Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with the design and development, testing and improvement, evaluation and implementation of the integrated systems of people, industrial production including human work factors, quality control, and for managing money, inventory control, knowledge, information, equipment, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, energy, and production coordination.
The engineers, that works within this discipline determines efficient ways to use the basic factors of production and people, machines, materials, information, and energy to produce a product or to provide a service.
These engineers uses the principles and methods of engineering analysis and synthesis, they draw on the basic fundamentals of mathematics, physical and social sciences and apply them to the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results obtained from these studies. In manufacturing, the these engineers, works to eliminate the wasting of time, money, materials, energy, and other resources.
Manufacturers, and their industrial partners are concerned with increasing productivity, to maximize their productivity and efficiency, the engineering staff, is called upon to study the products requirements, and then design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements.
As a part of this reorganization process they attain higher levels of productivity through the management of people, new methods of business, technology shifts, all the while they develop management control systems that aid in the financial planning and cost analysis, ultimately they design production and control systems to coordinate all activities and ensure a quality product.
Other projects that the industrial engineer, works on is to develop wage, salary and job evaluation programs; they also design or improve systems for the distribution of goods and services, and often they are called on to assess the most efficient locations for the new plants.
The term “industrial” in industrial engineering is misleading. Originally it applied to manufacturers, it now encompasses virtually all industries and services as well. The various fields and business segments that the industrial engineer now deals with; includes: management science, financial engineering, engineering management, supply chain management, process engineering, operations research, systems engineering, ergonomics, value engineering and quality engineering; too mention a few.
Listed here are a few design projects where these engineers would execute their skills; for instances; designing new loan systems for the banking industry, streamlining operation and emergency rooms in hospitals, developing new distribution systems for products worldwide (referred to as Supply Chain Management), and shortening lines at banks, hospitals, or theme parks.
They use computer simulation, especially event simulation, for the system analysis and methods of evaluation . Here is a list of quite a few more projects that improve working conditions and save the employers money.
Convert airplane production lines into lean manufacturing firms; Perform motion and time studies at various industries and companies; Redesign admissions procedure at hospitals; Develop prototypes and make the prototypes more cost efficient; Design warehouses utilizing computer simulation; Develop hardware and integrated software protection programs for the aerospace industry; Create quality assurance program for full service restaurant chains, fast food chains and convenience store chains; Create ergonomic intervention programs for workplace safety; Customize and make customer service departments more efficient industry wide; Work on design projects through out the medical devices industry; and teach industrial engineering courses at colleges and universities across the country.
A must for anyone employed in the industrial engineering industry are the following:
A complete knowledge of, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. A working
knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance; Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. A through understanding of the raw materials used in the production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense, to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions, to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences, to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand, to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Use computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. Keeping up-to-date technically and applying the knowledge and procedures to your job.
For more information on Industrial Engineering, contact Institute of Industrial Engineers, 3577 Parkway Lane, Suite 200, Norcross, GA 30092.
Speaking of career advancement; many industrial engineers move into middle and upper management positions because their work is so closely related to the work of managers.
Along those lines these engineers are also known as operations management, management science, systems engineering, or manufacturing engineering, in healthcare, for example, they are more commonly known as management engineers or health systems engineers; and finally a few more job titles that the engineers who make up the industrial discipline are known as: Process Engineer, Operations Engineer, Manufacturing Specialist, Tool Engineer, and Production Engineer.
Industrial engineering is expected to have employment growth of 12% to 14% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations. As companies strive to reduce costs and raise productivity, they will turn to the industrial engineer, to develop those efficient processes and reduce costs. This internal corporate focus will lead to job growth for these engineers
Hi Ho; Hi Ho; its off to work I go. Creating bucketfuls of efficiencies over here, higher productivity widgets over there; all the while creating a safer, friendlier and more profitable business. What am I? You guessed it; I am the, industrial engineer.
