Karwowski talks future of systems engineering at INCOSE event

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

The Orlando chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) hosted Waldemar Karwowski, Ph.D., DSc, Pegasus Professor and chair of the University of Central Florida’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, on June 13.

 

Karwowski presented “Grand Challenges in Industrial and Systems Engineering,” drawing engineers, academics and industry leaders from across Central Florida. The event was part of the chapter’s mission to promote collaboration among industry, government and academia.

 

“Industrial and systems engineering is uniquely positioned to address the problems that matter most to society,” Karwowski said. “We stand at a crossroads where technological innovation, human needs and global pressures intersect in ways never seen before.”

 

He highlighted several challenges facing the profession, including the integration of artificial intelligence, vulnerabilities in global supply chains and the need for more human-centered design in automated environments.

 

“No single technology will save us,” Karwowski said. “What will make the difference is our ability to integrate knowledge across engineering, computer science, psychology, economics and beyond.”

 

Karwowski cautioned that engineers must anticipate the unintended consequences of emerging technologies rather than focus solely on their benefits. He said as industries race to implement tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics, the long-term impacts must remain part of the design conversation.

 

He pointed to automation as an area where critical judgment will remain essential, noting that efficiency gains should not come at the cost of safety, oversight or human dignity.

 

“Just because something can be automated does not mean it should be,” Karwowski said. “The challenge is ensuring that technology augments human capabilities rather than replacing or diminishing them.”

 

Karwowski also addressed the importance of preparing future engineers for a rapidly changing field, noting that adaptability and creativity will be key skills. He emphasized that technical expertise alone will not be enough, as tomorrow’s engineers must be able to collaborate across disciplines and navigate uncertainty.

 

“Our graduates will be called upon to solve problems that don’t even exist yet,” Karwowski said. “That’s why adaptability, creativity and continuous learning are so important to the systems engineering profession.”

 

Karwowski closed by stressing the global scope of the challenges facing the field and the need for collaboration across sectors. He said the scale and complexity of modern problems demand partnerships that extend beyond traditional boundaries of industry, government and academia.

 

“Systems engineering has always been about seeing the bigger picture,” Karwowski said. “Today, that picture spans the globe. Meeting the challenges ahead will demand all the ingenuity and collaboration we can bring to the table.”