Welcome to the historic city of Philadelphia and to the campus of Drexel University. It is my great honor and pleasure to open the Seventh International Conference on Management Science and Engineering Management (ICMSEM 2013). I want to extend my sincere thanks to our hosts at Drexel University for their generous support and exceptional hospitality, which have made this gathering possible.

This year, we are pleased to announce that ICMSEM has continued to grow in both scale and depth. We received 208 submissions from 15 countries and, after a rigorous peer-review process, accepted 130 outstanding papers from 12 countries for presentation and poster sessions. These contributions span a broad array of topics—ranging from Information Technology and Decision Support Systems to Ecological and Industrial Engineering—reflecting the diversity and dynamism of our field.

What is particularly exciting this year is the scope of ideas we will explore together. The conference themes include decision modeling, computational methods, logistics and supply chain innovation, data warehousing, e-commerce, simulation techniques, risk control, and even emerging topics such as carbon credit systems. These issues not only represent academic frontiers but also practical challenges that demand our insight and interdisciplinary collaboration.

A new highlight in this year’s conference is the awarding of the ISMSEM Advancement Prize for MSEM, which aims to recognize researchers whose work bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering actionable solutions to real-world engineering management problems. These awards symbolize our commitment to fostering impactful research and supporting innovation that matters.

While the technical sessions, keynote addresses, and roundtable discussions will undoubtedly spark rich academic exchanges, I hope you’ll also enjoy the opportunities for informal conversation. Whether over coffee or during the post-conference tours, these relaxed moments often bring about the most memorable collaborations. Philadelphia—home of the Liberty Bell and rich revolutionary history—is the perfect place to reflect on how free inquiry and the exchange of ideas propel our discipline forward.

As we gather here from around the world—from the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, China, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and more—we reaffirm that science and scholarship know no borders. Let us make the most of this occasion to learn from each other, to challenge each other, and to create something greater together.

I thank you all for your presence, your contributions, and your dedication to advancing Management Science and Engineering Management. I wish you a fruitful, enjoyable, and inspiring time here in Philadelphia.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Jiuping Xu

General Chair

President of the International Society of Management Science and Engineering Management

Academician of International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences

Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry

November 8, 2013