Industrial Engineering Explained

Although Industrial Engineering may not be the most well-known area of engineering, this field continues to grow and prosper no thanks growing developments in technology. But many people don’t have a clear understanding of what industrial engineering entails. Have you ever wondered how the extensive check-in lines at the airport are arranged? Or who designed a hospital’s emergency room layout? Most likely these were done by an Industrial Engineer. Industrial Engineers study, design, and implement systems to increase efficiency and productivity. For those who decide to dabble in this particular field of engineering, one needs to be able to use unique problem solving skills, creativity, and study processes to improve a system. Many Industrial Engineers excel quickly in the chain of command due to their knowledge of processes and skill sets. An Industrial Engineer can often serve as the mediating project manager between the various engineering field such as civil, mechanical, and chemical.

Typical work for an Industrial Engineer is different than most other types of technical positions. Industrial Engineering focusses more on the interaction between man and machine as opposed to a Mechanical Engineer who primarily focusses on the design and functionality of the machine itself. Some may say it is “engineering people”. In order to improve the man to machine interaction, many Industrial Engineers conduct time studies. With the acquired information, comparisons are made against the industry or company standards. An Industrial Engineer then designs a unique method for the company to try to reduce waste time and material. In the case of a hospital emergency room, the engineer may study how long it takes a patient to be processed through the system from the time of arrival to departure. Another aspect an Industrial Engineer in the healthcare area may do is design an exclusive and appropriate facility layout for the emergency room to best facilitate speed and quality care.

As a student majoring in Industrial Engineering and Management, I am continually learning and exploring all there is to offer in this large field. Although there may be many different concepts to master, a few key ideas and practices tend to stand out. Efficiency is essential to an Industrial Engineer. In the end, the primary goal is to achieve the most efficient system possible using the resources available to the company. With the rapid developments in new technology, Industrial Engineers make it a point to continually revamp systems with the new technology to maintain an efficient work environment.   Another essential element to Industrial Engineering is quality. While efficiency is key, quality must be maintained in any type of system. An engineer may achieve a highly efficient system, however it means nothing if the quality of the product of service is not increased or ats least maintained.

Industrial Engineering is a great field to become involved with because there can always be improvements to any system. The world will continually need Industrial Engineers to asses and implement systems, because no system can ever be absolutely perfect. The great advancements in technology simply do not allow for a system to become completely pristine. Not only do these engineers work in factories to increase product flow, but they work within the community in places such as hospitals, airports, and theme parks to enhance the experience of the everyday patient, traveler, or vacationer.

For those who are interested in learning more about the field, the following link to the Institue of Industrial Engineers website is a great way to discover different aspects of the field and news. http://www.iienet2.org/. Also, to read more about the general job description of an Indutrial Engineer check out http://careerthoughts.com/industrial-engineer-jobs.