Engineering better ways to produce

Caltech’s Industrial Relations Center, though relatively unknown on campus, has become a heavyweight in the world of executive education, with its focus on technology-oriented companies. Recently, recognizing the increasing need for companies to stay competitive, the IRC has developed a new emphasis for helping companies design the best production systems and methods to maximize their efficiency.

The Systems Engineering Center offers customized training and certificate programs on-site at companies to assist technical professionals. By enhancing their capabilities, the center aims to help systems engineers reduce their organizations’ production time, successfully manage risk, and effectively meet client needs. Examples of topics covered include performing a functional analysis, conducting technical reviews and audits, and managing system costs and scheduling. The center is also developing an executive-level program in systems engineering that will be offered as part of the IRC’s array of management classes here on campus.

Anne Campbell, director of programs, says, “We want to raise awareness on campus about the in-depth work we’ve been doing in systems engineering,” especially awareness among faculty and students who may be particularly interested.

The program’s technical director is Joel Sercel, a Caltech alum (MS ’87, PhD ’93), lecturer in aeronautics, and director of the Laboratory for Spacecraft and Mission Design. Other program leaders include alums Kent Frewing (BS ’61) and Pete Theisinger (BS ’67) and JPL’s Tony Freeman, manager of the mission and systems architecture section, and Steve Wall, who heads the Center of Excellence for Space Mission and Design.

Networking with other organizations is also a goal of the center, says Campbell, such as its involvement in a conference sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering. “Systems Engineering: Achieving Quantum Improvements,” to be held June 7 in Long Beach, will feature Erik Antonsson, Caltech professor of mechanical engineering and chief technologist at JPL, as guest speaker. More information is online at www.incose-la.org, or contact Dennis Schwarz at (562) 593-9745 or dennis.c.schwarz@boeing.com.

For more information on the Systems Engineering Center, call Campbell at ext. 4046, e-mail cstprg@caltech.edu, or visit www.irc.caltech.edu.
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