🎅✨ 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.

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

Large language models aren’t just improving — they’re transforming how we work, learn, and make decisions. In this upcoming episode of Problem Solved, IISE’s David Brandt talks with Bucknell University’s Dr. Joe Wilck about the true state of LLMs after the first 1,000 days: what’s gotten better, what’s still broken, and why critical thinking matters more than ever.

Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Autodesk FlexSim

https://www.autodesk.com/
https://www.flexsim.com/

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

Large language models aren’t just improving — they’re transforming how we work, learn, and make decisions. In this upcoming episode of Problem Solved, IISE’s David Brandt talks with Bucknell University’s Dr. Joe Wilck about the true state of LLMs after the first 1,000 days: what’s gotten better, what’s still broken, and why critical thinking matters more than ever.

Sponsored by Autodesk FlexSim

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

Process, People, and Purpose: Operations the Chick-fil-A Way

Behind every lightning-fast drive-thru order at Chick-fil-A is a carefully designed system supported by real people who care — and continuous improvement that never stops. In this episode of Problem Solved, Elizabeth Grimes talks with Sam Hartman, multi-location Owner/Operator, and Matt Riley, VP of Enterprise Solutions, to uncover how Chick-fil-A balances efficiency with genuine hospitality.

They discuss:

• Why the right people + thoughtful training matter more than any process
• How simple operational tweaks — even moving the cups — can save seconds that scale to hours
• Why “my pleasure” is more than a catchphrase — it’s a cultural mindset
• How Chick-fil-A uses data, observation, and feedback loops to refine systems every day
• What leaders can learn about feedback culture, hands-on leadership, and developing talent

This conversation reveals what truly drives Chick-fil-A’s reputation: not just speed, but purpose, consistency, and care.

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

Here’s the problem — running a restaurant that serves thousands with consistency and care isn’t easy. At Chick-fil-A, every second counts, and every process is engineered for excellence.

In this Problem Solved trailer, Chick-fil-A owner Sam Hartman and Matt Riley, VP of Enterprise Solutions, share how they build systems that balance speed, quality, and human connection.

🎙️ Full episode coming November 11— only on Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast.

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? Email egrimes@iise.org

Here’s the problem: Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than most organizations can keep up — and the risks of falling behind are real.

In this episode, futurist and ethnographer Mike Courtney, CEO of Aperio Insights, joins IISE’s David Brandt to unpack how AI is reshaping the way we work, think, and lead. Together they explore:

• Why AI can solve problems at scale — and create them at scale
• How industrial and systems engineers can lead responsibly through the AI revolution
• The paradox of innovation: moving fast without losing the human touch
• What “humans in the loop” really means for the future of work

From dark factories and automation to collaboration, creativity, and behavioral change, Courtney sheds light on how to balance speed, ethics, and adaptability in an AI-driven world.

🎙️ Presented by The Poirier Group — unlocking organizational potential through results-driven solutions.
🔗 thepoiriergroup.com

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? Email egrimes@iise.org