Engineering Career Exploration: Industrial Engineering

Summary

The Purdue Industrial Engineering program offers a versatile degree that blends business and engineering principles to enhance productivity and quality. Students gain a holistic education with courses in human factors, operations research, manufacturing, and production systems, culminating in a Capstone project. Beyond academics, Purdue IE provides internships, co-ops, study abroad, and leadership opportunities, preparing graduates for diverse careers in industry and beyond.

Takeaways

• 🎓 A Purdue Industrial Engineering degree is versatile and offers a wide range of career opportunities.
• 🔧 Industrial Engineering integrates various elements like people, information, machines, and materials to improve business decisions.
• 🤖 IEs apply a mix of engineering, mathematics, science, and business principles to simplify complex systems and operations.
• 🌐 The degree provides a blend of technical and soft skills, appealing to those who enjoy both.
• 🛠️ Industrial Engineers may work in diverse fields such as healthcare, automotive, manufacturing, and service industries.
• 🏆 They are trained to specialize in productivity and quality improvement, setting them apart in the engineering field.
• 🧠 Human factors courses in the curriculum focus on understanding cognition, decision-making, and ergonomics.
• 📊 Operations research education equips students with computational tools and information engineering principles for system optimization.
• 🏭 Manufacturing courses expose students to real-world processes, enabling practical design recommendations.
• 🚀 Production systems training develops skills in designing, planning, and scheduling complex networks and systems.
• 🌟 The senior year includes a Capstone project, often solving real-world problems for corporate partners, with global opportunities.
• 🌍 Beyond the classroom, Purdue IE offers activities like study abroad, internships, co-ops, and involvement in student organizations.
• 💼 Industrial Engineers are prepared for a variety of job titles post-graduation, from engineers to executives and entrepreneurs.
• 🔗 Purdue IE has strong industry connections, with over 210 corporations recruiting graduates annually.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Industrial Engineering?

Industrial Engineering integrates people, information, machines, and materials, using information to help companies and organizations make better business decisions.

How does Industrial Engineering combine business and engineering?

Industrial Engineering applies engineering, mathematics, science, and business principles to improve and simplify complex systems and operations from a systems perspective.

What are some potential career paths for Industrial Engineering graduates?

IEs might streamline hospital operating rooms, redesign automotive manufacturing plant layouts, reduce waste in production processes, improve cockpit design, shorten amusement park wait times, improve restaurant food service, or simplify worldwide product distribution.

What specific skills do Industrial Engineers develop?

Industrial Engineers are trained to specialize in productivity and quality improvement, learn to think logically and strategize, and develop communication skills.

What are the four areas of focus in Purdue IE courses?

Purdue IE courses focus on human factors, operations research, manufacturing, and production systems training.

What is the significance of the Capstone project in Purdue IE education?

The Capstone project in the senior year involves solving a real-world problem for corporate partners, providing students with practical experience and global opportunities.

What beyond-the-classroom activities are available for Purdue IE students?

Purdue IE offers activities such as study abroad, internships, co-ops, student organizations like the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE), and undergraduate research opportunities.

How does the co-op program at Purdue work?

The co-op program allows students to switch between school and work every semester, with options for up to five sessions or three sessions of work.

What are some of the roles Purdue IE alumni might hold in their careers?

Alumni may work as industrial engineers, manufacturing engineers, systems analysts, operations engineers and managers, supply chain analysts, directors, VPs for Supply Chain, Worldwide Sales, and Continuous Improvement, COOs, CIOs, company presidents, CEOs, and even entrepreneurs.

How does Purdue IE prepare students for the interconnected world?

Purdue IE prepares students by offering global opportunities like internships and co-ops in places like Ghana, Argentina, and Colombia, and by teaching them how engineers from different parts of the world operate.

What are some of the key lessons learned outside the classroom in Purdue IE?

Key lessons include interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds, which helps develop skills that are useful throughout life.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Industrial Engineering: Versatility and Opportunities

The first paragraph highlights the versatility and broad application of a Purdue Industrial Engineering degree. Industrial Engineering integrates various elements such as people, information, machines, and materials to help companies make better business decisions. The field offers a mix of business and engineering, providing graduates with a wide range of career options. Students learn to apply engineering, mathematics, science, and business principles to improve complex systems and operations. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of human factors, operations research, manufacturing, and production systems in the curriculum. The educational experience is enriched by a Capstone project in the senior year, solving real-world problems for corporate partners. Beyond the classroom, students can participate in study abroad programs, internships, co-ops, and join student organizations like the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE). The paragraph concludes with personal experiences of students who have benefited from these opportunities, including internships in Ghana and Argentina, and involvement in the National Society of Black Engineers and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

05:02

🏢 Career Paths and Real-World Applications of Industrial Engineering

The second paragraph focuses on the career paths and real-world applications of Industrial Engineering. It discusses a research project aimed at minimizing the time people spend waiting for coffee using task analysis and graph theory, demonstrating the practical application of IE skills. The paragraph also addresses the diverse job titles that Industrial Engineering graduates might hold, ranging from industrial engineers to supply chain analysts, operations managers, and even CEOs. Purdue's industrial engineering graduates are highly sought after, with over 210 corporations recruiting annually. These companies engage with students through various means, including sponsoring projects, attending career fairs, and providing mentorship. The paragraph concludes with reflections on the importance of learning outside the classroom, emphasizing the value of interacting with diverse cultures and backgrounds, which are crucial skills for a successful career in Industrial Engineering.

Keywords

💡Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering, often abbreviated as IE, is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the optimization of complex processes, systems, or organizations. It integrates various elements such as people, information, machines, and materials to improve efficiency and productivity. In the video, it is highlighted as a versatile degree that prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities, emphasizing its holistic approach to problem-solving and its application in diverse industries.

💡Systems Perspective

A systems perspective refers to an approach that considers the entirety of a system, including its components and their interactions, rather than just individual parts. In the context of the video, this concept is crucial for Industrial Engineers who are trained to view and analyze complex systems to identify areas for improvement and to make better business decisions.

💡Productivity

Productivity in the video script refers to the efficiency of output per unit of input, which is a key focus for Industrial Engineers. They are trained to specialize in enhancing productivity by optimizing processes and systems, as mentioned in the transcript where it states that 'We are the only engineering professionals trained specifically to specialize in productivity, and quality improvement.'

💡Quality Improvement

Quality improvement is the process of enhancing the level of quality of products or services. Industrial Engineers are specifically trained to focus on this area, as they apply their knowledge to refine and elevate the standard of operations, which is exemplified in the script where it mentions their specialization in 'productivity, and quality improvement.'

💡Human Factors

Human factors, also known as ergonomics, is the study of designing systems and processes that take into account the human interaction with them. In the video, it is mentioned that Purdue IE courses include 'Human factors courses' which provide knowledge on cognition, decision making, and ergonomic principles to ensure that systems are designed to be user-friendly and efficient.

💡Operations Research

Operations research is a discipline that deals with the application of advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions. In the context of the video, it is part of the IE education that equips students with 'computational tools and information engineering principles to optimize the performance of diverse systems.'

💡Manufacturing

The term 'Manufacturing' in the script refers to the processes involved in producing goods. Industrial Engineering courses expose students to real-world manufacturing processes, enabling them to recommend practical designs and decisions, as indicated by the phrase 'Manufacturing courses give the students exposure to real-world processes.'

💡Production Systems

Production systems are the integrated set of activities and resources involved in the creation of goods and services. The script mentions that production systems training provides students with the skills to 'design, plan, and schedule complex systems & networks,' which is a critical aspect of an Industrial Engineer's expertise.

💡Capstone Project

A Capstone project is a culminating academic task that is typically completed in the final year of study. In the video, it is described as a project where students solve a real-world problem for corporate partners, which serves to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies.

💡Internships and Co-ops

Internships and co-ops are practical work experiences that students undertake to complement their academic learning. The script highlights these opportunities as part of Purdue IE's 'beyond the classroom' activities, where students can gain work experience and apply their IE skills in real-world settings, as evidenced by the speaker's experience with General Motors and Walt Disney Company.

💡Supply Chain

Supply chain refers to the network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from the supplier to the customer. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of potential career paths for IE graduates, such as supply chain analysts, indicating the broad applicability of IE skills in managing and optimizing supply chain operations.

Highlights

A Purdue Industrial Engineering degree is extremely versatile and can help you accomplish your dreams.

Industrial Engineering integrates people, information, machines, and materials.

IEs use information to help companies and organizations make better business decisions.

Industrial Engineering applies engineering, mathematics, science, and business principles to improve and simplify complex systems and operations.

The degree offers a mix of business and engineering, providing a wide range of career choices.

Industrial Engineering brings together the empirical side of engineering with soft skills, offering a holistic view.

IEs might streamline a hospital operating room, re-design automotive manufacturing plant layouts, or improve cockpit design.

Industrial Engineers are trained specifically to specialize in productivity and quality improvement.

Industrial Engineering teaches logical thinking, strategizing, and communication skills.

IE problem-solving skills help break down complex problems into manageable parts.

Purdue IE courses focus on human factors, operations research, manufacturing, and production systems training.

Students' senior year culminates with a Capstone project, solving real-world problems for corporate partners.

Purdue IE offers 'beyond the classroom' activities like study abroad, internships, co-ops, and student organizations.

Industrial engineers need to know how engineers from different parts of the world operate to solve problems efficiently.

Co-op program allows students to switch between school and work every semester, gaining work experience.

Purdue IE alumni choose from a wide variety of careers with domestic and international companies or pursue graduate degrees.

Over 210 corporations annually recruit Purdue industrial engineering graduates.

The lessons learned outside of the classroom, such as interacting with diverse cultures, are skills that last a lifetime.

Purdue Industrial Engineering has an exceptional reputation and provides opportunities to help students accomplish their dreams.

Transcripts

A Purdue Industrial Engineering degree is extremely versatile - and can help you accomplish

your dreams.

Industrial Engineering – or IEs – integrates people, information, machines and materials.

IEs use information to help companies and organizations make better business decisions.

We apply engineering, mathematics, science and business principles to improve and simplify

complex systems and operations - using a systems perspective.

I chose Industrial Engineering because I really liked how it was a mix of business and engineering,

and I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do after college but I knew with an industrial

engineering degree I would have a ton of amazing choices.

I chose industrial Engineering because it closely brings together the empirical side

of engineering with more soft skills, people side – it’s a holistic view of a lot of

things and I really enjoyed that.

IEs might streamline a hospital operating room, re-design the layout of an automotive

manufacturing plant, reduce waste in a production process, improve cockpit design, shorten the

wait time in amusement park lines, improve food service in a restaurant, or simplify

worldwide product distribution.

We are the only engineering professionals trained specifically to specialize in productivity

and quality improvement.

Industrial Engineering has given me a way to not only learn how to think logically and

strategize but also mix in the communication skills that were my strengths in high school.

With the problem-solving you learned in IE, the tasks that you’ve got that were seemingly

daunting, whether it was in classes or on tests, you learn to break them apart, take

in all the information that you received, and then use that information to solve little

piece by little piece to eventually break down a complex problem.

Purdue IE courses – taught by our world-class faculty – focus on four areas:

Human factors courses provide an “above the neck” understanding of cognition and

decision making and a “below the neck” knowledge base of ergonomic principles.

Operations research education gives the students the computational tools and information engineering

principles to optimize the performance of diverse systems.

Manufacturing courses give the students exposure to real-world processes, so that IEs can recommend

practical designs and decisions to implement.

Production systems training give the students the skills to design, plan, and schedule complex

systems & networks.

Students’ senior year culminates with a Capstone project, solving a real-world problem

for one of our many corporate partners – including some global opportunities in places like Colombia

and Jordan, and in other states.

One of the highlights in my educational experience was getting to travel to Los Angeles for my

senior design project – we got to go there for a weekend…That was a really great opportunity

this school provided me.

[insert Hollywood photo over cut]

Purdue IE also offers many “beyond the classroom” activities: study abroad, internships, co-ops

(where students work 3- or 5-semesters to gain work experience prior to graduation),

student organizations such as the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE],

and undergraduate research opportunities.

Today’s world is becoming increasingly interconnected and us as industrial engineers need to know

how engineers from different parts of the world operate in order to bring them and technology

together to solve problems in the most efficient way possible.

I’ve done three internships – two in Ghana and one in Argentina this last summer, working

in plants all three times.

It’s been a great opportunity to showcase what IE is and the real-world applications

of IE.

Co-op is a program here at Purdue that you switch between school and work every semester,

and you can do either up to five sessions or three sessions of work.

I had the great opportunity of working with both the General Motors Corporation and the

Walt Disney Company.

With those opportunities I’ve been able to learn what industrial engineers do in industry,

and it’s helped me to understand what I specifically want to do when I graduate.

I’ve been a member of the National Society of Black Engineers for two years and I’ve

been the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council for two years as well.

I’m currently the Ambassador Director for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers,

where I get to work closely with both IISE and the School of Industrial Engineering to

promote IE to future and current students.

For me personally this was a great opportunity for me to either find out what I really enjoy

in research and what I didn’t enjoy within research, and that helps change me to be a

better industrial engineer as I know what I want to pursue further and areas that didn’t

interest me as much.

This summer for my research project I’ve been focusing on minimizing the time people

are in front of the coffee machine by using task analysis and graph theory.

With that I’ve been able to find the most efficient times and efficient ways for people

to get their drinks.

You probably WON’T be called an industrial engineer – you’ll have some other job

title because of the broad spectrum of what IEs do.

After graduation, our alumni choose from a wide variety of careers with domestic and

international companies, and some go on to pursue graduate degrees.

Some may work as industrial engineers.

Others are called manufacturing engineers, systems analysts and engineers, operations

engineers and managers, supply chain analysts, and onward – to Directors; VPs for Supply

Chain, Worldwide Sales, and Continuous Improvement; COOs; CIOs; company presidents; CEOs; and

some even become entrepreneurs.

Over 210 corporations annually recruit Purdue industrial engineering grads.

These companies are involved with our students in many ways: sponsoring senior design Capstone

Projects and undergraduate research, recruiting at our semi-annual career fairs, speaking

in classes, serving as engineers-in-residence and mentors, and so on.

The lessons that stood out the most were what I learned outside of the classroom – just

interacting with different people from different cultures, totally different backgrounds, and

those are skills I’m gonna use the rest of my life.

I chose Purdue Industrial Engineering because it has an exceptional reputation in the field

of Industrial Engineering, and because it has given me opportunities that have helped

me accomplish dreams I didn’t even know I had.