Industrial engineering is a great career path that many entry-level candidates may consider. In 2023, the average median pay as an industrial engineer was reported at $99,380, making this a very lucrative career option.
Explore what a career in industrial engineering entails, common types of industrial engineering, and why you may want to consider this discipline.
What Is an Industrial Engineer?
Industrial engineering is a type of engineering discipline that focuses on improving the productivity and efficiency of processes, organizations, and systems. These types of engineers use their knowledge of management science, engineering principles, and human factors to diagnose and solve problems that arise in various industries.
Industrial engineers often work in transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, and other sectors. They will analyze existing systems and develop optimization strategies. This may include:
- Designing new production layouts
- Implementing quality control measures
- Developing efficient supply chain management systems
- Streamlining operations
- Reducing costs
- Ensuring products and services meet high-quality standards
Overall, industrial engineers play an important role in improving the overall efficiency of a business.
What Do Industrial Engineers Do?
Here are a few key tasks candidates should expect when considering a job in industrial engineering:
- Process Analysis and Improvement: Industrial engineers study existing processes to diagnose any bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Then, they can develop different strategies to optimize these processes. This may include redesigning layouts, streamlining workflows, or introducing new technologies.
- Human-Centric Technology: Industrial engineers consider different aspects of human-machine interactions, ultimately designing systems that are efficient, safe, and user-friendly. This includes workplace design, ergonomics, and human-computer interaction.
- Quality Control: These engineers must develop quality control strategies and implement them accordingly. This ensures that products and services meet high standards and are safe for consumption.
- Data Analysis: Industrial engineers will use statistical methods to analyze data and identify quality issues or other process problems.
Common Types of Industrial Engineers
Industrial engineering is a diverse field with various specializations. While there are soft and hard skills across all specializations that industrial engineers should possess, there is other industry knowledge needed for each role.
1. Manufacturing
These industrial engineers focus solely on improving the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing processes. Industrial engineers in this position will design and optimize production systems, implement important manufacturing principles, and develop quality control measures.
2. Healthcare
In this specialization, industrial engineers work to improve the delivery of healthcare services. Optimizing patient flow, streamlining administrative processes, and improving medical equipment efficiency are some of the tasks industrial engineers take on in the healthcare field.
3. Transportation
Transportation industrial engineers focus on improving the safety of transportation systems. They will design and analyze transportation networks to develop better traffic management strategies and optimize logistics operations.
4. Environmental
Environmental industrial engineers work to protect the environment by improving sustainability practices. They do so by applying engineering principles to environmental issues. This would include implementing control systems for pollution, optimizing resource use, and developing manufacturing processes that are both sustainable and efficient.
5. Ergonomics
Industrial engineers working in this field specialize in designing work environments that are not only efficient for workers, but also safe. They consider multiple factors when designing these environments, including physical ergonomics and human-machine interaction.
6. Quality Control
Quality management and control is an important field in industrial engineering. If processes aren’t optimized or performed correctly in this field, the general population can be affected. Industrial engineers ensure that products and services always meeting high quality standards by developing quality control systems. They also continuously analyze data to identify quality issues, working to drive continuous improvement.
7. Supply Chain
Materials and information through the supply chain must be optimized to improve efficiency and lower costs. Industrial engineers play a key role in this by coordinating procurement, production, and distribution activities, as well as inventory management.
8. Project Management
Industrial engineers will often oversee projects. This would encompass the entire project lifecycle, including planning, scheduling, execution, and evaluation. They use organizational and problem-solving skills to ensure each project is completed within budget, on time, and adheres to quality standards.
What Skills Do Industrial Engineers Need?
Like other engineering disciplines, industrial engineers must display a certain level of hard and soft skills to be successful in this career field. These would include:
- Advanced mathematics and physics
- Computer systems and programming
- Database management
- Critical thinking
- Analytical reasoning
- Communication
- Creative problem-solving
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Cost-benefit analysis
How to Get a Job as an Industrial Engineer
To secure a job as an industrial engineer, you’ll need a solid foundation in both technical skills and soft skills. Industrial engineering requires at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Some may also pursue graduate studies, as this can enhance your resume and give you more career prospects.
Many companies like to see that industrial engineers have a certain level of experience. This can be achieved through internships, where you can gain practical experience during your undergraduate or graduate studies. Not only does this build your resume, but it also helps you network with other engineering professionals and develop valuable skills.
You may even consider additional certifications to improve your chances of landing an engineering job after graduation. While these certifications are not always necessary, they help demonstrate your ability to be successful in an industrial engineering career.
Are you ready to start your career as an industrial engineer? At Austin Nichols Technical Search, we recruit engineering candidates across all industries and career levels. Contact us today to get started.
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