Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering that is concerned with the optimization of complicated systems and processes. It deals with the planning, development, improvement, implementation and monitoring of various integrated production and manufacturing systems.
Industrial Engineering Programs
To go into the field of industrial engineering, you need to have certain educational qualifications. Different degree levels will lead you to different career paths.
Industrial Engineering Certification
Even though it is not a compulsion to be certified in the field of industrial engineering, it is considered an added benefit. You can choose from several programs offered by the Institute of Industrial Engineers including engineering management, enterprise risk management, industrial engineering professional skills and lean supply chain management. All certificate programs consist of professional seminars, and may include an examination.
Associate Degree in Industrial Engineering
This degree will provide a basic level understanding of the concepts relating to industrial engineering in the manufacturing sector. Students might have the option of designing their program with courses they wish to pursue. These could include specialized courses in industrial, environmental or safety engineering with a basic understanding of ergonomics, lean and process management. Here is a list of potential industrial engineering courses that you might have to study:
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Precision Measuring
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Industrial Leadership
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Lean
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Economics
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Ergonomics
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Equipment Justification
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Work Measurement
Keep in mind though that this is not an exhaustive list.
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
With a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, you would have the option of selecting your area of specialization. It could be anything on the lines of systems engineering, manufacturing systems, supply chain logistics, general business management and economics and finance. Students are taught how to design computer software, work with clients and manage projects. In some programs, you might be required to conclude your studies with a capstone project.
To get admitted into a bachelor program in industrial engineering, you need a high school diploma or a GED. A strong background in math and science is an added benefit.
As far as the curriculum is concerned, industrial engineering courses might include some of the following:
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Probability Assessment
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Randomization
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Mathematical Modeling
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Inventory Management
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Optimization
The courses would be relatively basic in nature, since this is the undergraduate level of studies. If you wish to pursue more advance topics in this field, you should look into industrial engineering graduate programs.
Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering
A master’s degree in industrial engineering will expose you to advance training options in areas including quality, efficiency, productivity and efficiency. This program will cover topics in engineering management, manufacturing processes, human factors, operations research and enterprise computing.
To be eligible for admission into a master’s program, you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering or its equivalent from an accredited college or technical school. In addition to that, GRE scores may also need to be submitted. And for international students, TOEFL may be a mandatory requirement as well.
Course structure for a master’s program would revolve around:
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Design and Analysis of Allocation Mechanisms
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Network Analysis
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Production Scheduling
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Simulation Modeling and Analysis
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Wind Energy Manufacturing
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Geometric Variability in Manufacturing
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Occupational Biomechanics
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Human Factors in Production Design
PhD in Industrial Engineering
If you wish to go for a program that allows you to explore research possibilities in the field of industrial engineering, a PhD in industrial engineering might be the degree for you. This program will include rigorous studies revolving around statistics, systems design and more. The program structure will involve preliminary, comprehensive and oral examinations, along with a dissertation proposal. The program would end with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.
For the admission purposes, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a relevant field, letters of recommendation, a minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a cumulative verbal and quantitative score of 1200 on your GRE.
The coursework might include the following courses:
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Integrated Systems
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Variance Analysis
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Product Flow
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Factorial Design
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Industrial Engineering Management
Industrial Engineering Degree Online
Even though an online industrial engineering degree is rare, there are some universities that offer programs via virtual channels. Students have the ability to interact with instructors online, go through online notes and lectures, submit their assignments online and participate in online discussion boards.
The ideal degree in this field would be the one that combines industrial engineering online courses with on-campus learning; a hybrid program. There are some aspects of this degree that cannot be covered via the internet. Practical knowledge is just as important as theoretical knowledge. Therefore, a program that combines the online courses with a few on-campus visits for labs and practical assignments is the perfect option for most students looking for a feasible and convenient way of education.
Industrial Engineer Career Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2012 median pay for industrial engineers was $78,860. The employment of these professionals is expected to grow 5% from 2012 to 2022.
As for the importance of industrial engineers’ work, they find ways to decrease wastefulness in the production processes by devising efficient methods to utilize human resource, materials, information and energy to create a product.
Their work environment depends on the sort of tasks that are assigned to them. They could either work in offices or on location. For example, they may be required to report to the site itself and watch workers assemble parts in a factory, or supervise staff carrying out their tasks in a hospital. On the other hand, when solving problems, coming up with developmental plans, and making arrangements to deal with problems, they may work in an office, analyzing data that they or others have collected.