he shared his experience as chair and what he learned from it. Dr. Hui described his role as the faculty advisor of one of the IEOM Society’s newest student chapters.
Our discussion included the importance of student learning through their participation in IEOM Society student competitions and conferences. Most important was our discussion on his extensive knowledge of managing continuous improvement projects. This conversation focused on integrating and using Industrial Engineering tools to increase overall efficiency in any
operation.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Dr. Felix Kin Peng Hui, Associate Professor of Engineering
Management and Associate Dean, International in the Faculty of
Engineering and IT at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Season 1: Episode 7
“IEOM Society Leadership: An Interview with Hamid Parsaei”
Description: This interview focused on the leadership of the IEOM Society and featured an amazing volunteer who has contributed significantly to the organization’s growth and development.Many of Dr. Parsaei’s contributions came in his role as president of our Global Council, where he served on panels at many of our international conferences over the years. His counsel and guidance led to continuous improvement in our processes and programs. Dr. Parsaei worked with others, including Dr. AbuMasud, past president, to develop the Academy of Fellows and Life Membership for our Global Council. His extensive experience in other professional organizations brought insight into the IEOM Society global community.
During the interview, we discussed the importance of our very popular panel on “Global Engineering Education.” Dr. Parsaei served on this panel at several of our international conferences. The IEOM Society would like to express our deep appreciation to Dr. Hamid Parsaei for his dedication and commitment to our organization.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Hamid Parsaei, Ph.D., P.E., Texas A&M University, Professor in the Wm. Michael Barnes, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Director of Accreditation and Assessment of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.
Season 1: Episode 6
“IEOM Society Student Competition Industry Sponsorship: An interview with Eric Ayanequi”
Description: The interview provided an opportunity to discuss the industry’s role in sponsoring IEOM Society student competitions. Cintas has supported the Human Factors and Ergonomics Student Competitions worldwide. This has provided an opportunity for student to share their research on Reliability and Maintenance. As a result, Cintas has benefited from new ideas and approaches in this discipline.
Another timely topic is Artificial Intelligence (AI). The integration and use of AI tools provided an interesting discussion. Cintas is in the process of learning how AI can improve the overall operation of its business units. Academia has continued to emphasize the importance of Reliability and Maintenance for engineering students. This discipline appears to have gotten more interest from engineering students. It provided a good basis for discussion on this podcast.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Eric Ayanequi – Senior Director of Operations Engineering, Cintas
Season 1: Episode 5
“IEOM Society Global Council: An interview with Aaron Rubel”
Description: This podcast was a discussion on the importance of Reliability and Maintenance which was delivered at the IEOM Society North American Conference at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., in June 2024. It focused on the IEOM Society Global Council and the importance of industry representation and participation.
It was also an in-depth conversation of this unique body of academics and industry, as well as Airbus’s support and sponsorship of the global Doctoral Student Competitions. Finally, there was a discussion of the importance of student chapters in the learning process and a closer view of the IEOM Society experience for students.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Aaron Rubel – Research & Technology Senior Manager for University Partnerships, Airbus
Season 1: Episode 4
“EV and Battery Technology: A conversation with Saif Siddique”
Description: Saif Siddique is an active member of the IEOM Society and represents the industry sector in our conference panel sessions on various topics. His primary focus is on our Industry Solutions panel. The podcast interview with Saif includes an introduction to the IEOM Society and its vast global community, his professional background, education, and experience domestically and internationally in the automotive industry.
It also highlights his experience regarding participation in the Industry Solutions panel in Windsor and the Lawrence Tech World Congress on Manufacturing, as well as an overview of Saif’s contributions to EV and Battery technology in the automotive industry. Finally, it spotlights his experience with the IEOM Society, including his recognition as an Outstanding Industry Solutions Awardee.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Saif Siddique – Engineering Manager, Power Electronics, Stellantis
Season 1: Episode 3
“Student Chapter Engagement: An interview with Professor Don Reimer”
Description: This IEOM NOW podcast was a perspective and reflection on our vast student chapter network. Professor Reimer has been with the IEOM Society from its early years and reflects on the journey he has taken with the organization. Universities and colleges worldwide have recognized the significant value that students receive as members of an IEOM Society student chapter.
Professor Reimer addressed this topic during the interview with Dr. Ali. Specific benefits that students receive as a member of a chapter are highlighted during the interview. As a bolt look into the future of the IEOM Society’s commitment to student chapters worldwide, Professor Reimer believes 300 additional chapters could be established.
Host: Dr. Ahad Ali – Chief Executive Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Season 1: Episode 2
“Women in Industry and Academia: A conversation with IEOM Society conference keynote speaker Dr. Shannon Dare”
Description: The podcast interview focused on Dr. Dare’s experience as a keynote speaker and panelist. She offered an interesting perspective on the IEOM Society’s role in students’ learning. Dr. Dare mentioned that Industrial Engineering has a much larger percentage of women than other fields. She shared how the IEOM Society was enabling the industry to share its best practices with others.
Dr. Dare was impressed with the conference programs and the diversity of the keynote presenters. She shared her thoughts on how much the organization has grown, including the launch of its own peer-reviewed International Journal on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Dr. Shannon Dare – Warranty Cost Reduction Manager, Ford Motor Company
Season 1: Episode 1
“The IEOM Society International: Its history, purpose, and future with Dr. Ahad Ali”
Description: The interview with Dr. Ali provided an opportunity to trace the evolution of the ‘when, how, and why of the IEOM Society’s creation. The idea of bringing together the disciplines of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management was innovative.
Dr. Ali shared the organization’s strong commitment to student learning. He emphasized the role of student chapters in this process. Dr. Ali’s early years growing up in Bangladesh were integral to the IEOM Society’s culture as a professional organization with a strong commitment to emerging countries.
Host: Don Reimer – Chief Operating Officer, IEOM Society International
Guest: Dr. Ahad Ali – Chief Executive Officer, IEOM Society International