LELAND T. BLANK
9448 Old Lampasas Trail
Austin, Texas 78750
Professor Emeritus, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University
Dean Emeritus, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Degree Field Institution Year
PhD Industrial Engineering Oklahoma State University 1970
MS Industrial Engineering Oklahoma State University 1968
BS Industrial Engineering St. Mary's University 1967
College Management Program, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1991
Experience: Academic Administration
American University of Sharjah, UAE – Professor and Dean of Engineering (2001-05);
Dean Emeritus of Engineering (2005-present)
Texas A&M University - Assistant Provost for Continuous Improvement (1993-98)
Interim Executive Director of Planning, Evaluation and Institutional Research (1997-98);
Director, Institutional Self Study (1991-93)
Assistant Dean of Engineering - graduate, honors, international (1988-91)
Department Head (interim), Industrial Engineering (1984-86)
Texas A&M University System - Assistant Deputy Chancellor for Planning (1990-93)
Assistant Director, Texas Engineering Experiment Station (1986-88)
Director, Institute for Manufacturing Systems (1986-90)
Director, Knowledge Systems Research Center (1986-89)
Experience: Academic Appointments
American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, professor (2001-05)
Texas A&M University, industrial engineering, professor emeritus (1998-present); professor (1983-98); associate professor (1980-83); assistant professor (1978-80)
University of Texas at El Paso, mechanical and industrial engineering, associate professor (1975-76); assistant professor (1970-71 and 1972-75)
Experience: Industrial
General Telephone (GTE), management scientist (logistics, physical facilities), Tampa,
Florida (1976-78)
City Public Service Board, utility rate analyst, San Antonio, Texas (1967)
Southwestern Bell Telephone, student plant engineer, San Antonio, Texas (1966)
Experience: Military
US Army, Officer, Air Defense (1971-72)
Publications: Textbooks
Basics of Engineering Economy, 1st ed., with A. Tarquin, McGraw-Hill (2008)
Engineering Economy, 6th ed., with A. Tarquin, McGraw-Hill (2005). Previous
editions: 2002, 1998, 1989, 1983, and 1976.
Statistical Procedures for Engineering, Management & Science, McGraw-Hill (1980)
Publications (selected): Articles, Papers, and Presentations
Blank, L., “Cost Estimating in the International Setting,” Industrial Engineering Conference
Proceedings, Vancouver, BC (May 2008)
Al Kattan, I., L. Blank, and H. El Baz, “Developing IE-Style Programs to Meet Growth
Needs in the United Arab Emirates,” Industrial Engineering Conference Proceedings,
Nashville, TN (May 2007)
Zualkernan, I. and L. Blank, “Quality-Economics Tradeoffs in Developing Assessment
Methods for eLearning Materials,” e-Merging/e-Learning Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE,
(Sept 2004)
McCollom, N. and L. Blank, "Object-oriented Programming Cuts Systems Life Cycle Costs,"
Journal of Cost Management for the Manufacturing Industry, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1990), pp. 58-62
Troxler, J. and L. Blank, "A Comprehensive Methodology for Manufacturing System Evaluation and Comparison," Journal of Manufacturing Systems', Vol. 8, No. 3 (1989), pp. 175-183
Blank, L., "Project Selection and the Varying Levels of Cost/Benefit Information," Journal of Cost Management for the Manufacturing Industry, Vol. 2 No. 3, (1988) pp 51-56
Troxler, J. and L. Blank, "Major Attributes Used in Manufacturing System Decision Support," Journal of Cost Management for the Manufacturing Industry, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1988), pp. 55-58
Randazzo, A. and L. Blank, "Pilot-to-Project Cash Flow Estimation," Engineering Costs and
Production Economics, Vol. 10, No. 3 (1987), pp. 311-318
Blank, L., "The Changing Scene of Economic Analysis for The Evaluation of Manufacturing System Design and Operation," The Engineering Economist, V. 30, N. 3 (1985), pp. 227-244
Honors and Awards
Wellington Award, Institute of Industrial Engineers and American Society of Engineering Educators, 2008
Dean Emeritus, American University of Sharjah, AUE, 2005
Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University, 1998
Fellow, Institute of Industrial Engineers, 1990
Consultation Projects
United States
- USDA Food Safety Inspection Service: quality and process capability (1998-2001)
- Kansas State University: library strategic planning and university budgeting (1999-2002)
- Big 12 Plus Consortium: library consortium development (1998-99)
- Others: Baylor College of Dentistry: continuous improvement; Owens-Corning, regression analysis; Biotechnics, Inc., system safety; Boeing in Seattle, manufacturing system development; General Dynamics, NC cell analysis.
International
- Alfaisal University, engineering program, curriculum, structure and accreditation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2007-08)
- World Bank, Hungary, higher education restructuring, conducted through Texas International Education Consortium (2000)
- University of Technology - Sydney, Australia, university management development, as visiting fellow (1997)
- Ministry of Education, Indonesia, higher education administration (1996)
- Center for Higher Education Development, People's Republic of China, higher education management (1996)
- Others: Hylsa Steel Industries, Mexico, quality costs; General Instruments de Juarez, Mexico, production scheduling.
Scientific and Professional Societies
Institute of Industrial Engineers: Fellow (1990); President (1993-94); President-elect
(1992-93); Group VP-Professional Enhancement (1990-92); VP - Publications and Professional Development (1987-89); Regional VP (1985-87); Chair, Board of Directors, IE Foundation (1996-99); Chair, Global Development Task Force (1989)
American Society for Engineering Educators: Member since 1980
Alpha Pi Mu (IE honorary society): National President (1994-96); Executive VP (1990-94),
Executive Council member (1982-2002)
Professional Registration
Registered Professional Engineer, Texas (#34300)
Government, Corporate and Institutional Board Leadership
City of College Station, TX: Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors (1999-02)
US Dept of Commerce: International Trade Administration, Manufacturing Systems Technical Advisory Committee (1985-93)
EAGLE (Engineering Alliance for Global Education), Board of Directors (1990-95)
Biotechnics, Inc.: Board of Directors; Personnel Committee, chair (1983-90)
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