Research Projects Part of Initiatives by the Center for Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management
Two undergraduate student teams from the Industrial Systems Engineering (ISYE) department at Khalifa University have successfully completed process improvement projects at two organizations in Abu Dhabi.
The Khalifa University students undertook these initiatives at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) and Capital Health Screening Center (CHSC) as part of their senior design projects (SDP). Students Mariam AlShamsi, Ameera Ali Bawazir (MATH), Mohammad Ballaith, and Mohammad Alalami worked at CHSC, while Alanod Alajami, Fatima Alseiari, Khadija Jumaa, and Mariam Al Abboodi worked at the CCAD warehouse. The two organizations welcomed the students and offered them an opportunity to understand their extensive operations.
Undergraduate students Mariam AlShamsi, Ameera Ali Bawazir, Mohammad Ballaith, and Mohammad Alalami completed a process improvement project at Capital Health Screening Center.
Undergraduate students Alanod Alajami, Fatima Alseiari, Khadija Jumaa, and Mariam Al Abboodi completed a process improvement project at the CCAD warehouse.
The projects were part of the initiatives by the Center for Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management (DSOM) affiliated faculty, focusing on high-quality, impactful research and education in digital supply chain and efficient engineering operations.
Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “Khalifa University’s contribution to facilitating process improvements at two organizations in Abu Dhabi strongly reflects not only the faculty expertise at the university but also our students’ commitment to apply the knowledge acquired in real-world circumstances. Digital supply chain remains a key component of Industry 4.0, and only a smart, better-connected, and highly efficient supply chain ecosystem will drive future economic growth. We believe the DSO’s process improvement projects by our students signify the right initiative in further expanding digitization across all areas, benefitting business operations locally and regionally.”
Following the students’ project, the CHSC was able to reduce (reduced) the average waiting times from 13.9 minutes to just 4.7 minutes during the hours of 7am to 9am. From 9am until 12 noon, the waiting time was reduced 12 minutes from the previous 26.7 minutes. Similarly, the CCAD has agreed to incorporate measures that will help the warehouse run smoother, following the students’ project.
Process improvement is vital for industrial engineers, and students are asked to take a systems approach for the SDP project. The students use optimization and simulation tools based on the data they collect before proposing suitable solutions to the challenge.
The Acting CEO of CHSC, Haitham Al Subaihi, awarded certificates to the ISYE SDP team while Abdalla Al Mulla, representing the process improvement office of CCAD acknowledged the ISYE SDP team.
The DSO is aligned with UAE’s Vision 2021 National Priorities and Agenda, which call for transforming the UAE’s oil-based economy into a knowledge-based economy. The DSO’s focus areas will include digital supply chain’s associated analytics and knowledge generation and management, in addition to creating a new stream of research in the field of robust, digital operations management.
Clarence Michael
News Writer
28 July 2019
