What Do Industrial Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Industrial Engineers design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination. They also plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.

Other tasks include:

• Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities.
• Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
• Draft and design layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency using drafting tools and computer.
• Coordinate and implement quality control objectives, activities, or procedures to resolve production problems, maximize product reliability, or minimize costs.
• Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
• Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.

We asked Industrial Engineers 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 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Industrial Engineers review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities. They complete production reports, purchase orders, and material, tool, and equipment lists.

A typical day for an Industrial Engineer will also include:

• Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
• Develop manufacturing methods, labor utilization standards, and cost analysis systems to promote efficient staff and facility utilization.
• Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
• Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
• Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.

We asked some Industrial Engineers 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?	79% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	60% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	88% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	16% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	42% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Industrial Engineers also formulate sampling procedures and designs and develop forms and instructions for recording, evaluating, and reporting quality and reliability data. They may also schedule deliveries based on production forecasts, material substitutions, storage and handling facilities, and maintenance requirements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Industrial Engineers Regulate and alter workflow schedules according to established manufacturing sequences and lead times to expedite production operations. They might also Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.

In addition, they Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.

To some Industrial Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Complete production reports, purchase orders, and material, tool, and equipment lists.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Industrial Engineer, 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 starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm

http://www.asse.org/

http://www.bcsp.org/

http://www.iienet.org/