🎅✨ Here’s the problem: Santa’s operation defies all logic. One night. Billions of deliveries. Zero defects. A global supply chain that never misses a deadline.

So…what if Santa is an industrial and systems engineer?

In this festive special of Problem Solved, IISE members and volunteers share short, creative voice memos imagining how Santa’s North Pole operation uses IE/ISE tools—from logistics optimization to quality management, ergonomics, capacity planning, predictive analytics, Just-In-Time systems, continuous improvement, facility layout, human factors, and more.

You’ll hear six fun, clever, and surprisingly insightful takes on Santa’s world-class system—including:
🎁 Why Santa’s naughty-or-nice list is really a data governance process
🎁 How his workshop rivals Amazon
🎁 How ergonomics keeps the elves injury-free for 500+ years
🎁 Why Santa’s sleigh route is the ultimate Traveling Salesman Problem
🎁 Lean Six Sigma at the North Pole
🎁 And—what the Grinch, Jack Skellington, and Santa can teach us about operations

Then we wrap it all up with a special story from IISE CEO Don Greene, who shares the tale of the Christmas Eve when Santa called IISE for help…and how industrial engineers saved the holiday.

Whether you’re an ISE, a student, a Santa enthusiast, or someone who loves a good systems-thinking twist, this episode is full of joy, clever insights, and holiday magic—the ISE way.

🎄 Happy Holidays from all of us at IISE and Problem Solved!

Thank you to our guests who shared their creativity with us! Ali Anderson, Gordon Quach, Kristine Dungo, Madeline Shoot, Laura Albert, Ashley Benedict, and Don Greene!

🎧 Listen now, share with a colleague, and spread some IE cheer.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
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Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org

Across industries, teams are solving massive, complex challenges — but too often, those breakthroughs stay hidden inside their organizations. The IISE Innovation Cup, sponsored by the University of Tennessee Knoxville, changes that. It gives teams a global stage to showcase measurable results, real-world impact, and the power of industrial and systems engineering in action.

In this episode of Problem Solved, we take you inside the Innovation Cup- what it is, why it matters, and what great innovation truly looks like.

You’ll hear from:
• Tom Mazzone, Innovation Cup committee member, on why the Cup exists and how it elevates ISE work
• Aniket Ramekar (Mayo Clinic), on the digital door-sign project that transformed clinical workflows
• Rishabh Bhandawat (Smurfit WestRock), on optimizing spare-parts inventory
• Bill Harrington, Innovation Cup committee member, on the criteria that separate a good project from a great one

Whether you work in healthcare, manufacturing, supply chain, aerospace, or continuous improvement, this episode will inspire you to look at your systems in a new way — and maybe even submit your own project.

Submissions for the IISE Innovation Cup are now open.

Learn more about the IISE Innovation Cup.

Bill Harrington's unedited interview on IISE Innovation Cup judging criteria:
https://youtu.be/fHlwnq74Hqw

Make sure you subscribe to Problem Solved so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Problem Solved on LinkedIn
Problem Solved on YouTube
Problem Solved on Instagram
Problem Solved on TikTok

Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org

Go behind the scenes of the IISE Innovation Cup, one of the most impactful showcases of industrial and systems engineering innovation. Hear from:
• Tom Mazzone – Why the Cup exists
• Aniket Ramekar – Gold Award winner
• Rishabh Bhandawat – Silver Award winner
• Bill Harrington – What judges look for

Discover how teams across industries are solving complex challenges — and what it takes to stand out.

Make sure you subscribe to Problem Solved so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about the IISE Innovation Cup.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Problem Solved on LinkedIn
Problem Solved on YouTube
Problem Solved on Instagram
Problem Solved on TikTok

Problem Solved Executive Producer: Elizabeth Grimes
Interested in contributing to the podcast or sponsoring an episode? Email egrimes@iise.org