Shihab Asfour, respected department chair from 1999-2019, died on November 15, at the age of 67.
Throughout his nearly 40-year-career at the University of Miami’s College of Engineering (CoE), Asfour not only touched the lives of students as professor of industrial engineering, but he remained passionate in serving his faculty colleagues, operating as chair of the department for 20 years.
Asfour received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in production engineering from Alexandria University in Egypt and his doctorate in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas before establishing his career in academia.
In 1980, Asfour joined the University of Miami as a lecturer with the Department of Industrial Engineering – launching an impressive career in research and education.
Since then, he has published more than 280 articles in national and international journals, proceedings and has written two books. He served as director of the University of Miami Industrial Assessment Center, which has received some $5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2004, he received the Fellow Award of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the institute on a member. He was also inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society.
Asfour was named chair of the CoE’s Department of Industrial in 1999, a position he held for 20 years. As chair, Asfour made substantial improvement to the curricula offered by the department. He was responsible for restructuring the undergraduate curriculum and played a key role in developing the doctoral program.
In addition to his appointment in the Department of Industrial Engineering, he held the secondary positions of professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the CoE and the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in the Miller School of Medicine. He also served as associate dean of academics and associate dean of faculty affairs in the CoE.
Asfour, well known as a tireless innovator, pioneered the application of ergonomics and biomechanics in the electric utility industry. He developed and implemented a large scale ergonomics program for the reduction of musculoskeletal injuries at Florida Power & Light Company (FPL). This work led to a major reduction of back injuries at FPL and contributed to FPL being the first US company to win the Deming Prize for excellence in Total Quality Management.
He is survived by his wife, Hanadi, and his three children. His oldest daughter, Lila, graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s in psychology, master’s in liberal arts, master’s in industrial engineering, and her doctorate in epidemiology and public health. His younger daughter, Yasmine, graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, while his son, Saad, graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in industrial engineering.
The life and legacy of Dr. Shihab Asfour will be remembered with a memorial service at the University of Miami. Details will be communicated as soon as information is made available.
