Industrial Engineering: Chart Your Course in a Flexible Field

As an industrial engineer, you have the best of both worlds: a career in both engineering and business.

Industrial engineers work to save companies money and improve efficiency. They figure out how firms can do more with less. Experts at problem solving, they eliminate wastes of time, energy, and materials. If you enjoy puzzles and games, industrial engineering could be an exciting career for you.

What Does an Industrial Engineer Do?

Industrial engineering is a specialized form of management. Firms often hire industrial engineers as consultants--project leaders who increase productivity, improve quality, and maximize profits.

The term "industrial" is misleading. Not limited to traditional manufacturing, industrial engineers also work in the service, entertainment, and health care industries. They lead projects in offices, stores, hospitals, and factories.

Be an Engineering Team Player

The stereotype of the shy, nerdy engineer doesn't fit when it comes to industrial engineering. Most industrial engineers are team players, leading projects and working closely with personnel to make their companies more effective.

Choose Your Path

As an industrial engineer, you could streamline an emergency room, shorten lines at an amusement park, design safer jet planes, or distribute products worldwide.

Industrial engineering is all about flexibility. Unlike specialized forms of engineering, which train you for one specific job, a degree in industrial engineering makes the business world your oyster. Choose from Fortune 500 companies, media moguls like Disney, and global manufacturing giants like Boeing.

Ten Top Niches in Industrial Engineering

With a two-year associate's degree in industrial engineering, you can find your own niche in areas like:

• Project management--Lead teams of engineers in new company projects
• Supply chain management--Manage supplier relationships, traveling to resolve issues
• Financial engineering--Develop company budgets and determine production costs
• Strategic planning--Develop long-range planning models, looking ahead 5-10 years
• Program management--Create new programs and keep things on schedule and on budget
• Technology development--Identify business problems and find technology solutions
• Ergonomics/Human factors--Make employees safer, happier, and more productive
• Quality measurement and improvement--Work with design and production teams to ensure high-quality products
• Management of change--Create change in companies
• Productivity, methods, and process engineering--Define company goals and create incentive plans

Join a Growing and Lucrative Field

Job growth looks promising for industrial engineers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As companies seek new ways to reduce costs and increase productivity in the competitive world market, the demand for industrial engineers should rise. Opportunities are brightest if you have an associate's degree in industrial engineering. Only two years of study could open the door to a high-paying job. For example, in 2008, industrial engineers earned a mean annual salary of $75,740 according to the BLS. Though Alaska is the top-paying state for industrial engineering with an annual mean wage of $94,090, the top five states with the highest concentration of industrial engineeers, all of which have mean salaries over $71,000, are:

• Michigan
• South Carolina
• Connecticut
• Minnesota
• Ohio

If industrial engineering is your niche, you'll find it a challenging but rewarding field.

Start Engineering Your Future Today

The best news? You can pursue industrial engineering by earning your online degree from the comfort and convenience of your own home. Either keep your current job, or study full-time and get there quicker. If you're a problem-solver looking for a flexible new career, you don't have a minute to lose.