Industrial Engineers
Additional Information
Duties
The following tasks are frequently performed by industrial engineers:
- Learn about manufacturing and service processes and procedures by studying production schedules, engineering specifications, flow charts, and other relevant documents.
- Identify the most efficient means of producing or delivering goods or services.
- Financial planning and cost analysis may be made more efficient by using management control systems.
- To alleviate production issues or save costs, implement quality control measures.
- To guarantee that goods satisfy quality requirements, design control systems to coordinate operations and production planning.
Customers, vendors, management, and employees should all be included in discussions on product requirements, purchasing, and manufacturing capabilities.
From manufacturing to healthcare to business management, industrial engineers use their expertise in a variety of settings. As an illustration, they may create systems for:
- Transporting large components inside a production facility
- locating the most cost-effective locations for manufacturing and processing facilities, as well as conveying items from a firm to customers
- Inquiring into the performance of employees.
- Workers are paid.
In the manufacturing engineering field, a subset of industrial engineers focuses only on the automation of production processes. Automation, automation, automation: that's what they do when designing production systems.
As a result, industrial engineers must balance a wide range of criteria in order to get the job done quickly and efficiently. These considerations include timeliness and productivity, as well as worker safety, environmental concerns, and the ability to use current technology.
Industrial engineers are able to do a wide range of tasks for a number of enterprises, governments, and non-profit organizations because of their adaptability. An industrial engineer could, for example, work in supply chain management to assist companies save inventory costs, or in the expanding subject of project management to help companies keep their customers delighted while also controlling costs and maximizing efficiencies.
Education
High school math, science, and computer science curriculum should include algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.
Industrial engineers typically hold bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering or industrial engineering technology. Of course, many industrial engineers are also engineers.
A bachelor's degree requires both classroom and laboratory work. There are courses in statistical analysis, system design, and industrial system design. The ability to gain real-world experience while still in school is a big draw for many colleges and universities.
Several colleges and universities offer five-year industrial or mechanical engineering degrees. Graduate engineering degrees allow engineers to work as professors or in research and development at universities and institutions. Cooperative education programs can span five or six years, allowing students to earn money while gaining useful work experience.
ABET certifies industrial engineering schools.
Considered Criteria
Creativity. Industrial engineers devise new production techniques that save resources, time, and labor while reaching the same aim.
Being able to think critically. Industrial engineers discover new ways to reduce waste and inefficiency.
Solving these problems requires weighing the benefits and drawbacks of various solutions, conclusions, or methodologies.
How to listen. Customers, vendors, and manufacturing workers all help these engineers succeed. Customers and clients must be actively listened to fully comprehend their concerns and suggestions.
Mathematical prowess Industrial engineers use higher mathematical ideas like calculus and trigonometry in their work.
Solving skills These engineers frequently deal with multiple issues at once, ranging from worker safety to quality assurance.
A good knowledge of English. Industrial engineers must occasionally contact with production people or technicians before writing instructions. Clarity and speed are vital to minimize costly errors and wasted time.
Writing ability. Industrial engineers must document their work for the benefit of other engineers or scientists.
To ensure that the intended audience understands the material, the documentation must be unified and clear.
Licenses and certifications.
Industrial engineers do not need to be licensed to work. Later in one's career, professional engineering (PE) qualification allows for more leadership and independence. There are two types of licensed engineers:
certified and non-certified (PEs). A PE can supervise engineers, approve projects, and provide direct public services. Most states require:
- ABET-certified engineering degree.
- Achieving a 70% pass rate in engineering fundamentals.
- A minimum of four years comparable experience.
- Passing the qualifying test to become a Professional Engineer (PE).
The first FE test can be taken following a bachelor's degree. An "EIT" or "engineer intern" who passes this test (EIs). After gaining work experience, EITs and EIs can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering test.
Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize other states' licensure standards if they meet or exceed their own. Several states require engineers to complete continuing education to keep their licenses current.
SME accreditation requires eight years of manufacturing education and four years of field experience.
Pay
The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $101,140 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $70,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $157,140.
Job Projections
Employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.