The industrial revolution during the 18th century transitioned from an agricultural and handicraft-based economy to industry and machine manufacturing. This transition changed everything from ways of working to our living. The revolution introduced fundamental changes in technology, culture, and socioeconomic customs. The changes included the use of new materials, new power resources, the invention of new machines, and a new structure of work. The application of research and development in industries increased drastically. It made it possible for people to use available resources and mass-produce goods. The non-industrial fields started thriving. Agricultural outputs changed, and the economy and distribution of wealth improved. There were better opportunities for everyone.
The industrial revolution succeeded in sustaining economic growth, and the key contributors who aided this change were engineers. There was an acute increase in research, development, and inventions credited to engineers. They helped replace man and animal power with machines by applying math and science knowledge. They devised efficient mass production methods and designed new mechanical devices to strengthen the infrastructure.
Many specialized field engineering fields emerged, including industrial engineering. Since then, industries have benefited from industrial engineers’ knowledge and skills. The profession of industrial engineering is concerned with optimizing complex systems, processes, and infrastructures, improving and integrating systems and people. Industrial engineers need a four-year bachelor’s degree in the related field. It is strongly recommended to look for programs offering ABET-accredited degrees. Although a degree in bachelors industrial engineering can help engineers start working in the industry, earning and employment opportunities tend to improve with further education. Many institutes offer Master’s degree programs, online courses, and certifications to help students save time and money. Industrial engineers require strong analytic and problem-solving skills. They must have good communication skills as they work with various professionals, from management to employees and clients. They work on improving production processes and systems. They devise solutions to increase productivity and reduce costs. The efficiency and effectiveness of industries depend on industrial engineers and their knowledge to design flawless and stable methods to improve productivity. Below are ways in which industrial engineers work in non-profit organizations, the health sector, supply chain management, or any other industry to improve production:
-
Problem-solving
An essential skill any industrial engineer has is problem-solving. A large part of an engineer’s job is to assess a situation, figure out the problem, and then suggest a way to solve the problem. For example, if a production machine has become inoperable, an industrial engineer would find out the problem and devise a solution to make the machine work again as quickly as possible so that it does not affect the production goals.
-
Improving the production process
Industrial engineers ensure that the processes carried out in production are efficient and more productive. It includes monitoring the machinery, the entire method devised for producing goods, and the workforce involved in that process.
-
Creativity
Industrial engineers may not have first-hand experience with any identified problem or requirement regarding problem-solving. Here is when they fuse their creativity and prior experiences to find out solutions to resolve tricky situations. For example, creating a customized guide with tools can simplify the usage of that tool and consequently can save assembly time.
-
Structural analysis
Engineers perform quality checks on construction after the initial framing to ensure that the structural integrity is adequate to continue production. It involves determining the tension on a structure or machine under a specific design and its ability to endure the pressure for better achievement.
-
Attention to detail
Working in a field where precision is paramount, industrial engineers have a solid ability to pay attention to minute details to avoid the slightest errors in planning and execution processes. These errors can result in significant loss of time and money or hazardous situations.
-
Adaptability
As soon as a problem arises, the industrial engineers start to figure out the possible causes and circumstances and work on providing all possible solutions to counter its impact on production.
-
Data modeling
Engineers gather and analyze data to create models that ensure the practicality of a plan. It is imperative to perform these tasks with all minor details to devise efficient and economical ways.
-
Leadership qualities
Industrial engineers are often in leadership positions even if they are not formally in management. They must work with teams and other departments to design and execute plans. Engineers in leadership positions help motivate workers, which aids increase their overall efficiency.
-
Communication
Engineers constantly need to discuss ideas and plans with the management, team members, or the workforce. It requires clear communication to work in collaboration. If they fail to convey clearly, the technicalities of a plan or a process may produce unsatisfactory results. Such situations may end up increasing the cost of production, which would not be ideal.
-
Pressure management
Engineering jobs are very challenging. Industrial engineers face a lot of pressure, but their ability to think clearly and make difficult decisions is commendable. They can analyze problems and promptly develop the best solutions without disrupting the supply chain.
-
Strategic planning
Engineers have a lot of planning, from minor details of executing a plan to the production outcomes. They evaluate how efficiently their strategy works and what changes they need to make to increase the efficiency. These changes need to be subtle so they can assess the effectiveness and revise their strategy without overwhelming the team members and workforce and, of course, saving costs.
-
Educational commitments
Working in a technological field can be challenging as technology is changing and evolving to suit our needs better. Engineers who can continue their education while working to improve their understanding of new methods and processes have the potential to give more benefits to industries. The knowledge of new tools and techniques supports them in planning means to expand productivity.
-
Presentation and public speaking
Engineers have all the relevant knowledge to increase an industry’s productivity and can manipulate data and come to conclusions. More importantly, they are skilled in selling their ideas to management and clients and achieving the desired results.
Conclusion
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, engineers have played a significant role. Industrial engineers can make substantial improvements and increase production efficiency. They manage all day-to-day workplace challenges. They devise effective cost-cutting methods, design processes and machines to increase productivity, identify wastage in resources and time, highlight weaknesses, and design improvements. They develop management control systems to aid in financial planning and control systems for coordination to ensure product quality. Industrial engineers are highly versatile because of their deep knowledge and skill set. Their services can benefit almost any industry or business as they determine the most effective ways to use production resources.
