Integrating Engineering Design And Applied Probability

Integration of engineering design into an applied probability course is discussed. The course, which is required for the industrial engineering major at Northern Illinois University, presents basic probability, simple reliability models, Markov chains, the Poisson process and simple queueing systems — standard fare for industrial engineering majors. Engineering design activity has been incorporated into the course through 1. homework and test problems that emphasize parametric analysis, variations of standard models, and comparison of alternative systems; 2. loosely stated open-ended problems intended to allow creative response, with the hope that the students will model the physics of the problem situation, identify economic and ethical constraints, and find a way to base decisions on quantitative analysis. This paper focuses on the second type of problems, labeled “design problems” in the course syllabus. Examples are given, with descriptions and analyses of the students' responses and their suggestions for improving the content and presentation of future design problems. Special attention is given to an exceptionally alert and well-motivated class that was willing to discuss the nature of design and evaluate the course. The paper also contains examples of homework and test problems intended to encourage creative, independent thinking.