Industrial engineering jobs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of responsibilities and objectives. Industrial engineers, whether working as a project manager, strategic planner, or process developer, strive to improve systems and methods in order to reduce costs and address safety concerns. Industrial engineers look at different aspects of a problem and come up with creative solutions. The majority of industrial engineering jobs are in the manufacturing or service industries, such as construction, aerospace, shipping, and the entertainment industry. To be successful as an industrial engineer, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of both engineering and business.
Project managers are typically industrial engineers who form and direct a team to achieve a set of goals. The project manager assigns responsibilities to each team member and sets a deadline for each task’s completion. The industrial engineer project manager monitors the progress of the team and allocates resources as needed. If difficulties arise during the implementation of a plan, the project manager will investigate to find the best solution.
Industrial engineers consider long-term consequences when planning projects and making investments as strategic planners. A strategic plan’s level of foresight is usually in the five to ten year range. Every aspect of a project or business is assessed, particularly the financial and material requirements required to keep it running. In addition, when planning new facilities and processes, the influences of competing companies and new technologies are taken into account.
Process engineering is a type of industrial engineering that focuses on a plant’s productivity and the methods used to produce a product. A process industrial engineer’s title varies, but in general, he or she establishes guidelines for a productive work environment. Incentives are offered to increase productivity replacing ineffective methods with better ones. Process industrial engineers also determine if the plant is operating at full capacity and adjust production as needed based on demand or quotas.
Industrial engineering jobs can also be found in quality control or quality assurance departments. To ensure that products meet production standards, industrial engineers working in quality control typically collaborate with design and production teams. Internal audits are conducted on a regular basis to ensure that methods and processes adhere to established guidelines.
Employees are also trained on quality control protocols and the proper use of instruments and techniques industrial engineers. Industrial engineers also deal with issues such as storage and contamination that arise when receiving materials from other companies.