An industrial engineering technician monitors factory, manufacturing plant, or warehouse operations to ensure that production is as efficient and safe as possible. He or she assists in determining the need for equipment upgrades, new assembly line strategies, or extra factory labor. The majority of industrial engineering technicians work as assistants to licensed engineers, inspecting and testing equipment as directed by their supervisors.
An industrial engineering technician typically spends several days reviewing equipment manuals, technical documents, and employee expectation forms when an engineering team is hired to evaluate a company’s production efficiency. He or she can then go to the factory to see if the machinery and systems are in good working order and are being operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A technician may decide to shut down a piece of equipment under the supervision of an engineer in order to inspect it more thoroughly. He or she may determine that a machine needs to be replaced or that laborers require additional training to improve their craftsmanship.
An industrial engineering technician may simply discuss his or her findings with the engineer, or he or she may organize data into a formal report for the company’s owners. A technician makes suggestions for increasing productivity. He or she may be asked to research newer technologies and provide expert opinions on which machines and systems should be installed after the findings have been reviewed.
Operating procedures aren’t the only thing that goes into making a factory run smoothly. An industrial engineering technician may also assess the efficiency of a company’s shipping and receiving operations, sales departments, and human resources divisions. Technicians who supervise such procedures work more independently than those who work in manufacturing or with equipment. A professional can create their own methods for evaluating quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
A community college or vocational school program can help someone interested in becoming an industrial engineering technician develop the necessary skills and knowledge. Technician training programs typically last six months to two years at most schools. A student learns about business administration, industrial production, quality control, and occupational health in the classroom phase of a program. A student can also get practical experience with the testing equipment and techniques that he or she will use on the job. An individual can apply for jobs at large factories, corporate headquarters, engineering consulting firms, and government agencies after earning a degree.