Graduate / "perseverance and motivation" - SOP in Industrial Engineering for review [11]

Here is my Statement of Purpose. Please take a look, tell me what you think and thanks!

Primarily, explain:
- your purpose for starting or continuing graduate study,
- why you want to study at xxxx University,
- your professional plans, your career goals, and your research interests, and
- any experience that is particularly applicable to the program for which you're applying.
Purpose of Graduate Study, xxxxx University, Career Goals
My purpose for pursuing graduate study (Masters of Engineering Degree in Industrial Engineering) primarily comes from wanting to make a career transition from my current Information Technology consulting and programming career back to my prior work in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering. My objectives are threefold:

1. This graduate study would aid in refocusing my career from the information systems roles (programmer/systems analyst) I've most recently had, to one in industrial engineering/operations research. Positions that interest me include research engineer and operations research analyst.

2. I would like to advance my undergraduate/graduate training in Industrial Engineering/Decision Systems particularly in the areas of applied operations research and applied statistics.

3. I would potentially like to perform research (through converting to the on campus thesis option) in these areas (2.).
In exploring educational opportunities I was excited to learn about the distance engineering program at xxxxx. Having two degrees from to very good universities (xxxx, xxxx) I did not want to compromise the quality of my graduate studies. The Master of Engineering program at xxxxx would afford me the opportunity to pursue graduate work on a part time basis (while still keeping my day job) at a very well regarded engineering college. I also like the fact that the requirements of the program are flexible enough to let me concentrate my studies in areas of operations research and applied statistics while still satisfying the Master's degree requirements. Lastly, the potential opportunity to, convert to the on-campus thesis option makes the program attractive.

Potential Research Interests
My general research interests are in the application of Operations Research and Statistical techniques in such areas as transportation, supply chain, marketing analytics, and healthcare.

In the healthcare realm, discrete event simulation along with queuing theory could be used to understand surges in hospital operations such as emergency rooms. How can we apply advances in routing algorithms to the analysis of large-scale transportation issues?

Events in my daily life have also piqued my interest in these areas (and my interest in wanting to make a career shift), specifically transportation. In my daily commuter train ride to Boston from New Hampshire, the Amtrak "Downeaster" had been delayed one morning due to bad winter weather. What where the implications of this backup? Certainly customer satisfaction and, scheduling, as well as profitability where affected. There is a domino effect in that other train systems (MBTA) that share the rails with Amtrak became delayed. I thought to myself, how could OR methodologies be used to predict, and avoid these delays thus increasing efficiency and profitability for Amtrak as well other effected train systems? What other studies have been done in this area and how can we expand upon these?

.

Relevant Prior Experience

Besides my current programming and systems analysis experience, I had worked in the applied operations research area earlier in my career.

After getting my undergraduate degree in IE/OR at xxxxxx University, I was a Technical Analyst in the area of Applied Operations Research and Information systems at the Volpe National Transportation research center in Cambridge, MA. I studied inventory, informational and operational problems at the main FAA Depot in Oklahoma City. I also helped in performing a cost/benefit analysis to justify a computerized scheduling system (TRAMS). In addition to this experience, upon completing my MBA studies at xxxxx University, I worked on a project as an Operations Research Analyst at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) in Woods Hole, MA. There, I used Expert Choice decision analysis software and linear programming to make better budget allocation decisions in the research and planning division at the center.

Secondarily, elaborate on:
- any irregularities or special circumstances applicable to your application,
- your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and professional history as it relates to the program of interest, and
- any prior research information, or contact with specific xxxx program faculty

Honors, Achievements and Special Abilities Related to program:

While an undergraduate IE/OR major at the University ofxxx, my capstone project group paper was chosen out of many to represent the IEOR department, and to be presented (by me and another colleague) at the Institute of Industrial Engineers Northeast Regional Technical Paper Contest. The paper was titled "A Production Planning and Control System for the AMPAD Corporation". It won an Honorable Mention. I also attained Dean's List (3.5 GPA) for 2 semesters in the IE/OR program.

In graduate school (xxxx Univ.) while pursuing my MBA in applied operations research and information systems I was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship in the Management Science Department. My many duties included or research, teaching, and evaluating management science software for the department.

My one most special ability is a tremendous perseverance and motivation; I never give up in seeking my goals. Besides this, my great technical ability is enhanced by business acumen, and an ability to communicate with non-technical people. This is a rare combination indeed, one which I believe would make most valuable in the Master of Engineering program at xxxx University.

Graduate / Graduate Inustrial Engineering Dept. Application Academic, Research and Professional. [5]

Academic

List scholarships and/or fellowships you received as an undergraduate or have received or applied for your graduate study (please distinguish between those applied for and those received).

Graduate Teaching Fellowship (received) - Management Science Department, George Washington University. My many duties included OR research, holding recitation sessions for the MBA course "Production and Operations Management", and evaluating management science software for the department.

Academic

List scholarships and/or fellowships you received as an undergraduate or have received or applied for your graduate study (please distinguish between those applied for and those received).

Graduate Teaching Fellowship (received) - Management Science Department, George Washington University. My many duties included OR research, holding recitation sessions for the MBA course "Production and Operations Management", and evaluating management science software for the department.

List academic recognitions, honors, extracurricular activities and memberships including honor societies.

1. Dean's List (3.5 GPA) for 2 Semesters-University of Massachusetts, Industrial Engineering /Operations Research program.

2. University of Massachusetts APICs Chapter Delegate- I represented the chapter at all local APICS meetings.

3. University of Massachusetts Bicycle Club Member- I participated in regular rides and on a 12 day Bicycle tour of Florida set the record (along with fellow tour mates) for the longest one-day ride of 123 miles.

4. While an undergraduate IE/OR major at the University of Massachusetts, my capstone project group paper was chosen out of many to represent the IEOR department at the Institute of Industrial Engineers Northeast Regional Technical Paper Contest. The paper was titled "A Production Planning and Control System for the AMPAD Corporation". It won an Honorable Mention

5. Institute of Industrial Engineers Student Member while at the University of Massachusetts

List titles of publications, proceedings, reports, or theses authored or co-authored; if published provide citation. -None-

Have you taken the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam? ____ Yes __x__No
If you have received results from the FE, did you pass? ____Yes __ No

Previous Research Experience

Describe your Senior Thesis/Design project or other academic research experience. Be specific about the skills you used to do analysis, work within a team environment, and/or create a final product (manufacturing). If you have already completed your MS degree, describe your research here, in detail.

My undergraduate senior capstone design project, "A Production Planning and Control System for the AMPAD Corporation", was a culmination of my undergraduate training, and a chance to apply many of the techniques I had learned in my studies to a real world project. Students in the course where broken up into teams of 5 or 6 ,given a company site, then assigned the task of analyzing company operations and implementing modern production planning control, and operations research techniques. By the end of the project, our team had gained much insight into the complexities of a "real world" environment, and the challenges, both technical and managerial, of utilizing industrial engineering techniques.

My team was assigned to the AMPAD paper manufacturing company in Holyoke, MA. Initially, our whole team went out to the plant to tour the operation, meet with managers to discuss the operational issues at the plant, and decide the scope of our work. Our project scope consisted of implementing a computerized MRPII system, cost analysis, demand forecast modeling, and a revised plant layout.

After initial analysis each member of out team was assigned individual tasks including initial research, data collection, and analysis. Specific skills our team used included exponential smoothing, from-to charts, process flow diagramming, and FORTRAN programming. After research and subsequent phases of the project our team had group meetings to discuss progress, brainstorm issues, and next steps in the project. There where subsequent group trips to the plant to collect more data, analyze process flows and follow-up with management on progress. A final presentation was made in plant to AMPAD management at the end of the semester, and to the class at the university.

In addition to this undergraduate experience, I have also performed academic research while a Graduate Teaching Fellow at The George Washington University. My tasks where to assist faculty by performing literature reviews of topics in statistics and operation research, and to use university library resources to find articles in journals and texts related to their research.

Professional Experience

Describe your professional experiences, including research, internship experiences, or involvement with professional societies on or off a college campus.
My professional experiences most recently include programming and systems analysis (detailed on my resume), and assignments in the applied operations research area earlier in my career. My work is project oriented, all with the central idea of applying technology to solve business problems.

After getting my undergraduate degree in IE/OR at UMASS-Amherst I was a Technical Analyst in the area of Applied Operations Research and Information Systems at the Volpe National Transportation research center in Cambridge, MA. I studied inventory, informational and operational problems at the main FAA Depot in Oklahoma City. I also helped in performing a cost/benefit analysis to justify a computerized scheduling system (TRAMS). In addition to this experience, upon completing my MBA studies at George Washington University, I worked on a project as an Operations Research Analyst at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) in Woods Hole, MA. There, I used Expert Choice decision analysis software and linear programming to make better budget allocation decisions in the research and planning division at the center.

My involvement in professional societies has extended beyond the college experiences detailed in the first part of this application. I am currently an INFORMS member, and look forward to attending the Northeastern Regional Conference this month. During my computer career, I often frequented

Microsoft development user groups at their facility in Waltham, MA. I presented my work at the now defunct Visual FoxPro user group, and frequently attended "Code Camp" weekend seminars to learn about all the great Microsoft development technology.