Industrial / Manufacturing Engineer
Industrial and manufacturing engineers utilize the principles and techniques of engineering, industrial economics and management in order to design efficient production and manufacturing systems.
They plan and design plant layouts and facilities, study new machinery and facilities and recommend or select efficient combinations. They develop flexible or integrated manufacturing systems and procedures. They conduct studies and implement programmes to determine optimum inventory levels for production and to allow optimum utilization of machinery, materials and resources. They analyse production costs and they design, develop and conduct time studies and work simplification programmes.
They also determine human resource and skills requirements. They develop training programmes, performance standards, evaluation systems and wage and incentive programmes, and they conduct studies on the reliability and performance of plant facilities and of production or administrative systems. Furthermore, they establish programmes and conduct studies to enhance industrial health and safety or to identify and try to eliminate fire and other hazards. They assess industrial facilities and they may supervise technicians, technologists, analysts, administrative staff and other engineers.
To carry out all of these tasks industrial engineers first define the problems, plan investigations, process information and finally, implement their plans.
Areas of activity may include one or more of the following:
- Management and operations
- Facilities layout
- Plant design and location
- Industrial production planning
- Operations research
- Environmental considerations
- Production and quality
- Performance and operational standards.
In more detail, their activities include the following:
Manpower assessments and valuations of job positions, including organizational studies: industrial engineers need to define the number of people, the level of training and remuneration for every position to ensure the optimum operation of a particular system. At the same time, the organizational relationship between the various positions must also be developed.
Technical studies involving layout planning, organization and work studies: this also involves investigating the replacement of equipment, solving problems in the handling of materials, determining the characteristics of operational equipment, low-cost automation, value analysis and so forth. In this regard, digital computers are very useful.
Development and implementation of industrial systems: this involves the development, testing, evaluation and ongoing improvement of industrial systems to enable management to achieve long-, medium- and short-term plans.
Economic feasibility studies to measure all results in terms of rands and cents: various techniques are available for the economical evaluation of technical plans and the comparison of various alternatives. In this regard, computers again play an important role.
Operations research studies with computerized application of techniques such as linear and dynamic programming, simulations, stock control and replacement theory: replacement theory looks at industrial problems in areas such as production flow, facility and raw material planning.
Project management: in the implementation of new projects comprising major construction work, it is vitally important that work progress be monitored against the commissioning date of the project.
Quality control and production management: this includes production planning, control and updating production and maintenance standards, as well as the setting up of control systems to ensure that products are manufactured to set standards.
Industrial engineers usually work normal office hours in pleasant conditions, with many other people doing different jobs at different times. They generally work indoors in offices, drawing offices and conference rooms. They also observe all aspects of the production process. Work settings therefore are varied since there are many different kinds of manufacturing plants. Industrial engineers' tasks are not only to make companies run efficiently and cost-effectively, but also to devise new ways of improving current conditions, methods, and equipment or machinery.
What is needed to excel in industrial engineering is a vast knowledge of how to use the materials and harness the forces of nature through scientific knowledge and information, in order to produce the goods and services people use and need to improve their living conditions, welfare and safety.
Engineering graduates usually begin work under the supervision of experienced engineers and are gradually given more responsibilities as they gain experience. Some engineers with experience and additional education move into administration or management. Many high-level executives in industry began their careers in engineering.
Industrial Engineering Technician
Industrial engineering technicians assist professional engineers, or act independently to ensure that the best use is made of material, equipment, capital and labour.
Industrial technicians are involved in many different occupations. These may include many different areas of manufacturing, which may be attached to research, design, development, construction, installation, maintenance, marketing, sales and management. They could specialize, for instance, in different aspects of metallurgical engineering, for example, the production of metal from raw material (iron from iron ore), refining (iron to steel), milling (rolling ingots into finished or semi-finished products), or the maintenance of machinery.
Industrial engineering technicians' activities can be divided into three main categories:
Technical Studies: layout planning, quality control systems, process capacity, low cost automation of implements and work study
Production Systems: production planning, scheduling, simulation, process planning
Industrial Systems: development, testing evaluation and implementation of systems, systems using microcomputers
Industrial Engineering Technologist
Industrial engineering technologists occupy themselves with problems concerning the optimal utilization of personnel, raw materials, equipment and capital in the production of goods and services. Emphasis is placed on the application of industrial processes and personnel management and on the implementation of integrated systenms. Both engineering and business administrative duties are performed.
Their objective is to ensure profitability by improving production processes, by focusing attention on factors such as production control, cost and quality control, time and motion studies, work methods and statistical analyses.
Their work involves planning the layout of machinery and equipment, as well as the flow of work. Industrial engineering technologists act as coordinators between management and specialist departments and they make recommendations to management. They may be appointed as a production manager and could be employed in any industry where products are manufactured, or where services are provided.
Satisfying Aspects
- solving problems
- the challenge and variety of the work
- good salaries and promotional opportunities
Demanding aspects
- working with demanding or overly critical people
- having to assume a lot of responsibility and the stress that this involves
- the long period of preparation and study required to register as a professional industrial engineer
- having to continue your education throughout your career to keep up with the latest technological advances in your field
Requirements
An industrial engineer should:
- have above average mathematical and scientific ability;
- be curious and creative;
- have the ability to solve problems on your own;
- communicate well in speech and writing;
- have good judgement and self-discipline;
- be adaptable and work well with others;
- be practical, orderly and systematic;
- have an analytical mind and excellent technical skills
- have computer skills
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences
Recommended Subjects: Economics, Information Technology, Engineering and Technology
Note: The Engineering Faculties of some universities offer a support programme to help students to become self-sufficient and capable of completing the very demanding engineering course. The programme is aimed at students with good marks, from communities which lack proper education facilities.
Training
Degree: courses in Industrial Engineering are presented by US, UNISA, UP, NWU, Wits.
Diploma: Regarding the training of industrial engineering technicians, the course is offered by the following: UJ, NMMU, CPUT, DUT, TUT, VUT.
For industrial engineering technicians and technologists, see section on Engineering Technicians and Technologists.
Employer
- Parastatals such as Transnet, Spoornet, Mittal Steel, Sasol
- Mines
- NECSA
- Explosives and Chemical Industries
- Large industries
- Government departments
- Municipalities
- Hospitals
- Universities and universities of technology
- Self-employment, with enough experience and initiative, can set up own business
Contact
The Secretary General
South African Institute for Industrial Engineering
P O Box 653044
Benmore, 2010
Tel. (011) 884-2545.
Fax: (011) 616 9841
E-mail: admin@saiie.co.za
www.saiie.co.za
Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
Tel: (011) 607-9500
Fax: (011) 622-9295
E-mail: engineer@ecsa.co.za
www.ecsa.co.za