Issue link: https://industrialmanagement.epubxp.com/i/249982
across the globe SEMS International: Connect, interface and integrate IIE is a well-established "brand" in North America, but the institute also has a role to play in developing an international industrial engineering community through products, services, networking and its most valuable "intellectual capital." It's particularly important for SEMS to have a strategy for internationalization, and the International Committee is responsible for proposing and implementing SEMS' strategic plans and policies in this arena. It is not a question of competing against other academic and professional societies but, in fact, of creating connections and interfaces among them. Such a network could reach any industrial engineer around the world. Every association asks, "What value could be created for members?" This is central to SEMS' strategy. Knowledge management frameworks and processes could be an inspiration to organize all initiatives that are being sponsored by SEMS. Knowledge management has a locus that could be physically defined by SEMS meetings; virtually defined by webinars, virtual conferences and meetings; or cognitively defined in the vision of our members. Every SEMS member should be seen as an actor interacting in processes for creating knowledge by mobilizing data, information or any kind of content. The SEMS International Committee is constructing a vision for growing internationally. It was proposed to organize our discussion along three main aspects to help members access SEMS services: to connect, to interface and to integrate. To connect people involves an effort in mapping industrial engineering and SEMS-related societies that represent IE professionals in academia and industry worldwide. It is a task for identifying and reaching IE professionals in an international community. Connection also involves communication for spreading SEMS' mission, services, technical and scientific content, conference and expo calls for papers, and the like. But what is the right mechanism for creating this interface and providing international members access to the most effective services portfolio? Service and communication channels could be a starting point for designing interfaces. Services frequently define interactive experiences for customers who could play a resource role in the process of service delivery. Integration from members having an active role in providing and consuming services from IIE and SEMS can lead to a more rich experience for members in creating knowledge. The SEMS International Committee would like to invite you to join us in this vision that will help SEMS to fulfill its mission internationally. In Montreal, we will have an open meeting to all industrial engineering professionals attending the 2014 IIE Annual Conference and Expo. Join us and share your vision. —EdsonPinheirodeLimaisIIESEMSInternationalCommitteeco-chairand aprofessorofoperationsandtechnologymanagementatPontifíciaUniversidade CatólicadoParaná. january/february 2014 9