Ph.D., in Applied Science
with Major in Systems Engineering
Prepared by: Gerard S. Ibarra
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
1
Ph.D. in Applied Science
with Major in Systems Engineering
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General Requirements
Degree Requirements
Admission Requirements
Current Status
Area of Interest
Tentative Research Area
Concept Chart
Statement of Objective
Research
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
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Ph.D. in Applied Science
with Major in Systems Engineering
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Need for Logistics Systems Engineering
Current Programs
Approach
Courses and Schedule
Ph.D. Committee
Plan and Schedule
Concerns, Issues and Questions
Research Topics from other Institutes
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
3
General Requirements
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General requirements for the Ph.D. degree include the
following components: (1) total academic credit, (2)
residence requirements, (3) course requirements, (4)
preliminary counseling examination, (5) qualifying
examination, (6) admission to candidacy, (7) dissertation,
(8) final examination, and (9) supervisory committee. A
student admitted to a doctoral program is expected to have
been awarded a Master's degree in the same or a closely
related program or to earn such a Master's degree during
the course of the program.
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
4
Degree Requirements
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The minimum academic course work of 54 term credit
hours should include a major as well as a minor area of
investigation. Specific course requirements for these areas
are identified by the individual departments. As a general
guideline, at least 12 term credit hours are required for
the minor, which should be in an area providing breadth as
well as support to the major field of investigation.
For a Ph.D. program, qualifying examinations and the
dissertation are paramount. Course requirements are
identified to facilitate the student's training toward the
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
5
Degree Requirements
qualifying examination. Of the 24 term hours required in
course work beyond a Master's degree, 12 term hours
must be taken at SMU. Generally speaking, up to 12 term
hours of graduate courses may be transferred into the
Ph.D. program from an institution approved by the
Graduate Division, provided that such course work was
completed in the five years prior to matriculation; that the
transferred courses were taken toward a Ph.D. degree; and
that grades of B- or higher were received in the courses to
be transferred. The request to transfer credit must be made,
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
6
Degree Requirements
using appropriate forms, during the term of matriculation
to the Graduate Division. Grades of courses transferred for
credit are neither recorded nor used in computing gradepoint averages. Acceptance of transfer credit requires
approval of the student's faculty adviser, department chair,
and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. Transfer of
any credit for courses taken at other institutions after
admission to SMU is not normally permitted.
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
7
Admission Requirements
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A graduate student does not become a candidate for the
Ph.D. degree until the formal application for candidacy
has been approved. Such admission requires the approval
of the student's supervisory committee, the department
chair, and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. The
approval is based upon (1) passing the qualifying
examination, (2) the academic record of the student as
attested by a G.P.A. of 3.00 or better (4.00 = A), (3)
selection of a tentative title for the dissertation, and (4)
the student's overall fitness as judged by the supervisory
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
8
Admission Requirements
committee. The formal application for candidacy should be
submitted as soon as these four requirements have been
met as judged by the supervisory committee.
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
9
Current Status
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Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering; SMU, 1987;
GPA 2.8
Master of Science with emphasis in Systems Engineer;
SMU, 1997; GPA 3.5
Post Graduate Work:
 SYS 7300 Systems Analysis Methods:
-A
 SYS 7330 Systems Reliability Engineering
-A
 SYS 7340 Logistics Systems Engineering
A
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
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Area of Interest
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Logistics Systems Engineering
 Reliability
 Optimization
 Quality
 Systems Analysis
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
Shifting the Focus from
Supply Chains to
Supply Systems
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Tentative Research Focus
System Analysis
Quality
Major
Logistics Systems
Engineering
Reliability
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
Optimization
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Concept Chart
Reliability Configuration &
Systems Optimization Techniques
Research
Supply Web
Design
Concentration
Area of Study
Logistics
Analysis
Performance-based:
Reliability, Quality and Cost
Foundation
Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
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Statement of Objective
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Performance-based Logistics Systems Engineering: A
move away from the Supply Chain Methodologies and into
a theoretical (field of) Supply Web Design
 Use Systems Engineering methodologies and
techniques as a stepping stone for the world of
Logistics
 Apply reliability design and analysis and system
optimization techniques into the purposed Supply Web
Design model
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
14
Research
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Reliability Configuration and System Optimization
Techniques:
 Focus area of research using reliability analysis for
providing a sound foundation that integrates the Supply
Chain into a Supply Web Design concept
 Use system optimization techniques to simulate the
Supply Web Design and insure validity of model
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
15
Need for Logistics Systems Engineering
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Dallas / Fort Worth is a centrally located region in the US.
It is ideal for transportation and logistic companies to have
plants and warehouses in this area. There are many
reasons for this. Listed below are some major examples:
 Alliance Airport: Only planes carrying goods can land
here. It has a state of the art control tower and
facilities. Aside from companies being able to move
goods through air, they can also use rail or highway.
The airport is strategically located adjacent to a rail
station modal and IH-35. This makes for an ideal
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
17
Need for Logistics Systems Engineering
3PL to move here for its many options. In fact, there
are many 3PL currently located at Alliance.
 DFW Airport: One of the largest and busiest airports
in the world. It has many flights that originate from this
location going non-stop to almost all major US cities
and numerous countries around the world. It is also
home to American Airlines.
 UPS: Located in the Metroplex, UPS has three major
sorting facilities with one of the largest hubs in the US
located in Mesquite. It is a Mecca Center for
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
18
Need for Logistics Systems Engineering
movement of goods and products. It also has a regional
air hub located at DFW Airport.
 FedEx: As one of the largest overnight delivery
companies in the world, FedEx has one of its regional
air hubs located in the DFW area. It is at Alliance
Airport.
 Northrop Grumman: A powerhouse in developing,
testing and supporting fighter jets for the DoD.
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
19
Need for Logistics Systems Engineering
 Telecom Corridor™: One of the world most
concentrated area for telecommunication companies, it
continues to grow bringing about new challenges for
deploying and supporting its’ products.
 Market Growth: The DFW Metroplex will have an
estimated 7.4 million people by the end of 2025. It is
second only to San Francisco in terms of large city
percentage growth. San Francisco will have 3.2 million
people by the end of 2025.
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
20
Current Programs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Interdepartmental
PhD Program *
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 The doctoral program in transportation was
introduced in 1992 to provide a structured followon for students enrolled in the MST program or
other transportation-related masters degree
programs.
 Nearly 80% of the students who have completed
the PhD program here are teaching now in
transportation
* MIT Center for Transportation Studies
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
21
Current Programs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Interdepartmental
PhD Program *
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programs at schools around the world, including
many of the most highly-regarded programs in the
field.
 MIT's influence in transportation education is
further strengthened by the many textbooks
authored by MIT faculty.
* MIT Center for Transportation Studies
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
22
Current Programs
Georgia Institute of Technology, Ph.D Option in
Manufacturing/Logistics *
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 This program focuses on the design and analysis of
manufacturing, distribution, and transportation systems.
Students take fundamental coursework in optimization,
stochastics, and statistics in order to build a firm base
from which to deal with the myriad issues that arise in
settings involving modern supply chain systems
* Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
23
Current Programs
Georgia Institute of Technology, Ph.D Option in
Manufacturing/Logistics *
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modeling and analysis: production and inventory
systems, vehicle routing and scheduling, warehousing,
and logistics.
* Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
24
Current Programs
Georgia Institute of Technology, The Logistics Institute *
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 TLI has the largest number of logistics-oriented
engineering graduates at the bachelor's, master's and
Ph.D. level of any university in the world. More than
20 of the school's faculty are involved in logistics
research as illustrated in the table. The logistics
operations and technology knowledge created in TLI's
advanced research programs is transferred to
undergraduate and graduate students through focused
academic programs.
* Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
25
Current Programs
Georgia Institute of Technology, The Logistics Institute *
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 TLI focuses on the three major elements of the logistics
value chain:
• Supply Chain Design - developing technologies
(concepts, methodologies and algorithms) that
optimize material sourcing, distribution networks,
facility location/operation and inventories
* Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
26
Current Programs
Georgia Institute of Technology, The Logistics Institute *
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• Transportation Planning - developing technologies
that optimize transportation mode/route selection
and fleet/crew scheduling
• E-Commerce Logistics - developing technologies
that support physical logistics processes related to
electronic commerce and the Internet
* Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
27
Current Programs
Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering *
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 While most graduate students in Industrial & Systems
Engineering have an engineering background, it is not a
requirement. However, there is a set of core courses all
ISE students must take, which assume certain
background requirements. They include:
• Math through differential equations (2 years)
• Calculus based physics (1 year)
* Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
28
Current Programs
Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering *
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• Calculus based probability and statistics (1 year)
• Operations research (1 semester)
• Engineering Economics (1 semester)
 Deficiencies typically can not be made up by video,
although in the past we have offered non-credit
prob/stat and OR leveling courses by video.
* Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
29
Current Programs
Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering *
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 CORE COURSES FOR MS, MISE AND PHD
 INSY 6230 Facilities Design and Operation (3)
 INSY 6240 Production and Inventory Control Systems (3)
 INSY 6600 Manufacturing/production Economics (3)
 INSY 7060 Ergonomics I (3)
 INSY 7300 Advanced Engineering Statistics I (3)
 INSY 7420 Linear and Integer Programming (3)
* Auburn, Industrial and Systems Engineering
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
SMU Engineering Web Page, April 2001
30
Approach
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
31
Courses and Schedule
Major/
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Major
Major
Minor
Minor
Minor
Course
Number
SYS7300
SYS7330
SYS7340
SYS7310
SYS7320
EMIS 7370
CSE8360
CSE8378
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
Course Name
Systems Analysis Methods
Systems Reliability Engineering
Logistics Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering Design
Systems Engineering Management
Statistics for Engineers
Operations Research Models
Optimization Models
Schedule
Fall 00
Fall 00
Spring 01
Summer 01
Fall 01
Fall 01
Spring 02
Spring 03
Grade
-A
-A
A
A
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Ph.D. Committee
Dr. Richard S. Barr, Associate Professor of Engineering
Management Information and Systems (EMIS), SMU
Dr. Richard V. Helgason, Associate Professor, EMIS SMU
Dr. Jeffery L. Kennington, P.E., Professor of EMIS, SMU
Dr. Jerrell Stracener, Director of Systems Engineering
Program, Senior Lecturer, SMU *
Dr. Jim Hinderer, Adjunct Professor, SMU*
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* Confirmed committee members
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
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Action Required
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Prepare Ph.D.degree plan
Establish Supervisory Committee (SC)
Approval of degree plan by SC
Approval of research direction by SC
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
May, 2001
Jun, 2001
Jun, 2001
Oct, 2001
34
Plan and Schedule
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Complete course requirements
Take qualifying exam
Begin research
Take final exam
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
Summer, 2002
Fall, 2002
Fall, 2002
Spring, 2004
35
Concerns/Issues/Questions
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Minimum number of 8000 level courses required?
Can Dr. Russell Vacante from the Army Management Staff
College, Fort Belvior, Virginia serve on the committee?
What about classes not offered until 2003?
What about residence?
© June 2001, Gerard S. Ibarra
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