Industrial Engineering and Operational Research: Principles and Practice

Streamlining workflows and optimizing resources are critical skills in today's industrial and business environments. This text-based course offers a systematic introduction to industrial engineering and operational research, helping you understand how to make data-driven decisions. You will transition from understanding basic organizational workflows to formulating and solving complex optimization problems. Through structured explanations and step-by-step practical exercises, you will gain the analytical tools needed to improve efficiency in manufacturing, logistics, and service systems. What you'll learn: Understand the core principles of industrial engineering, work design, and ergonomics; Formulate linear programming models to solve resource allocation and optimization problems; Apply network analysis techniques, including PERT and CPM, for project scheduling and management; Analyze inventory control models and forecasting methods to streamline supply chains; Explore modern operational research concepts, including basic simulation and digital optimization workflows; Practice solving classic exam-style and real-world operational problems through detailed written walkthroughs. The course begins with foundational definitions of productivity and work study before moving into mathematical optimization techniques. You will progress systematically from theory to practical problem-solving, building a solid analytical toolkit along the way. This course is designed for beginners, engineering students, and professionals looking to build a strong foundation in operations management, with no prior advanced background required. Start reading today to build your analytical and problem-solving skills in industrial operations.