Facts about IE and EM

What do Industrial Engineers do?

Industrial engineers solve organizational problems related to productivity and quality improvement in any type of organization. An IE’s training provides the ability to analyze processes as a specialist in both engineering and business management, streamlining procedures and increasing productivity. Industrial engineers generally like to solve problems, see the big picture, make decisions, be leaders, and handle tasks efficiently. IE’s often interact with managers and function in management positions themselves. Because of this orientation, Industrial engineers are concerned with issues related to optimum performance, reliability, cost efficiency, quality control, plant design and management of human resources. IE’s use software packages in statistical analysis, ergonomic design, simulation studies, and more. Furthermore, IE’s work on the design and implementation of information systems.

The Wall Street Journal surveyed various engineers, and found that industrial engineers have the highest job satisfaction of all the engineering disciplines. Any organization that involves people, equipment, materials, and information can benefit by employing an industrial engineer. Since IE's focus on increasing productivity and improving the organization’s bottom line, they are in demand in both good and bad economic times. This field has been called “recession proof”. Industrial engineers are users of the technologies developed by other engineers. IE’s put robots and other automated equipment into the appropriate places in production and operating systems. IE’s use computers to control automated processes and to assist them with many types of decision-making.

The National Society of Professional Engineers’ Income and Salary Survey 2002 reports an average starting salary offer for IEs of $46,650. During their careers, many IE’s earn salaries approaching $100,000. This high income is not surprising, as IE’s often advance to executive positions. Opportunities for industrial engineers are available in many fields, including manufacturing, work design, human factors or ergonomics, management decision-making, quality control, facility design, information technology and engineering management.Many of our graduates earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering (BSIE) degree, which can be earned in four years.