Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers

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.

Regulations

Contacts

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