Industrial engineering practice: Process approach for equity and inclusion culture Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • © 2022 IEEE.In recent years, diversity, inclusion, and gender equity have gained relevance in society, and universities as educators have integrated it as an initiative to develop in their culture. As part of strengthening this culture a private university with 26 campuses in Mexico develops initiatives that support this culture. This study shares the common roadmap and the lessons learned from the use of the process approach (fundamental approach of industrial engineering area) in two of these programs: the first one is an institutional initiative linked to the recognition of human dignity, which impacts all its campuses, and the second is a program that emerges from women engineering students to mentor vulnerable public high school women, which inspires their growth as women and presents STEM careers as an opportunity for their professional growth. The comparison of both processes and the learning is done in its stages: (1) design of the plan, (2) definition of the stakeholders, (3) instruments used, (4) design of the operation model, (5) documentation and (6) validation. The findings are related to the reasons for the need to generate operation models for the programs: quality and warmth solid initiatives offered on different campuses, continuous improvement process and to create and strengthen an impact on the culture of equity, inclusion and diversity. Students and professors of the industrial engineering career are key players in the success of the design as well as stakeholder involvement. Also, the development of instruments (interviews, focus groups, or participatory meetings), and the feedback from the main users, should be present throughout the whole process. Different methods and tools of the process approach were used and helped to generate operating models that are currently in use, helping to fulfill the purpose of each program or initiative, to create and strengthen an equitable, diversity and inclusive culture.

publication date

  • January 1, 2022