re: Question For Industrial Engineers of the OT

I implemented an ERP at my company (Oracle NetSuite) and managed export compliance, product certifications like ATEX, did all of the technical writing for marketing and engineering like operating manuals/technical sales brochures, managed the website and social media, managed interdisciplinary/interdepartmental projects, assisted the company executives with tasks they needed offloaded...the list goes on and on. With my college internship, I worked at a company in BR that designs screens for plant operators. We would draw up what were essentially functional P&IDs with alarms and tested different graphics, sounds, colors, brightness levels, etc. to elicit quick and efficient responses. That job played more to the ergonomics side. My senior design project related to telemedicine and process improvement for EBR EMS. Just to show you the variety involved.

Risk management/disaster mitigation is a big part of IE. Think of an airplane dashboard; everything is meticulously placed for optimum responses in case of emergency and for ease of use. Airports too are designed to keep people flowing and moods calm (not to mention the logistics of baggage). You’ll notice that the floor is tile where you’re meant to keep moving and carpet where you’re meant to slow down/sit, with conveyors places strategically throughout the walking areas. Signs placed throughout the airport are optimized to keep people informed and moving.

My best friend from IE worked for Disney World optimizing their workforce logistics. Now she’s working for Walmart HQ optimizing warehouse automation.

Our engineers generally manage the process of getting something engineered. Getting the MoC right, Handling the bidding process, if one exists, ensures timely delivery, etc. They are essentially the middle man for the contractor doing the engineering and us who assist the contractor getting the work done offshore. Also, if you are a white man you will want to get one of the big 4. Whitey ain't getting in here with a generic engineering degree.

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Some of the operators asked us if we were there to redecorate (both female)

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did y’all make them a sandwich?

I will say this, i started off in ME. it's about 98% male, or at least was when i was there.
switched to IE b/c Gonthier got the best of me, and that ratio went way down. We had some seriously hot latino girls in our class, and i don't mean hot b/c that's the only girls you see hot, hot b/c they were hot. Lot more girls in IE than the other engineering disciplines.

They can be technical interior designers. Industrial engineers have a lot of jobs where they are responsible for equipment and assembly line layouts. If you like interior design, go for it. They pay tends to be at the low end for engineering.

IEs model and optimize things. Inventory, scheduling, routing, human factors (ergonomics). A classic example is that you work for a local bread company that has X delivery trucks that can hold Y loaves of bread. You need to supply customers that have certain inventory limitations. You would use IE skills to determine optimal delivery dates and routing under the given constraints.

My bachelor's is CHEE and I have a master's in IE. It's based heavily in statistics rather than physics which makes it useful as a support knowledge base. They do well in hospitals and business offices. With that being said, I work at a chemical plant and we'd never hire IEs

Only one I know got an IE and an MBA. He also interned with an air force contractor and had to get security clearance. The guy now makes more money than anyone I know even the people that went to med school and he is 35. I think he optimizes processes to that improves productivity and ultimately the bottom line. Basically, project management in an industrial setting. He is a stat nerd. It doesn't surprise me at all that he is a boss. Really smart dude other than being able to control his liquor. Had to carry him out of a bar a few times.

industrial engineers will work with general facility, infrastructure projects such as warehousing, drum fill lines, crane/facility access, office laboratories, truck loading racks etc.
the weak area for IE is growing within the business of the manufacturing operation. exposure to the movers and shakers is limited

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Can someone give me a real-world problem that you have faced while working as an industrial engineer?

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