Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Industrial Engineering?
- What do Industrial Engineers (IEs) do?
- Where do IEs work?
- What skills do I need to become an IE?
What is Industrial Engineering?
According to The
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), "Industrial Engineering
is concerned with the design, installation, and improvement of integrated
systems of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy by drawing
upon specialized knowledge and skills in the mathematical, physical, and
social sciences, together with the principles and methods of engineering
analysis and design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be
obtained from such systems."
What do IEs do?
IEs look beyond the technical aspects of processes and systems by designing a safer workplace
and by saving money. They are concerned with quality and productivity
improvements. An IE can be a manufacturing engineer, a management engineer,
an ergonomist, an operations analyst, and a quality engineer among others.
Where do IEs work?
IEs work in virtually everywhere; from the traditional areas like manufacturing,
and service industries to areas like sales and marketing, finance, information
systems, and personnel. IEs can also be found in hospitals, airlines,
banks, railroads, and social services. In short, the working opportunities
are almost unlimited.
What Skills do I need to become an IE?
The skills and qualities needed to become an IE include (not necessarily
in that order):
- Good math skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Integrity
- Creative problem solving
- Quantitative skills
- Inquisitiveness
- Ethics
- Passion for improvement
- Technical competency