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Career Details

17-2112.00 - Industrial Engineers


Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
241,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
243,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+2,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+0.9%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • 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.
Supplemental
  • 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.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 88%
    Knowledge 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 Processing
  • 86%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Mechanical
  • 84%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Design
  • 82%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 English Language
  • 79%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Mathematics
  • 78%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Administration and Management
  • 69%
    Knowledge 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 Service
  • 68%
    Knowledge 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 Training
  • 67%
    Knowledge 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 Security
  • 62%
    Knowledge 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.
 Physics
  • 62%
    Knowledge 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.
 Clerical
  • 60%
    Knowledge 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.
 Building and Construction
  • 57%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Chemistry
  • 53%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Law and Government
  • 52%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 51%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Anechoic auditory test chambers
  • Electrophysics infrared cameras
  • Fast Fourier transform FFT spectrum analyzers
  • Photometers
  • Signal generators
 Integrated circuits
  • Audio amplifiers
  • Microcontrollers
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
  • Variable frequency drives VFD
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Audio equalizers
  • Audio tape recorders
  • Recording microphones
 Camera accessories
  • Camera controllers
 Computers
  • Computer servers
  • Personal computers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Coordinate measuring machines CMM
  • Electrogoniometers
 Cameras
  • Digital cameras
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Hardness testers
  • Tensile testers
  • Torsion meters
  • Vibration tables
 Non electric motors
  • Hydraulic power units
 Hydraulic presses
  • Hydraulic presses
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Inverted metallurgical microscopes
 Computer printers
  • Laser printers
 Transducers
  • Load cells
  • Pressure transducers
 Kinetic power transmission
  • Motion control systems
 Sound generating and measuring equipment
  • Noise dosimeters
  • Octave band analyzers
  • Reverberant auditory test chambers
  • Sound level calibrators
  • Sound level meters
 Laboratory furniture
  • Optical benches
 Respiratory monitoring products
  • Oxygen uptake measurement devices
 Conveyors and accessories
  • Programmable logic controller PLC controlled turntables
 Power generation control equipment
  • Pulsed width modulation PWM drives
 Electrical relays and accessories
  • Time delay relay panel boxes
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • 3D Static Strength Prediction Program 3DSSPP
  • A mathematical programming language AMPL
  • Allen Bradley PanelView
  • Assembly line balancing software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Automatic dynamic incremental nonlinear analysis ADINA
  • Bentley MicroStationHOT
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Computer numerical control CNC software
  • Dassasult Systemes Abaqus
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • Data acquisition software
  • Dataxiom StatMost
  • Design of experiments DOE software
  • Discrete event simulation software
  • ECHIP
  • EGS FeatureCAM
  • Electronic breadboard softwareHOT
  • ETA Dynaform
  • Facilities design softwareHOT
  • Facilities planning softwareHOT
  • Finite element method FEM software
  • Human machine interface HMI software
  • Human modeling software
  • ILOG CPLEX
  • International TechneGroup IGESworksHOT
  • MAGMA MAGMASOFT
  • Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search MINOS softwareHOT
  • Maplesoft Maple
  • Mathsoft MathcadHOT
  • MAYA I-DEAS
  • MinitabHOT
  • Modular arrangement of predetermined time standards software MODAPTS
  • Neural network modeling software
  • NeuralWare
  • Numerical control software
  • Nupro CastView
  • Optimization software
  • PMC KanbanSIM
  • Production flow analysis software
  • ProModel
  • PTC Creo ParametricHOT
  • Quality control software
  • Robotic control software
  • Robotic simulation software
  • Rockwell Automation Arena
  • SASHOT
  • Statgraphics
  • Statistical software
  • Stratasys FDM MedModeler
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Task analysis software
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Three-dimensional simulation translation software
  • Time and motion analysis software
  • UGS Jack
  • UGS Solid EdgeHOT
  • Windward Technologies GRG2
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
  • Workcell simulation software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Development software
  • C++HOT
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
  • JUnitHOT
  • Logic programming software
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHOT
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • Rockwell RSLogix
  • Sun Microsystems Java
  • User interface design software
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Decision support software
  • Inventory management software
  • Manhattan Associates PkMS Pickticket
  • Materials requirement planning MRP software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Oracle Retek
  • Personnel scheduling software
  • Process reengineering software
  • Production scheduling and planning software
  • Supply chain capacity planning software
  • Warehouse management system WMS
  • Yield management systems
 Operating environment software
  • LinuxHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIX ShellHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Rappahannock Community College
Wytheville Community College