Industrial Engineer Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

Industrial engineers are responsible for designing and implementing processes that efficiently make products or provide services while eliminating wastefulness and reducing costs in the production process. They need to have a solid understanding of the company processes to make them more efficient. To do this, an industrial engineer must possess exceptional interpersonal communication skills, solid engineering skills, and be an analytical thinker. [Your Company Name] is searching for an industrial engineer to take our business to new levels. The ideal candidate will have proven experience designing systems that maximize productivity, reduce wastefulness, increase cost efficiency, and ensure high product quality.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Review production schedules, specifications, orders, and related information to learn about manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities
• Estimate production costs and the effects of product design changes on expenditures
• Recommend cost-saving measures
• Use drafting tools and computer-assisted design software to create the layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency
• Coordinate and implement quality control objectives, activities or procedures to resolve production problems, maximize product reliability, or minimize costs
• Communicate with management and stakeholders to develop production and design standards 

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field. Some employers prefer that candidates have a master’s degree or PhD for specific jobs or career advancement.

Required skills and qualifications

• Strong technical writing ability
• Expertise in working with engineering and computer-assisted design software
• Demonstrated skill in solving complex technical problems
• Advanced knowledge of production machinery and job-related service delivery equipment and processes
• High-level talent in computer technology and systems operations

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• 3+ years experience as an industrial engineer
• Be a self-starter who needs minimal management
• Strong written communication skills

Position description

Leads and completes moderately complex industrial engineering assignments and performs statistical analysis of data to provide information to meet and improve production flow and standard times.

Job responsibilities

• Continuously optimizes direct and indirect manufacturing labor and in-plant material flow through the use of industrial engineering methods including line balancing, time studies, as well as both in-plant and external material flow
• Designs and implements optimal station layouts that support the operator
• Drives towards sustainable solutions by developing a standard workflow for new and existing products while considering safety and efficiency
• Supports safety performance of the manufacturing area through the design of ergonomic solutions for the different operations as well as for material handling
• Leads plan for every part approach to new product launches
• Recommends improvements and/or modifications for the sequence of operations, equipment utilization, and related matters
• Directs strategy deployment by completing Bottleneck Analysis and Value Stream Mapping.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Skill requirements

• Advanced knowledge of engineering concepts, practices, procedures, and engineering standards and systems
• Knowledge of product launch management systems
• Must possess strong team, leadership, and interpersonal skills to interact with and motivate a diverse group of people
• Understands National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to act with a sense of urgency

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a related field

Experience

• Minimum five years of relevant experience (internship, project portfolio, open source contributions, etc.) in large, high-pressure operations (<$300 million in revenues)–manufacturing or similar preferred

This position plans the utilization of facilities, equipment, materials, and personnel to improve the efficiency of operations. The position will be responsible for recommending, procuring, and planning the installation of material handling equipment and devices. The role also establishes work measurement programs to develop standards for labor utilization. The Industrial Engineer may contribute to the development of budgets and forecasts, along with tracking and maintaining other metrics within the Operations organization. This role also may include Packaging Engineering duties. This position may also require standing or walking for sustained periods of time, along with the ability to aptly communicate in a concise, easy-to-understand manner.

Responsibilities

• Design and recommend material handling devices and systems to supplement the movement of manufacturing parts
• Develop and maintain floor layouts for installation of new, or rearrangement of existing, equipment
• Develop standardized work practice sheets
• Perform time measurement studies and delay studies
• Review material handling quotes, prints, and approval drawings to ensure adherence to specifications and process requirements
• Participate in material handling and equipment run-offs to ensure systems function properly prior to delivery
• Provide Industrial Engineering costs and labor estimates for potential new product programs and/or major initiatives
• Other duties as assigned

Required experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering or a Technical Engineering field is required
• A minimum of 2-5 years of Industrial Engineering experience and/or educational background is required
• Ability to work independently or in a cross-functional environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to multitask, while producing quality work
• Self-motivated/Self-starter
• Strong AutoCAD capabilities

Preferred experience

• Basic understanding of manufacturing layout development and material handling design(s)
• Basic understanding of manufacturing processes and machining
• Packaging Engineering certification or degree

The Industrial Engineer utilizes innovative design systems to deliver streamlined operations to the natural food and organic food industry on budget and on time. Develop meticulous solutions that serve our internal and external customers. The ideal candidate will have a natural desire to improve processes and a drive to lead dynamic projects that improve the manufacturing process.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Analyze and evaluate existing systems and processes, identifying value-added and non-value-added activities to solve design challenges
• Conceive, design, test, and develop innovative solutions based on analysis and organizational objectives
• Evaluate and explore new and existing processes, equipment, and materials as an input to scheduling methods, performance metrics, and financial standards
• Verify that purchased equipment, utensils, and protective clothing comply with sanitary standards, NSF standards, or another type of certification whenever possible
• Ensure that all equipment and utensils are designed, constructed, installed, operated, and maintained as to meet any applicable regulatory requirements and do not present a contamination risk to products
• Foster ABC Company’s reputation by delivering innovative solutions while upholding company, federal, and state regulations
• Manage and conduct employee training for productivity improvement projects, and mentor fellow team members during projects
• Utilize principles of mathematics, science, and engineering to streamline processes
• Provide input on the capital plan, including facility expansion and selection, specifications, and process integration of manufacturing equipment
• Current and future facility layout planning
• Identify opportunities to prevent waste and inefficiency in production
• Research and test design ideas to determine feasibility, utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis to formulate/support innovation, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities
• Develop and design robust manufacturing concepts to simplify/improve manufacturing processes to ensure best practice, performing structural and thermal analyses of components and assemblies, building prototypes, evaluating performance, identifying issues, and making improvements
• Create and maintain required manufacturing process documentation, including process flow charts, capacity and utilization studies, labor utilization, time and motion studies, standard work, cycle time analysis, and line balancing
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gain insight and direction
• Utilize Project management tools to coordinate the completion of complex industrial projects, involving multiple business functions, department managers, and outside contractors
• In-depth understanding of lean manufacturing principles
• Hands-on experience building small prototypes
• Proficiency with analytical tools, workflow time study, and process balancing
• Ability to interface with program management, manufacturing leads, customer, and functional leads; provide daily direction and guidance to junior associates and management
• Advanced experience using MS suite, including Access, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Adhere to all ABC Company safety rules/guidelines, and even general obvious hazardous in their work area whether a specific safety rule or policy exists
• Use drafting/rendering software (AutoCAD, Pro-E) to model, plan, and optimize layouts and processes
• Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice

Education and/or experience

• Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with courses in Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent experience
• 7 plus years of related experience