Graduate Profile

Graduates should be able to keep abreast of the latest developments in their areas, read and analyze journal papers from their field, conduct independent research in their areas of interest (Thesis Option), write papers or technical reports, conduct technical and scientific presentations within a conference environment, and use mainstream engineering software applications.

Admission Requirements

Students with undergraduate preparation in engineering, natural sciences or business administration are encouraged to apply for admission. Admission to the Master‟s program is based on total academic and professional achievement. Applicants must have completed his/her Bachelor’s degree at an accredited university with a minimum general Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75/4.00.

All entering students should have: a) completed a one-term course in Probability and Statistics; b) completed a one-term course in Calculus with Analytical Geometry; c) demonstrated proficiency to work with computer application programs such as electronic spreadsheets, presentation programs, and word processing.

Students with deficiencies in these prerequisites are required to take courses in these areas and earn a grade of C or better. These requirements must be fulfilled as early as possible in the student’s program. Courses taken to remedy deficiencies cannot be used to fulfill course requirements for the Master’s degree.

Degree Offered

Students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Manufacturing Competitiveness may pursue their Master‟s degree according to two alternatives. The first one leads to the Master of Science (MSMfg.Comp.) degree. Through this alternative students are required to complete a thesis. The second alternative leads to the Master (MMfg.Comp.) degree. In this alternative students must prepare a design project.

Curricular Sequence

The structure and sequence of the curriculum include blocks of courses classified as Core, Area of Specialization, Elective and Thesis/Design Project for a total of 39 credit-hours.

Core Courses

This block of courses provides the fundamental knowledge in current and new manufacturing technologies, decision making tools, as well as a thorough knowledge in all the aspects regarding the operation and management of high-tech manufacturing industries. The core courses total 18 credit-hours, distributed among 6 courses, 3 credit-hours each. As part of the core courses, all students must take the Professional Writing and Presentation Seminar.

Areas of Specialization

Students may select from two areas of specialization: Pharmaceutical Products or Quality Management. Through these courses, students may gain fundamental knowledge in current and innovative manufacturing technologies, all pertinent regulatory aspects, as well as the profile and managerial insights of the industry in their field of area of specialization.

Elective Courses

The total number of credit-hours in elective courses varies depending on the degree and option selected. For the Master of Science degree, students must take a minimum of 3 credit-hours in elective courses. For the Master Degree with the Design Project option the minimum is 6 credit-hours in elective courses.

Thesis/Design Project

Students must select one of two options: preparing a thesis based on an applied research topic; or preparing a design project in a topic intimately related to their area of studies.

Faculty

• Ayala Cruz, Jorge – Professor – Ph.D., Management Engineering, Operation Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1993; M.B.A. Production Management, Quantitative Methods, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1990; M.S. Operation Research Statistics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1991; B.S.M., Mathematics, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus 1983.
• Castro Muñiz, Judith – Lecturer IV – Ed.D., Curriculum and Teaching, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1999; Ed.M., Pedagogy (Education), University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1974; B.S., Pedagogy (Education), University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1970.
• Dávila Aponte, Edwin – Assistant Professor – Ph.D., Entrepreneurship Development, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 2006; MBA Accounting, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1999; BBA, Accounting, Caribbean University, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 1986.
• García Sandoval, María M. – Assistant Professor, Learning Outcomes Assessment Coordinator, Ed.D., Universidad Metropolitana, 2012; M.I.E, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, 1997; B.S.I.E., Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1994.
• Godoy Vinaja, Cuauthémoc – Professor; Associate Dean, School of Engineering, Surveying and Geospatial Science, and IE Department Head, Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2010, M.S.I.E., Purdue University, 1984, B.S.I.E., Institute of Technology at Madero, Mexico, 1981.
• González Lizardo, Ángel – Associate Professor, Director of Plasma Engineering Laboratory, Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Dayton, OH, 2003; M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez,1994; B.S., Electrical Engineering, Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela, 1984.
• González Miranda, Carlos – Professor; Dean, School of Engineering, Surveying and Geospatial Science; Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State University, 1995; M.I.M.S.E., Manufacturing Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, 1990; B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, 1987.
• Longo Ramos, Eugenio A. – Associate Professor; D.Min., Theology & Bioethics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 1991; M.S., Physiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, 1987; B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, 1985.
• Morales Morales, José A. – Associate Professor, Ph.D., Materials Management, Walden University, Minnesota 1995; M.B.A., Industrial Management, Inter American University, 1984; B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, 1980.
• Nieves Castro, Rafael A. – Associate Professor; Graduate Program Director; Pharm.D., Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 2005; M.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences, 1997; B.S., Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico, 1993.
• Pabón González, Miriam – Associate Professor; Dean, Graduate School; Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 2001; P.E., 2002; M.E.M., Engineering Management, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 1995; B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, 1990.
• Pons Fontana, Carlos – Associate Professor, Ph.D., Psychology, Universidad Carlos Albizu, 2004; M.E.M., Engineering Management, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 1994; P.E., 1989; B.S., Industrial Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 1986; M.S., Psychology, Universidad Carlos Albizu, 1975; B.A., Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, 1972.
• Rodríguez Jiménez, Othoniel – Professor; Ph.D., Computer Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia Missouri, 2003; M.S.E.E. and C.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1978; B.S.E.E., University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, 1975. Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) Puerto Rico. Research Interests: Data Mining, Reconfigurable Hardware, e-Learning, Entrepreneurship.
• Torres Plaza, Edgar O. – Associate Professor, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sciences, Philadelphia, 2009; M.E., Manufacturing Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2002; B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, 1998.

Contact Information

Daimarik Torres, MEnvM
Graduate Program Coordinator
E-mail: dtorres@pupr.edu
Phone: 787 622-8000 x. 608

Laboratories

The Industrial Engineering Department offers students the opportunity to receive hands on experience to practice the concepts and techniques learned in the classroom allowing them the best opportunity to acquire current knowledge and the expertise that industry demands. In order to fulfill this commitment, these laboratories have been designed to cover all major areas of Industrial Engineering. The Industrial Engineering Department has the following laboratory facilities on campus: Human Factors Laboratory, Methods Engineering and Work Measurement Laboratory, Operations Management Laboratory, and Software Instruction Laboratory. These laboratories have been designed to perform a wide range of experiments in each of the areas of interest.

Human Factors and Methods Engineering

This laboratory was designed to provide the students with the opportunity to carry out practical experiments concerning anthropometry, noise and illumination, work-station design, manual material handling, biomechanics and other areas of human performance evaluation and machine-human interactions for the workstation design. The laboratory includes adjustable workstations, ergonomic equipment, soundproof cabins, sound level meters, light meters, goniometers, push/pull gauges and Windows 7 network with eight (8) Intel Xeon personal computers for student use based on an open-access environment where students are given the opportunity to work on assignments and work-after class jobs at their own pace.

Methods Engineering and Work Measurement

Students are exposed to the basic tools to analyzing and design a job in a cost-effective manner, as well as measuring the resulting output to establish a standard (reading a stop watch, recording cycle times, breaking a job into elements and rating a job). This laboratory was designed to provide the students the opportunity to carry out practical experiments concerning to motion and time studies techniques (Stopwatch, Work Sampling and Predetermined Time), method improvement, performance rating, allowance factor and learning curve. Different practices require the use of the following equipment: stopwatches, random reminders, MTM equipments and tables, assemblys parts and computers to download manufacturing assemblies and use of statistical software in order to develop time-study analyses and design software for workstation improvements (Design Tools).

Operations Management

The Operations Management Laboratory consists of a Windows 7 network with twenty (28) Intel Xeon personal computers for student use based on an open-access environment where students are given the opportunity to work on assignments and work-after class jobs at their own pace. This network offers the student the opportunity to access specialized software to tackle industrial engineering problems using state-of-the-art technologies. This laboratory has the equipment and software required to develop the system analysis, solutions development and decision-making skills in our students. There is support-hardware available in this laboratory including a laser printer and a HP plotter. The different applications in the network includes AutoCAD, Statgraphics Plus, Minitab, Witness, Arena for Simulation, Mathcad, Microsoft Office 2010 Professional, Microsoft Project 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft SQL Server, and PSpice student version.

Software Instruction Laboratory

This lab consists of a Windows 7 network with twenty-four (24) Intel Pentium-D personal computers for student use based on specifics class needs and assignments, where student are requested for critical applications handling and on-class work. This network offers the student the opportunity to access specialized software to tackle industrial engineering problems using state-of-the-art technologies. This laboratory has the equipment and software required to develop the system analysis, solutions development and decision-making skills in our students. There is support-hardware available in this laboratory including a laser printer and a HP plotter. The different applications in the network includes AutoCAD, Statgraphics Plus, Minitab, Witness, Arena for Simulation, Mathcad, Microsoft Office Professional, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft SQL Server, and PSpice student version. To enforce the academy task the Laboratory have a LCD 55 TV, two projector and interactive screen where the professor can write electronically to the computer and over a Power Point presentation.

Lean Six Sigma Laboratory

This laboratory consists of an assembly line for educational racing car models. As part of the offering of the Lean Six Sigma courses for graduate and undergraduate programs, this laboratory provides the student the professional expertise of applying most of the techniques used in a DMAIC project. The student will be able to apply techniques and concepts such as FMEA, SIPOC, PROJECT CHARTER, VOC, LEAN MANUFACTURING, STATISTICS, DOE, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION CONTROL, PRODUCTIVITY, COST ACCOUNTING, TOTAL QUALITY CONTROL, SPC, industrial SAFETY, JOB DESIGN,and others within a simulated manufacturing environment. This laboratory was developed under the Body of Knowledge requirements for a CIAPR Black Belt Certification.