Industrial engineers develop strategies to more effectively utilize energy, machines, and raw materials in manufacturing. They improve efficiency by focusing on human management, business organization, and technology. Industrial engineers use math to develop manufacturing and information systems to maximize efficiency. They also develop management strategies to provide effective cost analysis and budgeting, as well as develop control systems to improve product quality. In addition, industrial engineers strategically locate offices and factories to increase production and distribution efficiency. Since industrial engineers work closely with management, some become managers themselves.
The duties of an industrial engineer include:
Industrial engineers apply their skills to many different situations – from manufacturing to business administration. For example, they design systems for:
In all these different projects, industrial engineers focus on how to get the work done most efficiently, balancing many factors such as time, number of workers needed, actions workers need to take, achieving the end with no errors, technology that is available, workers’ safety, environmental concerns, and cost.
To find ways to reduce waste and improve performance, they first study product requirements carefully. Then they use mathematical methods and models to design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements most efficiently.
Depending on their tasks, industrial engineers work both in offices and in the settings they are trying to improve. For example, when observing problems, they may watch workers on a factory floor or staff in a hospital. When solving problems, they may be in an office at a computer looking at data that they or others have collected.
Industrial engineers often work on teams with other professionals and production staff. They may need to travel to observe processes and make assessments in various work settings. Most work full time.
A person working as an Industrial Engineer in Kenya typically earns around KSH144,000 per month. Salaries range from KSH75,000 (lowest) to KSH220,000 (highest).
It’s estimated that job prospects for industrial engineers will grow by 6% in the next decade. This growth is slower than usual, when compared to the average occupation. Industrial engineering can be useful to many different industries for many different reasons. These engineers are seen as highly valuable by organizations of all kinds (including nonprofits), because their job is to increase system efficiency and therefore reduce internal expenses.
Industrial engineers are very versatile, and may work in any of a large number of fields. Industrial engineers can be found in hospitals, research and development firms, major manufacturing industries, and consulting and engineering services, among others. Even for new and rapidly expanding industries, industrial engineers are very valuable, because of their knowledge of how to improve efficiency and save their employers money. Job growth will be slow, however, because the manufacturing industries which employ most of these engineers are expected to grow only gradually, or decline.
The skills of industrial engineers are useful to a wide range of organizations, like governments, nonprofits, and businesses. Industrial engineers minimize internal expenses through proper management, ensure product quality and thereby maintain satisfied customers, and maximize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of all kinds of industries.
A bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering is required to start out as an industrial engineer. Practical experience is highly valuable to employers, so graduates of cooperative-education programs are at an advantage when applying for jobs.
Students who want to become an industrial engineer should study trigonometry, algebra, and calculus, as well as computer science, physics, and chemistry.
Undergraduate students of industrial engineering study in classrooms and laboratories for four years. Students take classes in manufacturing systems design, statistics, production systems planning, and more. Cooperative-education programs are available at most universities and colleges, and allow students to receive on-the-job training while completing their degree.
Five-year programs are available at certain colleges and universities. Students who complete these programs receive both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Engineers who hold a master’s degree or higher are able to teach at universities and participate in research and development projects.
