What Is Industrial Engineering?
Engineering is a field full of professional problem solvers. Industrial engineering is a subfield of engineering uniquely organized to solve problems and optimize processes to attain the best possible outcomes. Engineers develop innovative solutions to complex problems. They continuously strive to enhance existing technologies, such as by making them safer, more reliable and more efficient.
What is industrial engineering and what do industrial engineers do? Let’s take a closer look at this career.
In This Article:
- What Is Industrial Engineering?
- What Do Industrial Engineers Do?
- Is Industrial Engineering Hard?
- How To Become an Industrial Engineer
- Industrial Engineering: Examples of Skills and Characteristics
- Are Industrial Engineers Needed?
- Begin Your STEM Career With a Degree at GCU
What Is Industrial Engineering?
Industrial engineering is a highly versatile and interdisciplinary branch of engineering that encompasses the design, development, analysis and optimization of complex processes and systems. This field is primarily concerned with the implementation and improvement of integrated systems of equipment, processes and workers in order to solve a wide range of problems in production and service management and control.1
An industrial engineer’s goal is to create or improve upon products, systems and designs to make them safer and more efficient.1 Some industrial engineering examples include the examination of manufacturing processes to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, streamline production times and minimize the use of resources while ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
They can also develop innovative solutions to optimize supply chain logistics, such as finding the most efficient way to deliver packages to your doorstep. Furthermore, they can apply their skills to optimize hospital surgery schedules and doctors' appointments, enabling fast and safe healthcare services.
What Do Industrial Engineers Do?
The day-to-day activities of an industrial engineer may vary depending on the industry they work in and the specific requirements of their employer. In general, however, industrial engineering includes any of the following responsibilities:
- Analyzing production schedules, process flows, methodologies and engineering specifications to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements
- Creating management control systems to streamline cost analysis and optimize performance
- Developing quality control procedures to identify production problems and ensure compliance with safety regulations and quality standards
- Staying up to date with changing regulations and industry standards and adjusting processes accordingly
- Coordinating projects with all stakeholders, including clients, vendors, staff and management personnel
Industrial engineers use principles and skills in the engineering analytics and design approaches to analyze and evaluate the outcomes obtained from systems and processes. They implement and integrate the physical, economic and human components and various production and service systems in diverse fields. They also work on tasks like production planning, quality control, equipment and inventory management, plant layout and workstation design.
Industrial Engineering and Intrapreneurship
Because the industrial engineering field is laser-focused on improving operational efficiency, trimming costs and improving safety, it can align well with business-minded individuals who understand how the smaller details fit into the overall picture. Industrial engineers must often collaborate with other professionals across various departments. Doing so can allow them to further improve their knowledge of how various functions throughout the organization work together to support the overall mission.
In short, industrial engineers are well-positioned to become intrapreneurial professionals. (Compared to entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship is when employees act like entrepreneurs despite working for someone else.) They may be able to help the organization achieve its main mission through strategic insights.
Is Industrial Engineering Hard?
Now that you know the answer to the question, what is industrial engineering, you may be wondering, is industrial engineering hard? Every type of career, whether STEM or not, has its own unique challenges. You may find certain aspects of industrial engineering more difficult than others. Another person in the same profession might find certain things more of a challenge than you do, and vice versa.
If you’re genuinely passionate about engineering and have an interest in how to improve processes for greater safety and efficiency, then industrial engineering could be the right fit for you. Even if certain aspects of it are challenging for you, putting in the hard work necessary to overcome those challenges may be worth it.
How To Become an Industrial Engineer
If you think that industrial engineering is the right fit for you, talk to your high school counselor about your career ambitions. If possible, take advanced courses in mathematics, computer coding and the sciences. Look for relevant extracurricular activities, such as a science club or computer coding club, and pursue internships and job shadowing opportunities in your area.
To become an industrial engineer, you can generally expect to need a bachelor's degree in engineering. While a master's degree is not typically required, you may choose to pursue it later in your career. After college, you’ll need to earn your initial engineering certification and gain professional work experience before you’ll be qualified to pursue your professional engineering certification and state licensure.2
Earn Your Industrial Engineering Degree
After high school, the first step toward becoming an industrial engineering professional is to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Some aspiring industrial engineers choose a general engineering degree, while others may choose a concentration in mechanical or electrical engineering. However, the most relevant choice is an industrial engineering degree.2
If you enroll in an industrial engineering degree program, you’ll be taught a diverse spectrum of STEM competencies that are immediately applicable across a range of industries. The specific curriculum will vary from one school to the next.
Major topics and competencies in the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering are:
- Statistics and probability
- Optimization and processes
- Workplace design, including human factors and ergonomics
- Logistics operations for the global supply chain
- Manufacturing processes and methods
During your time as an undergrad, you may be required to complete one or more capstone projects. A capstone project is typically a research- and writing-intensive project that is intended to be the culmination of the competencies you’ve acquired during your time in school. If possible, choose a topic that reflects your professional interests, as you might discuss your capstone project during interviews with potential employers after graduation.
Earn Your FE Certification
Even after earning your industrial engineering degree, you won’t be qualified to officially call yourself an engineer just yet. You’ll be an apprentice for a while until you can earn your Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) certification and state licensure. But first, you’ll need to earn your Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certification.2
You can sit for the FE examination after graduation or while still a student close to graduation. The test is administered year-round at approved testing centers. You’ll have just over five hours to answer 110 questions.3
You should plan on setting aside plenty of time to prepare for the exam. Review your class notes and study exam prep materials offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the professional organization that certifies engineers.
On the industrial engineering FE exam, you can expect to answer questions related to the following:
- Modeling and quantitative analysis
- Probability and statistics
- Engineering economics
- Mathematics
- Engineering sciences
- Ethics and professional practice
- Work design
- Human factors, ergonomics and safety
Acquire Entry-Level Experience to Build Your Knowledge and Skills
Once you earn your FE certification, you can pursue entry-level work in the industrial engineering field.2 At this point in your career, you’ll officially be known as an engineer in training (EIT) or engineering intern (EI).
State requirements for licensure vary, but many require EITs to have several years of professional experience before pursuing state licensure. You’ll similarly need to meet work requirements to be eligible to sit for the PE exam.2
Earn Your PE Certification
Once you do meet the eligibility requirements, including professional work experience, you can sit for the PE exam. Unlike the FE test, the PE test is only administered once per year. This means you’ll need to plan well in advance to be ready to take the test once you meet the work requirements.
This 9.5-hour exam features 85 questions,4 and it covers a wide range of topics related to the industrial engineering field. It's crucial to prepare thoroughly for this exam, as passing it is essential to becoming a licensed professional engineer.2
Industrial Engineering: Examples of Skills and Characteristics
As you prepare to pursue a career in industrial engineering, you’ll find that the following skills and characteristics will be particularly helpful:2
- Creative problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Computer skills
- Math skills
- Communication skills
Are Industrial Engineers Needed?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the estimated job growth for industrial engineers from 2023 to 2033 is 12%, much faster than average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 40,900 new professionals during this time period.5
Salary Expectations for Industrial Engineers
The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $99,380 as of May 2023, according to the BLS.6 Individual salary expectations can vary based on a number of factors, including years of experience, licensure status, geographic location, employer and so on.
Begin Your STEM Career With a Degree at GCU
You can blend your passion for STEM with purpose when you enroll in a degree in industrial engineering at Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering degree is designed to prepare you to develop innovative new processes and systems by teaching competencies such as human work design, lean management and computer-aided design. Learn more about our engineering degree programs from GCU's College of Engineering and Technology.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). What Industrial Engineers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2024.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become An Industrial Engineer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2024.
3 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. (n.d.). FE Exam. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2024.
4 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. (n.d.). PE Industrial and Systems Exam. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2024.
5 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Industrial Engineers, retrieved in Oct. 7. 2024.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Industrial Engineers as of May 2023, retrieved on Oct.7, 2024 Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Industrial Engineers. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics and skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
Approved and verified accurate by the assistant dean of the College of Engineering and Technology on Jan. 7, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
