Industrial Engineering---The Career of Choices

This means that IEs improve complex processes in a variety of situations and industries. The process may involve the assembly line in a factory, the scheduling of aircraft for an airline, the operating room of a hospital, the loan transactions of a bank, etc.

Here are some highlights of a career as an Industrial Engineer (IE):

Work with people - to do things better, faster and safer.
IE is the only engineering discipline considering human characteristics & performance. Human factors and ergonomics are IE areas of study and you must have heard about ergonomic designs as they relate to computer keyboards, automobile dashboards, head-up displays for fighter planes, etc.

Help your company save money and stay competitive
IEs are in greater need now in an environment that includes downsizing, globalization and emphasis on efficiency and cost cutting. The implication of this is that IEs are very visible to top management and have great opportunities to advance to managerial ranks.

Reap personal and professional satisfaction year after year
The "Jobs Rated Almanac" ranked 250 jobs on more than a dozen factors including pay, benefits, long term security, stress, outlook, etc.

Choose from diverse and exciting businesses
The image of an engineer in a hard hat running around the factor floor does not suit very well the IE of today. More and more IEs work today in the service sector (banks, insurance companies, hospitals, package carriers, airlines, government agencies and non-profit organizations).

Work with all levels of business or organization
IE is not a "behind the desk" job. IEs interact with other engineers, production/operations professionals, laborers, top management, customers and suppliers.

Earn an excellent salary
According to the Institute of Industrial Engineering (IIE) surveys, the median salary for IEs was $60,298 in 1996 and $70,891 in 1999.