Industrial Engineers Occupation Details

Industrial Engineers Job Description
Education	Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience	A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Example	Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Tasks and Work Activities of Industrial Engineers

Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
Develop manufacturing methods, labor utilization standards, and cost analysis systems to promote efficient staff and facility utilization.
Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
Apply statistical methods and perform mathematical calculations to determine manufacturing processes, staff requirements, and production standards.
Draft and design layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency using drafting tools and computer.
Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities.
Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
Formulate sampling procedures and designs and develop forms and instructions for recording, evaluating, and reporting quality and reliability data.
Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems.
Study operations sequence, material flow, functional statements, organization charts, and project information to determine worker functions and responsibilities.
Direct workers engaged in product measurement, inspection, and testing activities to ensure quality control and reliability.
Implement methods and procedures for disposition of discrepant material and defective or damaged parts, and assess cost and responsibility.
Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
Complete production reports, purchase orders, and material, tool, and equipment lists.
Schedule deliveries based on production forecasts, material substitutions, storage and handling facilities, and maintenance requirements.
Regulate and alter workflow schedules according to established manufacturing sequences and lead times to expedite production operations.
Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
Coordinate and implement quality control objectives, activities, or procedures to resolve production problems, maximize product reliability, or minimize costs.
Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.

Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
Develop technical methods or processes.
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
Determine operational methods.
Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems.
Create graphical representations of industrial production systems.
Review technical documents to plan work.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Devise research or testing protocols.
Document technical design details.
Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
Implement design or process improvements.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Prepare procedural documents.
Prepare operational reports.
Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
Schedule operational activities.
Prepare proposal documents.
Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
Investigate safety of work environment.

Skills and Abilities for Industrial Engineers

Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Technology DesignGenerating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Anechoic chamberse.g. Anechoic auditory test chambers
Thickness measuring devicese.g. Anthropometers
Operational amplifierse.g. Audio amplifiers
Equalizerse.g. Audio equalizers
Cassette players or recorderse.g. Audio tape recorders
Audiometers or accessoriese.g. Audiometers
Camera controllerse.g. Camera controllers
Computer serverse.g. Computer servers
Coordinate measuring machines CMMe.g. Coordinate measuring machines CMM
Digital camerase.g. Digital cameras
Physiological recorderse.g. Electrogoniometers
Infrared imagerse.g. Electrophysics infrared cameras
Laboratory mechanical convection ovense.g. Environmental ovens
Frequency analyzerse.g. Fast Fourier transform FFT spectrum analyzers
Pressure indicatorse.g. Force plates
Hardness testerse.g. Hardness testers
Cardiac output CO monitoring units or accessoriese.g. Heart rate monitors
Heated walk in environmental or growth chamberse.g. Heated environmental chambers
Hydraulic motore.g. Hydraulic power units
Hydraulic press framese.g. Hydraulic presses

Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Industrial Engineers Occupation Detailed Description

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Industrial Engineers

Tasks and Work Activities of Industrial Engineers

Skills and Abilities for Industrial Engineers