History of Industrial Engineering Department at Sharif University of Technology
The Department of Industrial Engineering at Sharif University of Technology was founded in 1968 and enjoys the distinction of being the first department of its type established in Iran. Initially, industrial engineering was concerned with improving the effectiveness of industrial operations using relatively simple time and motion studies and methods analysis. As industrial became more complex, engineers also began to be involved in design of production facilities using plant layout procedures and in the development of quality and safety control techniques. With the dramatic advances in computer sciences, the industrial engineer was faced with larger and more complex management problems, which could be solved using the tools of operations research. Today, industrial engineers are employed in all types of industry to design, improve and install systems using the methods and procedures of man, machine and materials. Mostly, they are concerned with production, although the analytical fact finding approach used today is applicable to almost any business or service enterprise. The department curriculum, therefore, has been programmed to provide students with the skills required by modern industrial engineers, including analysis of product design to determine the optimum manufacturing process, selection of equipment and design of layout, design and installation of systems for controlling production, inventory, quality or cost, job design and methods improvement, design of material handling systems, manpower utilization and work measurement and operations research. Industry has also discovered that the best results are achieved when technical know-how is supported by management skills and, for this reason, industrial management is an important addition to the graduate programs at SUT. Altogether, the goal of this department is to produce efficient industrial engineers with a high rate of technical ability, including practical as well as theoretical knowledge, in order to attain secure and responsible positions in competitive arena of industrial and service enterprise.
About Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering began in the latter part of the nineteenth century through the efforts of such pioneers as Frederick Taylor and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. These early industrial engineers were concerned with improving the effectiveness of industrial operations. They made remarkable savings possible through the use of motion and time studies and methods analysis. As industry became more complex, with large scale systems, industrial engineers became involved in the design of production facilities using plant layout procedures. They also were developing quality control plans, which are as important today in providing consumer protection in product purchases. As production processes and facilities expanded, the industrial engineer was responsible for developing and managing productive, safe systems. In the late fifties and in the early sixties, the computer became more versatile, the industrial engineer used the computer to solve larger and complex management problems through such modern science tools as operations research.
Today's industrial engineering graduates are employed by all types of industry to design, improve and install systems (procedures and methods involving the use of man, machine, and materials). For the most part, they are concerned with production , although the analytic fact-finding approach used by these engineers is applicable to almost any business or service enterprise. Among the common functions performed by industrial engineers are the analysis of product design to determine the optimum manufacturing process ; the selection of equipment and design of the equipment layout; the design and installation of systems for controlling production, inventory, quality , or costs ; job design and methods improvement; design of material handling systems; manpower utilization and work measurement and operations research. Industries have found that their managers perform better when they possess a blend of technical engineering knowledge plus a background in management. The industrial engineer has an excellent understanding of these two fields ; technology and management.
The Department of Industrial Engineering at Sharif University of Technology devotes considerable attention to the individual needs of the students. The faculty works extensively with students in such areas as communication skills, personal growth and development, and practical training opportunities. The goal of the department is to develop student strength in technical abilities, personal development, general education, and practical experience.
Former Department Heads
| 1 | Mohammadreza Amin | 1968-1969 |
| 2 | Mohammadreza Safaieh | 1970- 1974 |
| 3 | Hoshang Sabeti | 1974-1975 |
| 4 | Rasoul Haji | 1975-1977 |
| 5 | Fereidoon Kianfar | 1977-1979 |
| 6 | Kiomars Paryani | 1979-1981 |
| 7 | Farhad Ghasemi | 1981-1984 |
| 8 | Mohammad Modarress Yazdi | 1985- 1988 |
| 9 | Hashem Mahlooji | 1989- 1992 |
| 10 | Abdol Hamid Eshraghnia | 1992-1996 |
| 11 | Seyed Taghi Akhavan Niaki | 1996-1999 |
| 12 | Mohammad Hadi Chamran | 1999-2004 |
| 13 | Seyed Taghi Akhavan Niaki | 2004-2008 |
| 14 | Kourosh Eshghi | 2008-present |
