Industrial engineers

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Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways for an organization to use the basic factors of production — people, machines, materials, information and energy — to make a product or to provide a service. They are the bridge between management goals and operational performance. They are more concerned with increasing productivity through the management of people, methods of business organization and technology than other engineers who generally work more with products or processes. Although most industrial engineers work in manufacturing industries, they also work in consulting services, health care and communications.

To solve organizational, production and related problems most efficiently, industrial engineers carefully study the product and its requirements, use mathematical methods, such as operations research, to meet those requirements and to design manufacturing and information systems. They develop management control systems to help in financial planning and cost analysis. They design production planning and control systems to coordinate activities and ensure product quality. They design or improve systems for the physical distribution of goods and services.

Industrial engineers determine which plant location has the best combination of raw materials availability, transportation facilities and costs. Industrial engineers use computers for simulations and to control various activities and devices, such as assembly lines and robots. They also develop wage and salary administration systems and job evaluation programs. Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work is closely related.

Health and safety engineers do work similar to that of industrial engineers because they deal with the entire production process. They promote work-site or product safety and health by applying knowledge of industrial processes, as well as mechanical, chemical and psychological principles. They must be able to anticipate and evaluate hazardous conditions as well as develop hazard control methods. They also must be familiar with the application of health and safety regulations.

Job outlook

Despite industrial growth and more complex business operations, overall employment of industrial engineers, including health and safety, is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2010, reflecting greater use of automation in factories and offices. Employment of industrial engineers is expected to grow more slowly than average while health and safety engineers are expected to grow about as fast as average.

Because the main function of industrial and health and safety engineers is to make a higher quality product as efficiently and as safely as possible, their services should be in demand in the manufacturing sector as firms seek to reduce costs and increase productivity. There also is an increased demand for industrial engineers within the financial services sector, as more emphasis is put on information technology. Also, the growing concern for health and safety within work environments should increase the need for health and safety engineers.

Earnings

Industrial engineers, including health and safety, held about 198,000 jobs in 2000. More than 65% of these jobs were in manufacturing industries. Because their skills can be used in almost any type of organization, industrial engineers are more widely distributed among manufacturing industries than are other engineers.

Their skills can be readily applied outside manufacturing as well. Some work in engineering and management services, utilities and business services; others work for government agencies or as independent consultants.

Median annual earnings of industrial engineers were $58,580 in 2000. Median annual earnings in the manufacturing industries employing the largest numbers of industrial engineers in 2000 were:

Motor vehicles and equipment $63,010
Electronic components and accessories 62,560
Computer and office equipment 62,260
Computer and data processing services 60,510
Aircraft and parts 58,290

Median annual earnings of health and safety engineers were $54,630 in 2000. In 2000, the median annual earnings of health and safety engineers in railroads were $56,970.

According to a 2001 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor's degree candidates in industrial engineering received starting offers averaging about $48,320 a year; master's degree candidates averaged $56,265 a year; and Ph.D. candidates were initially offered $59,800.

Related links

For more information about industrial engineers:

Institute of Industrial Engineers, 25 Technology Park/Atlanta, Norcross, GA 30092.

For general information about safety engineers:

American Society of Safety Engineers, 1800 E Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018-21.

Information about certification of safety professionals, including safety engineers, is available from:

Board of Certified Safety Professionals, 208 Burwash Ave., Savoy, Illinois 61874-957.

Adapted from the Labor Department's Occupational Outlook Handbook.