Unit 3 Competency 1 - Describe educational and occupational opportunities in the field of industrial engineering
Suggested Objectives a and b: Discuss the field of industrial engineering and determine the educational requirements for an industrial engineer
Industrial Engineer: Career & Education Overview
Industrial engineers help to streamline the process of manufacturing productivity. In addition to earning a bachelor's degree, individuals might need to become licensed and can consider earning professional certifications.
Industrial Engineer Career Education
Industrial engineers ensure that the production aspects of an organization are operating at an optimal level. These professionals consider all aspects of the production process, including machinery, employees, raw materials and energy resources. Industrial engineers could have to work within manpower and budgetary constraints. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many industrial engineers become managers due to the nature of their work (www.bls.gov).
Career Outlook and Salary Information
The BLS indicated that employment opportunities for industrial engineers were expected to grow 6% for the decade 2010-2020. The versatility of these professionals, plus the growing emphasis on workplace production, makes them attractive to many industries. The BLS also notes that additional job openings should be created out of the need to replace current industrial engineers who become managers or leave for another industry. In May 2012, the BLS reported that industrial engineers earned a median salary of $78,860 annually.
Educational Requirements
Prospective industrial engineering students can consider programs that are accredited by ABET, Inc., formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. According to ABET, many state licensing boards require applicants to hold a degree from an approved program (www.abet.org).
A bachelor's degree usually qualifies as sufficient education for most industrial engineering jobs. The curricula include topics in safety, human factors, planning and design. In addition to engineering courses, students must complete mathematical requirements in calculus, differential equations and linear algebra. Some programs allow students to take electives toward a concentration area, such as safety, healthcare management or manufacturing.
Information retrieved from http://education-portal.com/articles/Industrial_Engineer%3A_Overview_of_Industrial_Engineering_Career_Education.html Links to an external site.on November 5, 2014.
Career Information for a Degree in General Industrial Engineering
An individual who completes an industrial engineering degree program may work in many industries. Several career options include industrial engineering, industrial production management or engineering management. Industrial production managers and engineering managers have additional prerequisites, such as business skills or engineering experience.
Career Information for an Industrial Engineering Degree
Industrial Engineer
The Institute of Industrial Engineers defines the profession as the implementation and improvement of coordinated systems, which include people, energy and equipment (www.iienet2.org). These professionals combine business and engineering principles with a variety of projects, from layouts to manufacturing processes. Prior to a project, they research the existing system to determine where improvements can be made. Industrial engineers are also typically concerned with the resulting product's quality, timeline and budget.
Career Outlook and Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for industrial engineers were expected to increase six percent from 2010-2020 (www.bls.gov). Because they are concerned with the production of goods and services, industrial engineers may find work in many industries. In May 2012, the BLS reported that the median annual salary of an industrial engineer was $78,860.
Industrial Production Manager
According to the BLS, industrial production managers coordinate the production of manufactured goods, often interacting with managers from other departments, such as sales or logistics. Besides overseeing the system itself, they supervise production workers and supporting employees. The BLS states that industrial production managers are typically concerned with improving efficiency through methods like quality control programs. Some industrial managers specialize in areas like geothermal or biofuels.
Career Outlook and Salary Information
The BLS reported that the employment of industrial production managers was expected to increase nine percent from 2010-2020, due to the increased automation of the manufacturing industry. Individuals may need to be versed in other areas to find work. In May 2012, the BLS reported that the median annual salary of an industrial production manager was $89,190.
Engineering Manager
O*Net Online defines engineering managers as the professionals who oversee and direct the activities of engineers (www.onetonline.org). In addition to traditional engineering duties, these individuals typically have budgetary and personnel responsibilities. O*Net indicates that engineering managers interact with clients regularly through consultations and proposals. Most engineering managers have prior experience as an engineer before being promoted. According to the BLS, industrial engineers often assume management positions because their work encompasses many managerial duties.
Career Outlook and Salary Information
The BLS indicates that the employment of engineering managers was expected to increase nine percent from 2010-2020, with outlooks varying by the branch of engineering. The BLS states that individuals with advanced technical knowledge and business management skills will have an advantage in landing these positions. In May 2012, the BLS reported that the median annual salary of an engineering manager was $124,870.
Information retrieved from http://education-portal.com/articles/Career_Information_for_a_Degree_in_General_Industrial_Engineering.html Links to an external site.on November 5, 2014.
The two websites above have videos that may be watched for additional information.
What IEs Do Links to an external site. from the Institute of Industrial Engineering Links to an external site. provides the following information. There are videos from top companies like Disney to student created ones for competitions. Look at the videos and the provided information by clicking the links on the page. https://www.iienet2.org/details.aspx?id=716 Links to an external site.
Industrial engineering is about choices. Other engineering disciplines apply skills to very specific areas. IE gives practitioners the opportunity to work in a variety of businesses.
Many practitioners say that an industrial engineering education offers the best of both worlds: an education in both engineering and business.
The most distinctive aspect of industrial engineering is the flexibility it offers. Whether it’s shortening a rollercoaster line, streamlining an operating room, distributing products worldwide, or manufacturing superior automobiles, these challenges share the common goal of saving companies money and increasing efficiencies.
As companies adopt management philosophies of continuous productivity and quality improvement to survive in the increasingly competitive world market, the need for industrial engineers is growing. Why? Industrial engineers are the only engineering professionals trained specifically to be productivity and quality improvement specialists.
Industrial engineers figure out how to do things better. They engineer processes and systems that improve quality and productivity. They work to eliminate waste of time, money, materials, energy and other commodities. This is why many industrial engineers end up being promoted into management positions.
Many people are misled by the term industrial engineer. It’s not just about manufacturing. It also encompasses service industries, with many IEs employed in entertainment industries, shipping and logistics businesses, and healthcare organizations.
The benefits of industrial engineering are widespread as indicated in three different slide shows.
IEs make processes better in the following ways:
- More efficient and more profitable business practices
- Better customer service and product quality
- Improved efficiency
- Increased ability to do more with less
- Making work safer, faster, easier, and more rewarding
- Helping companies produce more products quickly
- Making the world safer through better designed products
- Reducing costs associated with new technologies
Videos
- See the role industrial engineering plays at Disney Links to an external site..
- Look at how industrial engineering benefits a variety of industries
Links to an external site.
. - Watch a segment from "Today in America Links to an external site." that focuses on IIE and industrial engineering.
- Take a look at some more videos about industrial engineering from the 2013 Industry Advisory Board's YouTube student video contest:
Information above copied from https://www.iienet2.org/details.aspx?id=716 Links to an external site. on November 5, 2014.