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Introduction to Industrial Engineering

Z. Max Shen

Dept. of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

University of California

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What is IE?

There you are, standing at the cheese-and-cracker tray during a cocktail party, when someone asks, “What do you do?”

“I’m an industrial engineer,” you reply.

“An industrial engineer?” and a blank smile is all you get in response.

What next? You need a concise, clever — or at least interesting description of what an industrial engineer does. Can youexplain it in one sentence?

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What is IE?

An industrial engineer is a combination of 50 percent engineer and 50 percent administrator.

An industrial engineer maximizes the utilization of scarce resources — namely, time and money.

“If a chemical engineer designs a system, it will be chemically and thermodynamically efficient; if a mechanical engineer designs a system, it will be mechanically and energy efficient; and if an industrial engineer designs a system, it will make a profit

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What is IE?

Any fool can devise a process that works, but it takes an industrial engineer to design one that barely works.

Industrial engineers are the duct tape of industry because they are expected to fix anything for almost nothing.

If you mixed together a computer expert, a production manager, and a financial guru, threw in a heaping portion of salesmanship and a dash of investigative reporter, marinated it in a rich solution of leadership and the ability to impact change, and topped it off with a desire to learn and do whatever it takes, you’d have the recipe for an outstanding industrial engineer.

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History

Early history really did not distinguish between science and engineering. Advancements involved application of knowledge.

Engineering schools appeared in France in the 18th century

Principles of early engineering were first taught in military academies and were concerned primarily with road and bridge construction and with fortifications – military engineering

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Modern Disciplines

Civil engineering emerging from military engineering

Mechanical engineering emerging from growth of mechanical devices after steam engine

Electrical engineering after the telegraph (and other products) appeared

Chemical engineering (lubricants, etc)

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Post WWII Disciplines

Nuclear engineering

Electronic engineering

Aeronautical engineering

Astronautical engineering

Computer engineering

Environmental engineering

Bioengineering

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Before Cal

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Definition

Industrial Engineering is concerned with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy.

It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such system.

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Industrial Engineering

Usually with objectives such as increasing profits and/or productivity, improving quality, or reducing costs.

Alternatively,

IE’s improve organized work.

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Chronology of IE

As industrial organizations emerged to capitalize on the rapidly developing array of technological innovations, the size and complexity of manufacturing units increases dramatically.

IE emerged as a profession as a result of the industrial revolution and the accompanying need for technically trained people who could plan, organize, and direct the operations of large complex systems.

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Chronology of IE (cont.)

Babbage thought to specialize labor by skill required (early 1800’s)Taylor really started IE Analyze and improve the work method Reduce the times required for the work Set standards for the times required

Gilbreth extended work of Taylor to consider the human aspects of work to include motion involved in workHenry Gantt developed his chart to preplan, schedule, and monitor work activityShewhart developed the fundamental principles of statistical process control Disciples became big names in quality

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Design Impacts

IE engineers design systems at two levels

The first level is called the human activity level and is concerned with how work gets accomplished

The second level is called the management control system level and addresses the planning, measurement, and control of organizational activities

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Level One Elements

Processes within the organization

Layout of facilities and machines

Design of the workplace

Storage space and location

Work methods

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Level Two Elements

Planning systems

Forecasting systems

Material and inventory planning and control

Scheduling activities

Cost control and analysis

Quality control system

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IE and Systems

Industrial engineering really takes a system-level perspective

The tools and techniques of the IE allow the IE to examine the system, the interactions among the components of the system, all while keeping in mind the objective or purpose of the system

An IE seeks to optimize systems

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IE Coverage

Simulation

Optimization

Human Factors

Ergonomics

Production Systems

Statistical and stochastic modeling

Design of experiments

Modeling of human decision makers

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IEOR Activities

The actual activities performed by IEOR personnel will vary by firm

Traditionally, activities were focused on the operational level of the organization

Recent trends involve the IE getting involved in the design of the management systems as well as getting more involved in systems design

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Where Can Industrial Engineers Work?

Just about anywhere a process needs to be designed or improved. Industrial engineers can work in the obvious places like... Manufacturing, such as Microelectronics,

Aerospace or Automotive Research and Development

or the not-so-obvious places like... Service Industries, such as Banking, Health

Care, Insurance, Transportation, and even Theme Parks

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In What Capacity Can Industrial Engineers Work?

On the factory floor or in the executive suite: Many IE graduates zero in on analyzing their company's technology and production systems, and very quickly find themselves catapulted to positions of management responsibility. IE's can work as... Consultants Project Managers Company Presidents or CEOs.

According to Jobs-Rated Almanac, industrial engineering has the highest level of career satisfaction among traditional engineering disciplines.

If you are looking for a technically challenging major, one with great career satisfaction that also gives excellent opportunities for management, IE may be for you.

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In Ten Years

We improve organized work.