Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
In the Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation, workers apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. The job can ask you to adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance. With a code of RCI, this is mostly a job for people drawn to hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Conventional interests also help, rated 5.2 out of 7. Plan on one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree; O*NET labels this medium preparation. Strength in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening helps most here. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Main tasks
- Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
- Oversee or inspect production processes.
- Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment.
- Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Create or interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, formulas, or blueprints for management or engineering staff.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Systems Evaluation
- Systems Analysis
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and critical thinking.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.2 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Also called
- Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
- Industrial Engineering Analyst
- Industrial Engineering Technician (Industrial Engineering Tech)
- Industrial Technician (Industrial Tech)
- Manufacturing Coordinator
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.