IISE Article, by Karim Hatem Ahmed Kazamel & Brandon Hiscock-Curtis

The IISE Conference is the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers' annual event, hosted each year by a selected university under the guidance of the main IISE Board. This year, it took place at Laval University in Quebec City from January 24th to 27th, 2025, bringing together over 400+ future engineers from nine participating universities. Over three days, students competed in nine competitions, showcasing various facets of Industrial Engineering at the highest level.

As a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Universities, Dalhousie University is invited annually to participate in this prestigious event with such an amazing industrial engineering department. Leading up to the conference, the Dalhousie Industrial Engineering Society worked tirelessly to ensure smooth travel and logistics for all attendees. Leading up to the conference, a personal highlight for me (Karim) was being a part of the team that created the song and film before the conference. It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with my peers on something beyond academics, making the experience even more meaningful and memorable.

Upon arriving in Quebec City, the delegation was welcomed by the hospitality of staff at the hotel, before checking in and proceeding to Trois Brasseurs for a buffet of pub food with the other IISE conference attendees. The opening ceremony followed shortly afterwards, with the delegations arriving in their coordinated theme-based attire. This year, Dalhousie’s theme was “Halifornia”.

The opening ceremony highlighted the significance of the conference, and this is where the delegations’ film and music were displayed for all attendees. While this ceremony was informative, it was also focused on providing an entertaining experience and fostering communication between delegations. It was an environment for teams to show some school spirit and set the tone for a highly memorable weekend.

The competitions for the conference commenced on the following day. There were five academic competitions and five cultural competitions. The academic competitions were: The technical paper, Case study, Simulation, Theoretical exam, and the Capsize challenge. The cultural competitions were: Speedbuilding, Trivia, E-games, Sport (Kin-ball), and the Delegation film. The competitions fostered collaborative engagement, tested our critical thinking skills, and were highly entertaining.

The technical paper required a detailed analysis of a project that students had undertaken in their previous work experience or academic studies. The delegation submitted a report and defended their project with a presentation at the conference in front of a panel of judges. Dalhousie secured 4th place in this competition.

For the case study, competitors had a tour of the PepsiCo facility and learned about sections of the plant that could be improved through industrial engineering principles. The delegates then presented their findings to a jury of PepsiCo Employees the following morning, to present their insights and innovative solutions. Lastly, the Capsize challenge required a creative solution to be developed and tested. This year, the team had to develop a prototype that maximizes the airtime of a free-falling object, all while keeping costs to a minimum.

In Speedbuilding, teams faced off to recreate structures shown in images using the blocks or connecting rods provided, with the team that finished the assembly first being declared the winner of that round. I found this to be highly engaging, and it evaluated our critical thinking capabilities and our creativity while under pressure. The E-game had teams contending for victory in Mario Kart, with the tournament winner being declared the victor of this competition. Lastly, the delegation created an entertaining music video that was presented during the opening ceremony. Dalhousie’s submission was highly regarded and received first place!

Another aspect of this amazing conference that got everyone excited was an industrial engineering-focused networking event. This event brought in large companies such as L’Oreal and PepsiCo and provided a space for students to network with prospective employers. Some students were not only able to meet recruiters but actually received responses as early as the following Monday asking for resumes and cover letters, followed by interviews for most students.

In addition to professional networking opportunities, social events were organized each evening, allowing students to form lasting connections both within their teams and with peers from other universities.

On the final day of the conference, industry experts gathered at Laval University to share their insights on industrial engineering applications within the transportation sector. The speakers for this year included CIRRELT, PepsiCo, Alstom, Alcoa, SM Construction, and SimWell. Speakers emphasized the critical role of engineering in establishing effective and sustainable mobility policies, highlighting their commitment to fostering innovation and talent development. Additional discussions explored industrial engineering's contributions to continuous improvement, supply chain management, simulation, and consulting. This was an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about the real applications of industrial engineering, and to develop a desired career path. These presentations deepened our understanding of industry trends, and ultimately become better industrial engineers.

Finally, this conference had a lot of amazing memories. Students reflecting back on this event have no regrets whatsoever in participating in such a spectacle. Faris Mohamed (“The Industrial Way” - Song Writer) stated “At first, I was not very sure about this conference in terms of what I would expect but all in all it was an amazing event, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of this team”. Technical Paper competition participant, Hamza El-Alamy, said “Reflecting back on this event, it is always amazing competing with students in competitions and creating amazing memories, gutted to have not placed in the top three in this category but I cannot wait to participate in the next one!” This conference inspired many students to work toward hosting this conference at Dalhousie University in the future.

               While the IISE conference provided an excellent networking opportunity, it was far more than that. It was a platform for creativity, entertainment, peer-bonding, and above all else, expanding our academic knowledge. This was an experience that we will never forget, and it has had an immense impact on our professional growth and success. This is an opportunity that every industrial engineer should experience, and we would like to thank all the sponsors for their contribution that allowed us to attend this influential conference (IE Faculty, Eng.NS, The Sextant). Ultimately, the event was about more than networking or competition, it was about the memories created, the lessons learned, and the lasting inspiration that continues to resonate long after the conference has ended.