An interview with Sina Zare, Ph.D., “Member of the Organizing and Planning Committee of the upcoming World Congress on Industrial

The interview with Dr. Zare provided an opportunity to reflect on his experiences with the IEOM Society and its vast global community. He attended a European conference in Paris in 2025 and in Barcelona in 2026. Dr. Zare attended other professional conferences; however, he said the IEOM Society conferences were much more engaging. They offered opportunities to network and speak with students, panelists, and keynote speakers. Dr. Zare’s interview offers a powerful, thought-provoking message about how the IEOM Society differs from other professional organizations. He spoke about how his participation helped him learn and build international relationships. Based on his experience in Paris and Barcelona, Dr. Zare deepened his engagement with the IEOM Society and joined the Organizing and Planning Committee for the upcoming World Congress on Manufacturing in Irvine, California. The Organizing and Planning Committee for Irvine began about one year ago. Javad Mokhbery, CEO and President of FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc., Irvine, California, chairs the World Congress. Dr. Zare provided an overview of the World Congress on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. He highlighted the impressive lineup of keynote speakers from academia and industry. The event will include technical sessions and several workshops that will engage students. The IEOM Society is a student-focused organization. It provides students worldwide with a virtual platform to share their senior design projects. Industry partners, including Airbus, Eaton, and Siemens, sponsor these competitive events. Dr. Zare mentioned that students can have their research published on the IEOM Index. Publishing their research is a unique opportunity. The World Congress is a special opportunity for students in Southern California to participate in an international event. The workshops include Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Workshop, Student Career Planning, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Students will have an opportunity to network and engage with industry and academics from around the world. Event information is available on the IEOM Society website, ieomsociety.org. Dr. Zare emphasized the importance of student participation. We look forward to students sharing their research through posters and presenting their papers at the World Congress. Students will have an opportunity to visit the Futek Advanced Senior plant in Irvine and Cal Poly’s research lab in Pomona. The panel sessions will cover a broad range of topics: Lean Six Sigma, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Women in Industry and Academia, and AI-Powered Engineering. Dr. Zare concluded his remarks by inviting students, faculty, and industry to register for the World Congress and join us in Irvine, October 13-15. He looks forward to continuing to participate in future IEOM Society events.