What They Do
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production. They prepare machinery and equipment plans, design workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.
Duties
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:
- Suggest revisions to operation methods, material handling, or equipment layout
- Interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, and formulas
- Confer with management or engineering staff on quality and reliability standards
- Help plan work assignments, considering factors such as machine capabilities and production schedules
- Prepare charts, diagrams, and other graphs to illustrate workflow, routing, floor layouts, how materials are handled, and how machines are used
- Collect data to assist in process improvement activities
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians study the time and steps workers take to do a task (time and motion studies). To set reasonable production rates, they analyze operations such as maintenance, production, and service.
The work of industrial engineering technologists and technicians is versatile and applicable to a variety of projects. For example, in supply chain management, they help businesses minimize inventory costs; in quality assurance, they help with customer satisfaction; and in project management, they help to control costs and maximize efficiencies.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians generally work on teams under the supervision of industrial engineers.
Manufacturing engineering technologists and technicians work to raise production quality and profitability. By planning, testing, and custom making industrial products, they help engineers improve manufacturing processes and output. They may assess prototypes, analyze machinery performance, or try new production methods.
Work Environment
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians held about 74,600 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of industrial engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 15% |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 15 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 8 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 7 |
Industrial engineers usually ask industrial engineering technologists and technicians to help carry out studies and draw conclusions. Consequently, these technologists and technicians typically work at the location where products are manufactured or services are provided.
Work Schedules
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians usually work a standard schedule. Most work full time.
How to Become One
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation. Community colleges or technical institutes typically offer associate’s degree programs, and vocational–technical schools offer certificate programs.
Pay
The median annual wage for industrial engineering technologists and technicians was $64,790 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of industrial engineering technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Despite limited employment growth, about 6,300 openings for industrial engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.