Industrial engineering has been around since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and it isn’t going anywhere!
Industrial engineering is the application of science, mathematics, & engineering methods to complex system integration & operations.
Industrial engineers design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes. They maximize effectiveness and efficiency. Industrial engineers work mostly within offices but may visit the sites where the work they’re doing is based.
Like many STEM fields, industrial engineering has a long way to go to become inclusive. Currently, only about 21% of industrial engineers are women. Almost 80% of industrial engineers are white, but industrial engineering is meant to improve the lives of everyone.
While the typical entry-level education for industrial engineers is a bachelor’s in industrial engineering, there’s a lot of options! Many industrial engineers actually have degrees in mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, or general engineering. Industrial engineers usually take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam after graduating from an EAC/ABET accredited program in the industrial and systems discipline. After 4 years of post-college work, industrial engineers can take the Practice of Engineering Exam to get their Professional Engineer license.
Some iconic industrial engineers include Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Nancy J. Currie, and Lydia Mitcham Meredith.
