Prof. Fugee TSUNG Honored with IISE 2025 George L. Smith International Award for Excellence in Promotion of Industrial Engineering
Prof. Fugee TSUNG, Chair Professor of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Chair Professor of Data Science & Analytics Thrust and Computational Media & Arts Thrust at HKUST (Guangzhou), has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 George L. Smith International Award for Excellence in Promotion of Industrial Engineering. Conferred by the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), this watershed recognition applauds Prof. Tsung’s enduring commitment to fostering global collaboration and elevating the industrial engineering (IE) profession worldwide.
Formal presentation at IISE Annual Conference & Expo 2025
Prof. Tsung was formally presented with the award at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo 2025, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 31 to June 3. The award citation commends him for “sustained international leadership in industrial engineering, bridging academic and industry arenas with strategic, cross-disciplinary research; cultivating multinational partnerships that expand the IE talent pipeline; and serving as an influential ambassador who consistently promotes the advancement of the profession on the global stage.”
Widely regarded as a hallmark of international advocacy within industrial engineering, the George L. Smith International Award spotlights outstanding individuals who have significantly advanced the discipline across cultural and geographical boundaries. Prof. Tsung’s leadership and visionary efforts—especially his cross-border research initiatives and mentorship of students and early-career professionals—exemplify the spirit of Dr. George L. Smith, whose lifelong dedication to global outreach established a far-reaching, vibrant IE community.
Gratitude and vision
“Receiving the George L. Smith International Award is a tremendous honor. I am deeply grateful to IISE for recognizing our collective accomplishments,” said Prof. Tsung. “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Tang Loon-Ching, Bopaya Bidanda, Kwang-Jae Kim, Chien Chen-Fu for their nomination and support throughout my career. This award also belongs to my mentors, collaborators, and students, whose dedication to expanding the boundaries of international cooperation in industrial engineering has made this recognition possible. I look forward to continuing our joint efforts in promoting excellence, inclusivity, and innovation across global IE communities.”
A legacy of cross-border impact
As a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), American Statistical Association (ASA), American Society for Quality (ASQ), and International Academy for Quality (IAQ), Prof. Tsung has spearheaded initiatives uniting international partners in academia and industry. Under his guidance, the Quality and Data Analytics Lab at HKUST and the Industrial Informatics and Intelligence Institute (Triple-i) at HKUST (Guangzhou) have evolved into hubs for pioneering research in industrial AI and smart systems. His global footprint is further underscored by editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Quality Technology (JQT) and previous service as both Head of HKUST’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics and Founding Acting Dean of the Information Hub at HKUST (Guangzhou).
Advancing a global IE community
Prof. Tsung’s recognition as a top 2% most-cited scholar worldwide (Stanford-Elsevier Mendeley) speaks to his profound influence on industrial engineering, quality control, and data analytics. As he assumes the mantle passed down by luminaries like Dr. George L. Smith, Prof. Tsung’s commitment to unifying the global IE profession ensures that the discipline remains a catalyst for industrial advancement, informed by rigorous research and guided by collaborative, cross-cultural perspectives.
