How to Be Industrial Engineer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Sep 3, 2023 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

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Industrial engineering is a profession that combines engineering principles, business concepts, and people skills to optimize productivity in the workplace. The effects of this type of engineering are far-reaching and can have a positive impact on multiple aspects of a business, from employee morale to worker safety to the bottom line. For example, by properly analyzing production processes for efficiency and finding ways to automate or streamline them, industrial engineers can significantly reduce costs and increase profits.

by helping to create ergonomic workspaces, they can reduce the risk of workplace injuries, resulting in improved morale and decreased absenteeism. Finally, through the use of data analysis and predictive modeling, industrial engineers can help to identify and mitigate potential problems before they arise, resulting in fewer operational disruptions and increased customer satisfaction.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. An industrial engineering degree is the minimum educational requirement to become an industrial engineer. Most industrial engineers earn a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field such as mechanical engineering. Coursework typically includes mathematics, engineering, economics and statistics.
Obtain an Internship. Internships provide invaluable experience to help aspiring industrial engineers gain an understanding of the field. Internships also provide contacts that may lead to employment upon graduation.
Pass a Licensure Exam. All states require industrial engineers to pass a licensure exam, typically the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The FE exam is offered five times each year and covers a wide range of topics from mathematics to engineering principles.
Obtain a Master's Degree. An advanced degree may be required for some positions. A master's degree in industrial engineering or a related field may be beneficial for obtaining higher-level positions.
Get Certified. The Institute of Industrial Engineers offers a professional certification program for industrial engineers. To become certified, the engineer must have at least four years of professional experience and must pass an exam.

Industrial engineering is a field of engineering that focuses on the optimization of complex processes, systems, or organizations by developing, improving, and implementing integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis, and synthesis. Industrial engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and managing the workflow and production of goods and services. The main goal of industrial engineering is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all processes related to the production of goods and services.

In order to meet this goal, industrial engineers develop strategies to reduce costs and improve quality while ensuring that safety standards are met. They also use mathematical models and analytics to analyze and understand how the different components of a system interact with each other. By doing so, they can identify areas that need improvement and create solutions that maximize efficiency and minimize waste.

You may want to check Mechanical Engineers, Reliability Engineer, and Industrial Engineers for alternative.

Job Description

Design industrial processes and equipment layouts
Develop methodologies to increase productivity and reduce costs
Analyze and improve existing production processes
Implement process and quality control systems
Design and implement machine automation systems
Analyze and solve production problems
Develop safety procedures for industrial environments
Develop and analyze cost and time estimates for projects
Perform data collection and analysis
Monitor production performance and identify areas for improvement

Skills and Competencies to Have

Analytical and problem-solving skills
Project management
Technical expertise
Knowledge of engineering principles and processes
Resource management
Budgeting and cost analysis
Manufacturing process optimization
Quality assurance
Risk management
Safety regulations and compliance
Leadership and communication
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Data analysis
Time management
Automation and robotics

Industrial engineering is a complex field that requires a wide variety of skills. One of the most important skills for an industrial engineer to have is problem solving. An industrial engineer must be able to identify problems, analyze them, and come up with creative solutions.

They must also have the ability to work with people from different backgrounds and have strong communication skills. Understanding the fundamentals of engineering and being able to apply these principles to the workplace is key. industrial engineers must be able to think logically and use mathematics to solve problems.

As technology advances, industrial engineers must also stay abreast of new developments in order to use them efficiently in the workplace. Lastly, industrial engineers must be able to work independently and manage their time effectively in order to meet deadlines. Having these skills can make an industrial engineer successful in their field.

Aerospace Engineers, Civil Engineer, and Electrical Engineer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How have you used industrial engineering principles to improve the efficiency of a process?
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision on how to improve the efficiency of a process.
What challenges have you faced in the past when it comes to implementing industrial engineering solutions?
How do you ensure that industrial engineering solutions are cost-effective and meet customer requirements?
Describe a project you have worked on which demonstrates your knowledge of industrial engineering concepts.
What methods do you use to identify areas for improvement within a production process?
How have you gone about developing an industrial engineering solution for a complex problem?
How do you decide which industrial engineering principles should be used to solve a specific problem?
What is your experience with using statistical analysis to identify trends and develop solutions?
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest industrial engineering technologies and tools?

Common Tools in Industry

Lean Manufacturing Tools. These tools help to reduce waste and increase efficiency in manufacturing processes. (eg: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping)
Predictive Analytics Tools. These tools help to analyze data to make predictions. (eg: R, SAS, SPSS)
CAD Software. This software helps to create detailed drawings and models of industrial designs. (eg: AutoCAD, SolidWorks)
Simulation Software. This software helps simulate industrial processes in a virtual environment. (eg: AnyLogic, Arena)
Quality Control Tools. These tools help ensure that products meet quality standards. (eg: Six Sigma, Control Charts)
Project Management Software. This software helps manage projects and resources. (eg: Microsoft Project, Wrike)

Professional Organizations to Know

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
International Academy of Production Engineers (CIRP)
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
American Association of Industrial Engineers (AAIE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

We also have Computer Hardware Engineers, Acoustical Engineer, and Data Engineer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Lean Manufacturing. A production process that focuses on reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Six Sigma. A set of techniques and tools for process improvement that focuses on reducing defects and increasing customer satisfaction.
Kaizen. A Japanese term meaning "improvement" or "change for the better. " It involves continuously making small changes to processes, products, and services to improve quality and efficiency.
Process Mapping. A tool used to document and analyze a process or sequence of activities in order to identify areas for improvement.
Value Stream Mapping. A tool used to map the flow of materials, information, and resources through a system in order to identify areas for improvement.
Root Cause Analysis. A problem solving approach used to identify the underlying cause of a problem in order to prevent it from recurring.
Ergonomics. The study of how people interact with their environment in order to optimize performance, safety, and comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Industrial Engineering?

Industrial Engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on optimizing complex processes and systems in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and other large-scale operations. It seeks to reduce waste and improve productivity, efficiency, and quality.

What is the job outlook for Industrial Engineers?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Industrial Engineers is projected to grow 6% from 2019 to 2029. This growth is faster than the average for all occupations.

What type of skills do Industrial Engineers need?

Industrial Engineers need a wide range of skills including problem solving, critical thinking, communication, project management, and technical expertise. They must also have a strong understanding of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering principles.

What type of jobs can Industrial Engineers do?

Industrial Engineers can work in many different industries and positions, including production management, process improvement, cost analysis, supply chain management, and quality control. They can also work in research and development or technical sales.

What is the average salary for an Industrial Engineer?

The median annual wage for Industrial Engineers was $87,040 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $57,870 and the highest 10% earned more than $130,920.

Web Resources

What is Industrial Engineering? - School of Industrial Engineering ... engineering.purdue.edu
What Do Industrial Engineers Do? | College of Engineering engineering.oregonstate.edu
What is Industrial Engineering? | NC State ISE www.ise.ncsu.edu