It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information technology, equipment, energy and materials. It uses mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems or processes. Its underlying concepts overlap considerably with certain business-oriented disciplines such as operations management, but the engineering side tends to emphasize extensive mathematical proficiency and usage of quantitative methods.