Leaders share experiences with industrial engineering institute on its 75th anniversary

Sep 12, 2023

NORCROSS, Ga. - Sept. 12, 2023 - PRLog -- Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, marks the official 75th anniversary of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). Incorporated on this date in 1948 as the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, the seeds for the new organization were planted earlier in the year when 12 founders met in the Columbus, Ohio, home of Wyllys G. Stanton on Jan. 12.

ISE, the Institute's award-winning monthly online magazine, captured the organization's beginnings and highlights over time including a fire that swept through the Institute's then-Ohio headquarters in 1952 in "IISE in 2023: 75 years and counting." The magazine continues chronicling IISE's platinum milestone with monthly historical pieces throughout the year.

The Institute's Problem Solved podcast featured IISE Fellow G. Don Taylor, former president, and this year's recipient of the Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Industrial Engineering Award, along with other longtime members, talking about the Institute's influence on their lives and careers. A few comments stood out in summarizing how a small gathering of the Institute's founders could give birth to an organization with worldwide influence 75 years later.

John White, a member since 1959, said, "I simply would not be in the position I'm in today if it weren't for the benefits I got from being a member of IISE. Some of my dearest friends are those that I established through IISE and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Leland Blank, past president and a member since 1970, added, "If you're open to have a continuous improvement, or a continuous education, throughout your professional career, you just can't find a better place than a professional society like IISE."

Former president Deborah Nightingale, a member since 1979, summed it up when she said, "Industrial and systems engineers are the 'people' engineers."

More shared experiences are revealed on the video #IISE75: The Difference That IISE Membership Can Make featuring members of IISE's Board of Trustees. They talk about opportunities in industrial and systems engineering, the future of the profession and what lies ahead for the next generation of ISEs.

About IISE: The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers is the world's largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of the industrial engineering profession and individuals involved with improving quality and productivity. Founded in 1948, IISE is an international, nonprofit association that provides knowledge, training, networking opportunities and recognition to enhance the skills and effectiveness of its members, customers and the profession. For more information about IISE, visit www.iise.org.