What Do Industrial Engineering Technologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Industrial Engineering Technologists assist industrial engineers in such activities as quality control, inventory control, or material flow methods. May conduct statistical studies or analyze production costs. They also interpret engineering drawings, sketches, or diagrams.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct time and motion studies to identify opportunities to improve worker efficiency.
• Plan the flow of work or materials to maximize efficiency.
• Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
• Modify equipment or processes to improve resource or cost efficiency.
• Analyze operational, production, economic, or other data, using statistical procedures.
• Oversee or inspect production processes.

We asked Industrial Engineering Technologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Industrial Engineering Technologists analyze operational, production, economic, or other data, using statistical procedures. They compile operational data to develop cost or time estimates, schedules, or specifications.

A typical day for an Industrial Engineering Technologist will also include:

• Interpret engineering drawings, sketches, or diagrams.
• Analyze, estimate, or report production costs.
• Plan the flow of work or materials to maximize efficiency.
• Collect and analyze data related to quality or industrial health and safety programs.
• Supervise production workers.

We asked some Industrial Engineering Technologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	25% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	97% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	19% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	36% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Industrial Engineering Technologists also prepare schedules for equipment use or routine maintenance. They may also oversee or inspect production processes.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Industrial Engineering Technologists Analyze operational, production, economic, or other data, using statistical procedures. They might also Design plant or production facility layouts.

In addition, they Conduct time and motion studies to identify opportunities to improve worker efficiency.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.

To some Industrial Engineering Technologists, it is also their responsibility to Analyze, estimate, or report production costs.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Industrial Engineering Technologist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineering-technicians.htm

http://www.iienet2.org/Default.aspx

http://www.asee.org/

http://www.abet.org/