Information Systems Engineering

"We give students hands-on experience working with the infrastructure of information systems. They learn about operating systems, computer hardware, networks and software integration. This course provides critical background knowledge for many projects that our engineering graduates will encounter in the future."

Data Management and System Design

Design and management of industrial databases and reporting systems. Relationships of financial accounting databases and production systems. Efficient data entry and reports, queries, macro function, and Internet based database applications.

Simulation and Expert Systems

Design and analysis of manufacturing and service systems by simulation. Functions of random variables. Random number and function generators, programming, and characteristics of simulation languages.

Simulation is the imitation of a system using a mathematical or logical model that accurately describes a system under study. It is not only used as a tool to better understand and optimize performance and reliability of systems, but also used extensively to verify the correctness of system designs.

Simulation in general is to pretend that one deals with a real system while really working with a simple or complex model. It enables the study and experimentation of various system parameters, and the evaluation of performance in different tested scenarios. The execution of the model is represented by a computer program that gives information about the system being investigated.

Applications of Simulation

An important application of simulation is to develop "virtual environments" for training purposes as well as planning for a new system. For operation of a real system, an accurate model can be developed. Some examples done by IME students include:

• day-to-day operation of a bank
• value of a stock portfolio over a time period
• running of an assembly line in a factory
• staff assignment of a hospital or a security company
  

Process engineers who are involved in system simulation often use software such as ProModel to test different layouts in order to maximize productivity and efficiency. By analyzing different scenarios of the real system, the best scenario can be chosen to save time and money before it is actually implemented.