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Abstract
Not only is industrial engineering one of the most diverse, and multidisciplinary branches of engineering, but recent research has shown that IE is highly associated with a nation's economic and industrial development. It is by definition a discipline concerned with optimizing design, implementation, integration, operation, improvement and management of high-level systems. Examples of current trends in IE include higher sustainability of green and more efficient energy, advancement in smart products and the "Internet of Things", upgrading designs to suit the majority of people and rising world markets, and expanding the availability and accessibility of CAD (computer-aided design) and CAE (computer-aided engineering) software on a "Cloud" basis with maximum flexibility and minimal cost. Furthermore, interest in such sub-specializations of IE such as information technology, intelligent systems, optimization, quality, and supply chain management is expected to boost in the upcoming years. This paper is aimed at shedding further light on such trends and advancements in IE and their role in providing novel and environmentally-friendly Saudi Arabia economic opportunities in accordance with the recent Saudi Arabian Vision 2030's "Pillar 2: A thriving economy."
Keywords
Industrial Engineering; Trends in Industrial Engineering; Saudi Arabian Vision.
1.Introduction
According to the definition which was produced by Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE): "Industrial and systems engineering is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems" [1]. In recent years, development of information technology has helped to create a new vision for industrial engineers. Almost three decades ago, Davenport and Short [2] discussed the modulations and applications of information technology (IT) on functions of Industrial Engineering (IE) and how the role of industrial engineers in the future, regardless of their formal title or the organizational unit, will focus on IT-enabled redesign of business processes. According to Koelling and et al. [3], tremendous advances in computing, information, and communication technology are dramatically, and permanently, altering the landscape that constitutes what is known as "work". Preez & Pintelon [4] believe that IE occurs between the...