1/26/08

0 What is Industrial Engineering?

I'm still surprised that a lot of people still don't know what is Industrial Engineering. Most of the time people will act like they know it then I'll find out later that they assumed that it was something related to civil engineering (maybe because of the word industrial) and some thinks that we build factories (close but IEs don't really build factories literally).


The Work of an Industrial Engineer

industrial engineer, engineering

The field of engineering is subdivided in several major disciplines like mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, electronical engineering, chemical engineering, metallurgical engineering, and also industrial engineering. Certainly this disciplines can also be subdivided further. Industrial Engineering integrates knowledge and skills from several fields of science: From the Technical Sciences, Economic Sciences as well as Human Science - all these can also be supported with skills in Information Sciences. The Industrial Engineer comprehends knowledge in those sciences in order to increase the productivity of processes, achieve quality products and assures labor safety.

What Industrial Engineers do?

So what do industrial engineers do to increase productivity and assure quality? An Industrial Engineer can perform several activities to fulfill its task: Processes and Procedures of manufacturing or service activites can be examined through Process Analysis. He can Use Work Study comprehending Method Study and Time Study. Method Study is the Study of How a job is performed, examining and recording the activities, operators, equipment and materials involved in the process. Time Study records and rates the times of jobs being performed. The mentioned activities are also called Operations Management. Furthermore Industrial Engineering involves inventory management to make a manufacturing process more feasible and efficient. Industrial Engineers are also involved in design activities for Products, Equipment, Plants and Workstations. Here ergonomics and motion economy play a role. Last but not the least is the Industrial Engineer playing an important role in developing Quality Management Systems (as they i.e. should comply with the ISO 9000 Standards). Here they often have job titles like Quality Engineer or Quality Manager.
Text from http://www.kwaliteg.co.za/

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