Design of Industrial Information Systems - Integrated IT Systems

Our review of Design of Industrial Information Systems finds it best suited for students and professionals who need a focused introduction to integrating IT in manufacturing and operations. The book's biggest strength is its clear explanation of how technologies such as Enterprise Resource Planning and RFID make integrated operational efficiencies possible, making it a practical primer rather than an exhaustive reference. Readers looking for an applied, systems-level perspective on industrial IT design will find useful frameworks and real-world context in this text by Thomas Boucher and Ali Yalcin.

Key Features

• Integrated IT focus: Explains how separate databases and operations can be combined into a single system to improve operational efficiency.
• Introduction to technologies: Covers modern software and hardware such as Enterprise Resource Planning and RFID to ground readers in current tools used in industry.
• Modeling and implementation: Shows how information technologies are used to model industrial processes and implement integrated solutions.
• Educational framing: Written to support courses in industrial engineering and engineering management with material suitable for classroom use.
• Practical orientation: Emphasizes applied knowledge for designing computer-based systems rather than only theoretical concepts.

Who It's For

The book is primarily aimed at students in industrial engineering or engineering management and early-career engineers who need a coherent introduction to industrial information systems. It is also useful for instructors looking for a textbook that links IT concepts to manufacturing and operational case examples.

Those seeking an exhaustive reference on every software product, a hands-on programming guide, or highly detailed vendor-specific implementation instructions should look elsewhere; this title is focused on design principles and system-level thinking rather than step-by-step code or proprietary setups.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, system-level explanation of integrating IT across industrial operations.
• Introduces relevant technologies like ERP and RFID in a way that connects to modeling and implementation.
• Serves well as a textbook for engineering and management courses with a practical orientation.

Cons

• Not a detailed programming or vendor-specific implementation manual, so practitioners needing code-level guidance will need supplemental resources.

Specifications

Title	Design of Industrial Information Systems
Authors	Thomas Boucher, Ali Yalcin
Scope	Industrial and manufacturing information systems design
Technologies discussed	Enterprise Resource Planning, RFID
Audience	Industrial engineering and engineering management students
Approach	Modeling and implementation of integrated IT systems

Our Verdict

Design of Industrial Information Systems is a solid, practical introduction for students and early-career engineers who need to understand how to design integrated IT systems in manufacturing and operations. Its focus on ERP, RFID, and system modeling makes it good value for classroom use and for anyone seeking a conceptual bridge between information technology and industrial process design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book explain specific technologies like ERP and RFID?
Yes, it introduces Enterprise Resource Planning and RFID and explains how those technologies enable integrated information systems.

Is this book suitable for hands-on developers?
No, it is oriented toward design and system-level understanding rather than detailed coding or vendor-specific setup instructions.

Who benefits most from this text?
Students in industrial engineering and engineering management and early-career engineers needing an applied overview of industrial information systems benefit most.