Industrial
engineers determine the most effective ways to manage the basic elements of
production—workers, machines, materials, information, and energy. They continually seek ways to eliminate wastefulness and therefore save time, money, effort or all of these factors.
They are concerned primarily with increasing productivity through
the management of people, methods of business organization, and
technology.
To
maximize efficiency, industrial engineers study product requirements
carefully and then design manufacturing and information systems to meet
those requirements with the help of mathematical methods and models.
They
develop management control systems to aid in financial planning and cost
analysis, and they design production planning and control systems to
coordinate activities and ensure product quality.
They also design or improve systems for the physical distribution of
goods and services and determine the most efficient plant locations.
Industrial engineers develop wage and salary administration systems and
job evaluation programs. Many industrial engineers move into management
positions because the work is closely related to the work of managers.
The work of health and safety engineers is similar to that of
industrial engineers in that they deal with the entire production
process. Health and safety engineers promote worksite or product
safety and health by applying knowledge of industrial processes, as
well as mechanical, chemical, and psychological principles. They
must be able to anticipate, recognize, and evaluate hazardous
conditions as well as develop hazard control methods. They also must
be familiar with the application of health and safety regulations.
|
Industrial Engineering Resources |
|
|
Overview:
Overview of Industrial Engineering |
Preparation:
Admission Requirements, Alternate Degree Paths, Graduate
Programs, Accredited Programs |
Day in the Life:
Teams and Coworkers,
Tasks, the Workplace |
Earnings:
Employer Options, Salary Ranges, Types of Employers |
Employment:
Statistics, Industries, Employers |
Career Path Forecast:
Predictions, Employers |
Professional Organizations:
Resources, Networking, Support |
Internet Resources:
 Institute of Industrial
Engineers (IIE)
IIE
Student Resources |
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
