About the Authors

Leland Blank, PhD, PE, is Professor Emeritus of Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University. He serves as the Dean of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (as of September 2001) to lead the development of western-style engineering education in a co-educational environment for Middle East countries. His professional interests are in the areas of engineering economic analysis, strategic planning and performance measurement, and the use of statistical techniques for quality and food safety improvement. Dr. Blank worked on the faculty and in the administration of Texas A&M University from 1978-98. Prior to retirement, in the position of Assistant Provost, he was the campus-wide coordinator of the total quality process, strategic planning, and institutional studies. He served in the College of Engineering as professor, department head, and assistant dean. Before coming to Texas A&M, he served on the faculty at the University of Texas-El Paso, and he worked in the telecommunications and energy industries for Southwestern Bell Telephone, GTE Data Services, and San Antonio Public Service. His degrees are in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State University (PhD, MS) and St. Mary's University in San Antonio (BS). Dr. Blank is a past president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and of Alpha Pi Mu, the IE honorary society. He has served as a congressional appointee to the US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration's advisory committee on manufacturing systems. Besides technical publications, he has authored or co-authored six textbooks, including the 5th edition of Engineering Economy. He offers workshops and performs group facilitation in the USA and many international settings in planning, team building, quality, and systems thinking.

Anthony Tarquin is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso. His research is in the area of environmental engineering, primarily dealing with optimization of water and wastewater treatment plant processes. He has published articles in many journals and has received the University's highest teaching award (distinguished achievement in 1993). He continues to be involved in innovative teaching techniques and had an endowed scholarship established in his name in 1994.