Engineers are problem solvers. They isolate and analyze issues and then think of practical solutions to resolve them. Their expertise and skills meet the needs of society and consumers in several different ways.
Industrial engineering, meanwhile, is a branch of engineering that focuses on the production line of a product. Let’s take a closer look at what an industrial engineer does and what courses, training, and other resources you can use to progress in this important field.
What Is Industrial Engineering?
Industrial engineering is the process of planning, optimizing, and implementing complex systems. Practitioners increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality in a wide range of areas.
To improve efficiency, industrial engineers might use mathematical models to study product requirements, then design and manufacture systems based on those requirements. To ensure quality, they might streamline a process or make use of financial planning and cost analysis.
What Is Industrial Engineering Used For?
Industrial engineering is used in a wide variety of areas including healthcare, shipping, robotics, and automobile manufacturing.
An industrial engineer’s goal is to devise systems that eliminate waste in the production process. Some of the areas that industrial engineers can improve include:
- Inventory keeping. Engineers keep track of existing items and make sure excess items are not added.
- Automation. Another application of this field is in automation. Automation brings efficiency to the production process, increases labor productivity, and reduces time spent on a task.
- Location. Choosing the right location to sell your products is very important. Location matters when engaging with customers and can help increase sales. Industrial engineers will work to find the best location for production.
- Tracking system. Finally, they may develop supply chain management systems to keep track of inventory, shipments, waste, and supply chains.
Types of Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineers take on a variety of roles. For example, you may work as a project manager or a quality control engineer. The choice is yours.
Quality Control Engineer
As the name suggests, quality control engineers collaborate with teams in production, manufacturing, and design to ensure products are up to standard.
The quality control engineer will make sure that the quality matches the company’s guidelines and does not violate any regional or national laws.
Management Engineer
Management engineers are responsible for a team. They must ensure the efficiency of systems, materials, equipment, and procedures. Management engineers may also be in charge of inventory management, quality control, finance and budgeting, and employee development.
Operations Analyst
Operations analysts are responsible for integrating people and machinery effectively. They collaborate with operational teams to design efficient systems. These systems are designed to integrate information, equipment, and technology processes.
Operations analysts may also work with a finance team to make operational decisions and create plans to determine financial impacts or to anticipate needs.
Ergonomist
An ergonomist will ensure that the tools and systems at a facility are used properly to prevent injury. An industrial engineer who is an ergonomist will design or redesign equipment that a company uses based on ergonomic engineering standards.
The goal of an ergonomist is to reduce stress-related injuries. They ensure employee health and safety by correctly designing machinery, tools, and other workplace equipment.
Ergonomy uses scientific systems including biomechanics to design equipment that optimizes an employee’s well-being.
Learning Industrial Engineering
One great way to learn industrial engineering is by enrolling in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
Your career path in this type of engineering will expose you to a variety of different fields. You may choose something nontechnical, like ergonomics, or a more technical position like a quality engineer.
Whatever field you choose, you will learn about new technology every day. Studying industrial engineering is appealing because you can customize your approach based on the path that interests you.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Industrial Engineering?
A bachelor’s in industrial engineering will take you about four years to complete. However, you can enroll in an associate degree program instead, which can be completed in just two years.
How to Learn Industrial Engineering: Step-by-Step
Follow along with our step-by-step guide for learning industrial engineering. After some research, you’ll know whether this interesting career is the right fit for you.
- Enroll in a bachelor’s degree program. Earning a bachelor’s degree is an important first step in starting your career in this field. You will learn the basics of math, physics, and chemistry. Then, you’ll gradually focus on things like engineering principles, inventory control, quality control, and design techniques.
- Take courses. If you do not want to enroll in a four-year degree, there are many options you can choose from. Universities usually offer short certificate courses in various fields. You can also find relevant courses on sites such as Edx, Coursera, and Udacity.
- Earn relevant licenses. Getting licensed as an industrial engineer is good but not required. You can opt for a Professional Engineer (PE) license. It is granted by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. You need to fulfill certain educational requirements before you are allowed to take the PE exam.
- Apply for a job. Utilize online job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, and Jobvite to find jobs in related fields. You can also use networking events to find prospective employers.
- Apply your knowledge and skills. Once you are finally in the field, apply everything you have learned. Good luck!
The Best Industrial Engineering Courses and Training
Industrial engineering courses and training are available across many platforms. Courses and training are a great way to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Many universities and platforms offer online courses that you can enroll in year-round.
There are many self-paced programs as well that you can take according to your schedule. Following are some of the best courses in industrial engineering.
Best Online Industrial Engineering Classes
Online classes are great for learning and furthering your education in a certain field. Here are some online industrial engineering courses that you can enroll in today.
Industry 4.0: How to Revolutionize Your Business
- Where: Edx
- Length: 6 weeks
- Prerequisites: none
- Price: Free
This course is designed to teach students about industrial revolutions and to understand the future of work. What are smart factories and how can you use predictive analytics and big data for automation? This class has the answers.
The course will also teach you how organizations can prepare for Industry 4.0 and how to reduce challenges in cybersecurity.
A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations
- Where: Edx
- Length: 6 weeks
- Prerequisites: none
- Price: Free
In this course, you will learn about engineering analysis and simulations. You’ll immerse yourself in mathematical models, learn practical tools, and have a hands-on learning experience.
Introduction to Systems Engineering
- Where: Coursera
- Length: 22 hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This course will teach you about utilizing structured approaches for the development of complicated systems. You will learn about design development, system life cycle, and production management.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Best Free Industrial Engineering Classes
There are many free industrial engineering classes available online that you can use to further your knowledge in the field.
Engineering Project Management Specialization
- Where: Coursera
- Length: 4 months
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This course is offered on Coursera through Rice University and intended for industrial engineers who want to learn about project management.
The goal of this course is to provide you with the tools to successfully manage projects. It’s meant to give you a competitive edge when applying for leadership positions.
The course is ideal for entry-level engineers as well as those who want to enter management.
You can even specialize in one of the three courses below:
- Engineering Project Management: Initiating and Planning
- Engineering Project Management: Scope, Time, and Cost Management
- Engineering Project Management: Risk, Quality, Teams, and Procurement
Supply Chain Management Specialization
- Where: Coursera
- Length: 6 months
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This online course provided by Coursera will give you a better understanding of the global network economy.
Industrial engineers are well versed in supply chain management. You will learn how to start a career in supply chain management and learn its challenges. The course will cover transportation, warehousing and inventory, and logistics network design.
Operations Management: Analysis and Improvement Methods
- Where: Coursera
- Length: Flexible
- Prerequisites: none
- Price: Free
This is available on Coursera from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students will learn the role of operations management, the principles of operations management frameworks and techniques, and how to make strategic operations decisions.
Best Industrial Engineering Books
Reading is one of the best ways to increase your knowledge of a subject. Books can provide in-depth information and real-life examples in your field. Here are some of the best industrial engineering books to add to your shelves.
Maynard’s Industrial Engineering Handbook, Kjell B. Zandin
This book, by the senior vice president of H.B. Maynard & Company, covers topics like agile production, supply chain management, demand flow technology, and the Kaizen approach to method engineering.
The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook, Michael George
This book provides step-by-step instructions for industrial engineers. It is a handy reference guide that provides 70 of the most important tools in Lean Six Sigma. Some of these include pull, heijunka, and control charts.
Handbook of Industrial Engineering, Gavriel Salvendy
This book covers state-of-the-art approaches for increasing productivity and quality as well as lowering operating costs. Some other topics include planning and designing, control of operations, and quantitative methods for decision making.
Industrial Engineering Certifications
Some industrial engineer positions require that you have a certification. Here are some examples of certificate options employers might be looking for.
- Six Sigma Greenbelt certification. This proves you know the Six Sigma methodologies.
- SAP certification. This is for professionals looking to work in SAP environments and keep their skills up-to-date.
- APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional Certification (CSCP). This award demonstrates you have knowledge of supply chain and technology concepts.
- Certifications from ASQ American Society of Quality. This certificate demonstrates you have proficiency in your field.
- FE – Industrial Engineering from NCESS. This test can be done in any of the seven fields of engineering and ensures only qualified engineers are hired at workplaces.
Online Industrial Engineering Resources
To learn more about industrial engineering, here are some resources you can use to further your knowledge.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
INFORMS provides information on best practices in operations research, management science, and analytics.
Institute of Industrial Engineers
This institute provides training for industrial engineering in management, manufacturing, logistics, health systems, and ergonomics.
Society of Logistic Engineers (SOLE)
SOLE provides tools to enhance knowledge in the fields of logistics technology, education, and management.
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Use this website to improve your knowledge and practice of engineering through contributions to society.
American Production and Inventory Control Society
This group provides supply chain certification programs for businesses and individuals.
Should You Study Industrial Engineering?
There are many reasons you may choose to study industrial engineering. If you are interested in entering a dynamic field where technology is evolving and innovations are common, then this path might be right for you. It is a flexible field where you will have many opportunities to explore diverse roles, including as a team manager.
The median salary for an industrial engineer in 2019 was $88,020, although entry-level industrial engineering jobs may pay a little less.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for industrial engineers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2019 to 2029. This is a very fast rate when compared with other occupations. This growth is due to the continued demand of companies seeking ways to make their products more cost-effective and efficient.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
