Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers

(NOC 2141)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Industrial and manufacturing engineers carry out studies and develop and supervise programs to enhance efficiency and productivity through the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials, and procedures. Industrial and manufacturing engineers work for consulting firms, manufacturing and processing companies, government, financial, health care and other institutions, or they may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 40 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$26.45

Minimum

$41.71

Median

$56.77

Maximum

Annual Pay

$25,941

Minimum

$76,938

Median

$128,676

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Industrial and manufacturing engineers carry out studies and develop and supervise programs to enhance efficiency and productivity through the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials, and procedures. Industrial and manufacturing engineers work for consulting firms, manufacturing and processing companies, government, financial, health care and other institutions, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Industrial and manufacturing engineers:

  • Plan and design plant layouts and facilities.
  • Study new machinery and facilities and recommend or select efficient combinations.
  • Develop flexible or integrated manufacturing systems and procedures.
  • Conduct studies and implement programs to determine optimum inventory levels for production and to allow optimum use of machinery, materials, and resources.
  • Analyze costs of production.
  • Design, develop, and conduct time studies and work simplification programs.
  • Determine human resource and skill requirements and develop training programs.
  • Develop performance standards, evaluation systems and wage and incentive programs.
  • Conduct studies of the reliability and performance of plant facilities and production or administrative systems.
  • Develop maintenance standards, schedules, and programs.
  • Establish programs and conduct studies to enhance industrial health and safety or to identify and correct fire and other hazards.
  • Evaluate or assess industrial facilities.
  • Supervise technicians, technologists, analysts, administrative staff, and other engineers.

Sample job titles

  • computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) engineer
  • cost engineer
  • efficiency engineer
  • industrial engineer
  • manufacturing engineer
  • plant engineer
  • production engineer
  • quality assurance (QA) engineer
  • safety engineer

Skills

  • You should be interested in organizing, managing, and integrating automation in the workplace. Persistence, ingenuity, and the ability to think analytically and logically are important. You must be able to communicate and work well with others, as engineers often work in teams. Good judgement, problem-solving, and leadership skills are also expected. Computer experience would be helpful.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or in a related engineering discipline.
  • A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
  • Licensing by a provincial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
  • Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Other considerations

  • The services provided by people in these jobs are becoming more important as firms strive to become more competitive through technologically advanced equipment and more efficient means of production. The rising importance of research into the design and production of new products should also contribute to job openings in these fields. It is essential for workers to keep up to date with changing technology. Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and gain knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practice in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing, or management. There is considerable mobility between industrial engineering specializations at the less senior levels. Supervisory and senior positions in this group require experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

355

employed in 2016

94.4%

employed full-time

8.5%

self employed

19.7%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80.3%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

57.1%

Halifax

$83,762 median annual income
17.1%

Southern

$70,533 median annual income
11.4%

North Shore

$76,769 median annual income
10.0%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
4.3%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

51.6%

Manufacturing

18.8%

Professional, scientific and technical services

6.3%

Public administration

4.7%

Information and cultural industries

3.1%

Wholesale trade

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

28.0%

25-34

23.0%

35-44

12.0%

55-64

6.0%

65+

3.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

47.9%

Bachelor

$69,001 median annual income
18.3%

College Diploma

$89,413 median annual income
11.3%

Master

$83,953 median annual income
8.5%

Diploma Above Bachelor

N/A
5.6%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Industrial Engineering

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. They include courses in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Marine Sciences

College or University Program

These programs focus on the study of biology, chemistry, geology and physics applied to marine, estuarine and coastal environments. They include courses in marine biogeochemistry, atmosphere and ocean dynamics, coastal ecology, coastal ocean processes, microbial ecology, marine ecosystem modeling, and polar microbiology.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Materials Engineering

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings, the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites, analysis of materials requirements and specifications, and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mathematics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. They include courses in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Mechanical Engineering

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment, stationary power units and appliances, engines, self-propelled vehicles, housings and containers, hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement, and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Physical Sciences

College or University Program

These programs focus on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena as studied in any combination of physical science disciplines.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Professional Engineer

Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.

Regulating body:
Engineers Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, NS
Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers - Atlantic
Various, Canada
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada
Ottawa, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.