B.E. in mechanical engineering, PSG College of Technology, India (1996)
M.S in industrial engineering, Northern Illinois University (1998)
Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton (2009)
Research Interests
Heuristic optimization
Logistics
Facilities planning
Work measurement
Project management
Simulation
Selected Projects
Patients discharge process optimization, funded by Edward Elmhurst hospitals
Case-Based eLearning for Six Sigma, funded by Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Analyzing K-Series Wheel Loader Assembly Lines, funded by Caterpillar Inc.
Analyzing process flow for an HVAC, plumbing and sprinkler system design company, funded by RTM & Associates
Optimizing process flow for an intelligent assembly division that designs and assembles ultrasonic and laser welding machines, funded by DuKane Precast Inc.
Awards and Honors
David W. Raymond Grant for the Use of Technology in Teaching, Northern Illinois University, 2020.
Vice President of the College Industry Council for Material Handling Education (CICMHE), 2020
Wilma D. Stricklin award for exemplary leadership/service to improve campus climate for women, Northern Illinois University, 2019.
Top 10 finalist of the global award - Airbus GEDC Diversity Award for engineering education, 2018.
Faculty of the year award for excellence in undergraduate education, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Northern Illinois University, 2016.
Excellence in Innovation award, Northern Illinois University, 2015.
Professional Associations
Member - Alpha Pi Mu, Industrial Engineering Honor Society
Member - Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
Member - Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Selected Publications
Mohammadi, M., Koli, V., Gentili, M., andMuthuswamy, S. 2020, "An Optimization Framework to Determine an Optimal Local Sharing Variance for Organ Allocation,"Operations Research for Health Care, Vol. 24, 100242.
Rojas-Santiago, M.,Muthuswamy, S., Hulett, M., 2020, "An ACO Algorithm for Scheduling a Flow Shop with Setup Times"International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering,DOI:1504/IJISE.2020.10023650.
Rojas-Santiago, M.,Muthuswamy, S., Damodaran, P., and Velez-Gallego, M.C. 2017, "Scheduling Batch Processing Machines in a No-Wait Flow Shop Using ACO to Minimize the Makespan, "International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 27(3), 390 - 411.
Kanaganayagam, K.,Muthuswamy, S., and Damodaran, P. 2015, "Lean methodologies to improve assembly line efficiencies: An industrial application, "International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 20(1) 104 - 116.
Maya, J.,Muthuswamy, S., Velez-Gallego, M.C., and Santiago, M.R. 2014, "Minimizing makespan in a no-wait flow shop with two batch processing machines: A GRASP Algorithm,"International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 17(2), 152 - 169.
Santiago, M.R., Damodaran, P.,Muthuswamy, S., and Velez-Gallego, M.C. 2013, "Makespan minimization in a job shop with a BPM using simulated annealing, "International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 68(9-12), 2383-2391.
Conferences
Rojas-Santiago, M.,Muthuswamy, S., and Hulett, M., "Scheduling a HFS with Identical Machines and Setup Times," Proceedings of the 2020 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, New Orleans, LA, November 2020.
Rojas-Santiago, M.,Muthuswamy, S., Hulett, M., and Velez-Gallego, M.C., "An approach for printing the maximum possible number of images,"Proceedings of the 2017 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 2017.
Rojas-Santiago, M., Hulett, M.,Muthuswamy, S., and Damodaran. P., "Scheduling a Flow Shop with Setup Times in a Food Processing Industry."Proceedings of the 2016 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, Anaheim, California, May 2016.
Rojas-Santiago, M., Hulett, M.,Muthuswamy, S., and Niebles, F., "An Approach for Scheduling a Bi-Objective Flexible Flowshop,"Proceedings of the 2015 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, May 2015.
Rojas-Santiago, M.,Muthuswamy, S., Velez-Gallego, M.C., and Montoya-Torres, J., "Combining LR and 2-opt for scheduling a single machine subject to job ready times and sequence dependent setup times,"Proceedings of the 2014 Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, Montreal, Cananda, May 2014.