Master’s in Industrial Engineering provides a graduate-level introduction to industrial engineering. The programme consists of graduate-level coursework in operations research, statistics, and applied industrial engineering. The main emphasis is on modeling, analysis, and proposing solutions to problems. This engineering profession is concerned with the optimization of complex processes, systems, or organizations by developing, improving and implementing integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy and materials. There has been a general consensus among historians that the genesis of industrial engineering traces its roots to the Industrial Revolution.
According to a report published by the National Foundation for American Policy, around 75% of full-time graduate students in Industrial Engineering programs at U.S. universities (2015) are international students. The number of full-time graduate international students studying Industrial Engineering in 2015 is 7,676.
Course Structure
Usually, various universities provide Master of Science and Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering. The general curriculum involves study of subjects such as Manufacturing Engineering; Analytics and machine learning; Computer-aided manufacturing; Engineering economics; Financial engineering; Human factors engineering and ergonomics (safety engineering); Lean Six Sigma; Management sciences; Materials management; Operations management; Operations research and optimization techniques; Predetermined motion time system and computer use for IE; Product development; Production planning and control; Productivity improvement; Project management; Reliability engineering and life testing; Robotics; Statistical process control or quality control; Supply chain management and logistics; System dynamics and policy planning; Systems simulation and stochastic processes; Time and motion study; Facilities design and work-space design; Quality engineering; System analysis and techniques.
Masters in Industrial engineering is a formal degree that has been around for years. However, the method of teaching differs across countries. For example, Turkey lays a strong emphasis on the technical aspects of the programme, while Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom focus on the management aspects, which makes it less technical. The United States, meanwhile, focuses on case-studies and group problem solving and maintains a balance between the technical and non technical fields of the programme.
Eligibility
Applicants to this programme typically hold an undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, science, or computing from a recognized institution, though anyone with a strong quantitative aptitude are encouraged to study Industrial Engineering.
To seek admission, applicants are required to have an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree or an equivalent and complete the GRE General Test. Applicants may submit GMAT scores as an alternative, but the GRE is preferred. Applicants must describe any relevant work experience in the personal statement and submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if English is not their primary native language. A university normally decides the admission of a student based on the following factors: Performance in all prior degree programs (earned GPA, field (s), institution (s)); GRE scores, especially of the quantitative and analytical writing portions; letters of reference.
Operations Research
It involves the usage of mathematical science concerned with optimal decision making and the modeling of deterministic and probabilistic systems. The specialization’s focus and fields of application are interdisciplinary in nature while embracing a broad range of quantitative techniques. Industrial engineering is generally concerned with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of personnel, material, and equipment. Altogether, operations research and industrial engineering provide a concrete and rational approach to engineering and managerial problems through a deliberate application of scientific methods.
Industrial Management
This field involves business administration and engineering that studies the structure and organization of industrial companies. The specialization consists of those fields of business administration that are necessary for the successful operation of companies within the manufacturing sector and the enveloping services (mainly operations management, marketing, and financial management).
Industrial Management concepts were strongly influenced by the establishment of MIT School of Industrial Management in 1952 (it was renamed later in 1964 as Sloan School of Management). The Contemporary Graduate programs in industrial management field draw on Sloan’s idea and provide engineers with a strategic management education with a focus on production management, marketing, financial management, human resources as well as commercial law – augmented by corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and sustainability topics. The primary goal of the programme is to enable students and professionals to foster a holistic approach to industry management.
Usually, students acquire working knowledge of management functions and analytical skills in the first year of their degree program. After that, students seek internships and pursue their elective courses which results in a specialization.
Degree programs in Industrial Management are very popular in economies where the manufacturing output is quite high, such as the US, Germany, China, etc. German universities have incorporated a number of advanced level courses in engineering in their graduate program in Industrial management, such as the M.Eng programme. The US universities and German applied science universities offer MBA programs in Industrial Management which adhere to the original idea of Sloan and have a strong focus on the application of theory.
Manufacturing Systems Management
Manufacturing Industry is going through a rapid change. Global competition, rapid technological advances in manufacturing technology, enterprise integration, and an expanding role for software are putting tremendous pressure on manufacturing businesses ranging from the Fortune 500 companies to small job shops. Manufacturing professionals need to be up-to-date with knowledge and skills required in rapidly evolving fields. The specialization provides latest technology and broad management skills that are required for success in today’s business. This interdisciplinary specialization prepares the professionals of the manufacturing domain to lead their company when it comes to the integration of the entire product commercialization process that includes conceptualization, designing, manufacturing process development, production and distribution. The program provides a broad set of business skills to manage this integrated process including strategies, globalization, project management, and quality.
Supply Chain Management
The management of the flow of goods and services and all the processes that transform raw materials into final products is only possible with an efficient Supply Chain Management. It involves actively conducting the business's supply related activities in order to gain a competitive advantage and maximize customer value. Through SCM, suppliers develop and implement efficient and economical supply chains covering everything from production to product development to information systems.
Usually, SCM centrally controls or links the production, shipment, and distribution of a product. By effectively managing and monitoring the supply chain, firms are able to mitigate extra costs and delivery time of the products. They achieve it by keeping tighter control of internal inventories, internal production, distribution, sales, and inventories of company vendors.
In SCM, the coordination of logistical aspects consists of five parts: plan or strategy; source (of raw materials or services); manufacturing (focused on productivity and efficiency); delivery and logistics; the return system (for defective or unwanted products).
Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering
In the contemporary times, enterprise process re-engineering and digital manufacturing are becoming prevalent in the workplace. Therefore, engineering and science professionals need to be equipped with the skills required to address the enterprise as a holistic system of technologies, decision-making processes, and cultural components. The graduate programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering program as an interdisciplinary specialization is meant for individuals who aspire to leadership positions in industry, government and academia.
Advanced manufacturing is an amalgamation of effective integration and synthesis of automation technologies, human resources, and decision making models that facilitate efficient design, planning, scheduling and control of production of goods and provision of services. On the other hand, Enterprise Engineering uses effective systems engineering tools and lean and six-sigma methodologies to engineer the entire business or design and integration of certain enterprise components for most efficient products, process and business operations.
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Source: GyanDhan's analysis, partner data & university's website. While deadlines are latest, other figures are as of 2018. Double-check deadlines from the university's websiteIndustrial Engineer
The fundamental task of an industrial engineer is to optimize manufacturing processes for their company. They are primarily concerned with finding better ways to utilize employees, machinery and other assets to improve operations within a plant. An industrial engineer generally studies reports related to efficiency of processes, checks the production rate and examines factors such as speed, quality control and workers’ safety. Post that, they make strategies which could include improving training, staffing, scheduling changes, using new machine tools or maintenance of existing hardware. An Industrial Engineer assists in maintaining effective standards of production, increasing productivity by carrying out better labor and production processes, and looking after staffing requirements and manufacturing methods through statistical and mathematical calculations.
Manufacturing Engineer
A manufacturing engineer is an expert in charge of researching and developing methods for designing, building, and shipping various items. They determine the best possible ways of using a piece of machinery and maximizing the efficiency of the assembly line workers. In seldom cases, manufacturing engineers also determine what new machinery or policies are required at a company. They perform broad research on existing technology and techniques to determine the most suitable equipment for usage and the stationing of the equipment on the factory floor. A manufacturing engineer also works on ways to improve worker safety and satisfaction. They even write training manuals, develop worker classes, and conduct performance reviews. Manufacturing engineers work in organizations that produce goods such as building materials, consumer electronics, furniture, automobiles, packaged food, etc.
Business Analyst
The work of a business analyst is to examine data sets and documents to make informed conclusions and decisions. A business analyst facilitates proceedings within an organization to increase the efficiency of the internal departments. They thrive in a high-stress environment and can quickly adapt to the developing conditions of businesses. Generally, a business analyst reports data conclusions to their reporting supervisor to make appropriate judgment based on data. Business analysts are generally employed in financial and administrative industries. They are required to have sharp critical-thinking skills so that they can process huge amounts of information regularly.
Quality Engineer
The job of a quality engineer is to generate a specific plan for improving the business with external suppliers on a monthly basis. To effectively manage this job, quality engineers must be well-versed with computers with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a minimum of three years of experience in quality insurance. Some major tasks of a Quality Engineer are - to develop cost effective processes for discarded or rejected products, materials, and equipment that are not meeting required specifications; to confer and monitor inspection staff procedures, product specifications and project status; to develop and implement manufacturing methods for inspection and testing to promote efficient staff and facility utilization; to plan and direct production and development operations to ensure conformance to specifications and make necessary process or assembly adjustments.
Supply Chain Analyst
A supply chain analyst assists in improving the performance of an operation by figuring out the requirements for a certain project and coordinating with engineers and quality assurance professionals to implement and test their new supply chain methods. Supply chain analysts process the substantial amounts of data and solve the existing problems within supply chains. They could also be entrusted with the task of improving the management structure of a warehouse stocking program, restructuring the supply chain process of material goods, and helping expand on a company's relationships with suppliers and carriers. Supply chain analysts translate business problems into a solution for information technology (IT) technicians and work with SQL analysis tools to find patterns and root causes to problems. Their major tasks are to obtain, analyze and interpret supply chain relevant data; analyse results to improve supply chain processes performance; and to reduce costs and perform analyses on the basis of data using analytical models and mathematical analysis.
Demand
The median pay for 2018 was $87,040 per year. According to the Bureau of labour statistics, the sector estimates to grow at rate of 8% from 2018 to 2028 which is faster than the average for all occupations. As Industrial engineers are not as specialized as other engineers, they are employed in a broad range of industries, including manufacturing industries, consulting and engineering services, research and development firms, and wholesale trade. This versatility arises from the fact that Industrial engineers focus on reducing internal costs to make their work valuable for many industries. For example, their work is important for manufacturing industries that are considering relocating from overseas to domestic sites. Besides, growth in healthcare and changes in the health care delivery methods will create demand for industrial engineers in firms in professional, scientific, and consulting services. Projected declines in overall employment in some manufacturing sectors will temper total growth for industrial engineers.
In the United States alone, 284,600 Industrial engineering employment opportunities were available which is projected to reach 308,400 by 2028, according to the Bureau of labor statistics.
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Source: GyanDhan's proprietary analysis