Description
Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in improving efficiency, safety and productivity in manufacturing plants. They conduct production studies, prepare layouts for machinery and equipment and suggest solutions to remedy quality problems.
Duties
Industrial engineering technicians typically perform the following duties:
- Collaborate with engineers and other professionals to design, develop, and implement industrial systems, processes, and equipment
- Analyze data to identify areas of improvement and inefficiencies in production
- Develop and implement solutions to improve production and increase efficiency
- Conduct experiments and tests to evaluate the performance of systems and equipment
- Prepare and maintain technical documents, such as engineering drawings and specifications
- Monitor and evaluate production processes to ensure compliance with quality standards
- Train workers on the use of equipment and new processes
- Participate in the planning and installation of new equipment and machinery
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to industrial engineering technician:
industrial tool design quality control inspector
industrial tool development technologist
industrial tool development inspector
industrial tool design quality control technologist
industrial tool inspector
industrial tool technologist
industrial tool design inspector
industrial tool design technologist
Working conditions
Industrial engineering technicians work in a variety of settings, including factories, warehouses, and offices. They may be required to work on the production floor, which can be noisy and require standing for long periods. They may also work in an office environment, where they use computers and other equipment to analyze data and design systems. Industrial engineering technicians typically work full-time, and their schedules may include evenings, weekends, and overtime to meet production deadlines.
Minimum qualifications
Industrial engineering technicians typically have an associate’s degree in engineering technology or a related field. They must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and teamwork skills. Most employers prefer candidates with experience working in manufacturing or industrial settings. Some employers may also require certification in specific software or systems used in the industry.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Industrial engineering technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Industrial engineering technician career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to industrial engineering technician.
process engineering technician
production engineering technician
pneumatic engineering technician
mechanical engineering technician
product development engineering technician
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of industrial engineering technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of industrial engineering technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
packing machinery engineer
container equipment design engineer
fluid power engineer
rotating equipment engineer
agricultural equipment design engineer
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of industrial engineering technician.
- Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
- Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
- Cae software: The software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.
- Industrial engineering: The field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of industrial engineering technician.
- Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
- Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
- Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
- Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
- Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
- Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
- Advise on manufacturing problems: Advise the visited industrial plants on how to better oversee production to ensure that the manufacturing problems are correctly diagnosed and solved.
- Perform maintenance on installed equipment: Perform the maintenance on installed equipment on-site. Follow procedures to avoid uninstalling equipment from machinery or vehicles.
- Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
- Collaborate with engineers: Work closely and communicate with engineers on designs or new products.
- Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of industrial engineering technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
- CAD software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
- Blueprints: Must be able to read and understand blueprints, drawings and plans and maintain simple written records.
- Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of industrial engineering technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
- Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
- Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
- Use computer-aided engineering systems: Use computer-aided engineering software to conduct stress analyses on engineering designs.
- Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
- Create technical plans: Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
- Oversee quality control: Monitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.
- Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
- Secure working area: Secure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.
- Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
- Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
- Assess operating cost: Estimate the operating cost in terms of manpower, consumables and maintenance.
- Analyse production processes for improvement: Analyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.
- Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
ISCO group and title
3119 – Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified
References
- Industrial engineering technician – ESCO
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Featured image: Image by Emir Krasnić from Pixabay