Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways for an organisation to use the basic factors of production—people, machines, materials, information, and energy—to make a product or provide a service. They are the bridge between management goals and operational performance. They are more concerned with increasing productivity through the management of people, methods of business organisation, and technology than are engineers in other specialities, who generally work more with products or processes.
To solve organisational, production, and related problems most efficiently, industrial engineers carefully study the product and its requirements, use mathematical methods such as operations research to meet those requirements, and design manufacturing and information systems.
They develop management control systems to aid in financial planning and cost analysis, design production planning and control systems to coordinate activities and control product quality, and design or improve systems for the physical distribution of goods and services.
Industrial engineers determine which plant location has the best combination of raw materials availability, transportation, and costs. They also develop wage and salary administration systems and job evaluation programmes. Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work is closely related.
Employment
Most industrial engineers are employed in manufacturing industries. Because their skills can be used in almost any type of organisation, industrial engineers are more widely distributed among manufacturing industries than other engineers.
Their skills can be readily applied outside manufacturing as well. Some work in engineering and management services, utilities, and business services; others work for government agencies or as independent consultants.