Industrial engineering is a direct outgrowth of the Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the 18th century and later spread to the United States. By linking a power source, such as a steam engine, to simple mechanical devices, early mechanical and industrial engineers were able to design and build factories to rapidly and economically produce textiles, clothing, and other materials.
Today, factories in the United States and around the world produce almost all of our consumer goods. This tremendous growth led to a need for industrial engineers, who evaluate not only the machines that go into the factory but also the raw materials, the people who run the machines, the costs and efficiency of operations, and other factors that affect the success of an industrial operation.
Industrial engineering as a separate specialty emerged during the 20th century. For as long as there have been industrial engineers, however, there have been skilled assistants who work with them and handle tasks that do not require the engineer's direct involvement. Today's industrial engineering technicians are the direct descendants of those assistants. As the years have gone by, the number, variety, and complexity of the responsibilities falling to industrial engineering technicians have increased greatly. In the past, assistants could rely purely on common sense and on-the-job experience, but today's industrial engineering technicians must be specially trained and educated before entering the workplace.
Today, the scope of industrial engineering goes far beyond the factory. The principles of work flow and quality control are now applied to other work environments, including corporate offices and retail stores. The industrial engineering technician is recognized and respected as a team member in evaluating and improving production and working conditions.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Business Managers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Coal Miners
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Divers and Diving Technicians
- Drafters
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electricians
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Brokers
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Energy Transmission and Distribution Workers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Fuel Cell Technicians
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Hardware Engineers
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Internet of Things Developers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landmen
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meter Readers, Utilities
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Nuclear Reactor Operators and Technicians
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Power Plant Workers
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Roustabouts
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Energy Sales Representatives
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Wind Energy Project Managers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers