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Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineers are master puzzle solvers. They take a large problem, break it into smaller, more manageable pieces to determine what isn't working, then rearrange those pieces (or add new ones) to solve the problem. The pieces can include computer systems, machines, work environments, people and operational procedures. Making everything fit together to get the job done is the role of the industrial engineer.

In manufacturing, transportation, health care, government and consulting, industrial engineers refine processes and procedures to make them faster, reduce cost and improve quality. They might implement new quality control systems to ensure that children's toys are fun and safe, design computer models to increase staffing efficiency, or restructure offices to improve productivity.

WPI's approach to industrial engineering is a bit different from what you'll find at other colleges and universities. Most programs put the lion's share of their emphasis on traditional technology; we take a broader view. Because the industrial engineer often serves as a bridge between engineering and management in organizations, we prepare our IE students by exposing them not only to the technical aspects of the discipline, but to the art of managing human factors so that their solutions enable workers to do their jobs effectively. And, because computers are changing the way we work, we make information technology a key component of our program.

Programs

WPI's industrial engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which ensures that graduates meet a rigorous standard of excellence and are well grounded in engineering principals and fundamentals. The program is offered by our Department of Management, which assures that students are exposed to the human and information technology dimensions that have become such an important part of the discipline.

Through this program, students build a solid foundation in industrial engineering, math and science. They also acquire the educational tools industrial engineers use to spearhead process improvements by taking core courses that include computer simulation, inventory and supply-chain management, process design, and theories of human behavior. With this industrial engineering background, our graduates enter the working world with realistic expectations, real-world experience and superb technical skills.

Projects

As a learning experience, no amount of classroom time can take the place of actually working on a project in your major. The Major Project in industrial engineering will challenge you to solve a problem similar to ones you're likely to encounter in your first professional position. Projects are sponsored by companies in the area, in the United States, and at some international sites, including Latin America.

Some recent project topics:

• Developing a computer simulation model to organize parking for incoming trailers at a facility used to sort and re-route packages for a shipping company
• Establishing a new assembly line switchover procedure to allow a Costa Rican medical devices manufacturer to convert production from one product to another more efficiently
• Creating a new capacity planning model for an insurance company to help determine staffing levels to meet service requirements
• Developing a Web-based system to manage the ordering and inventory process for machine tooling at an aircraft engine manufacturer.
• Studying ergonomic issues associated with handling heavy device components at a computer hardware manufacturer to reduce employee injury and breakage.

Facilities

WPI strives to provide classrooms and laboratories that encourage faculty-student interaction and support hands-on learning. Many courses use case studies to simulate real-life decision making. Because industrial engineering is largely a software-enabled discipline, most activities take place in the university's computer laboratories and across the network. We recently established the Oracle-Lean Laboratory to give students the opportunity to experiment with different process designs and approaches.

Students have access to a variety of software applications used in industry, including the Oracle Enterprise Planning suite, ProModel simulation software, ForecastX forecasting software, Factory Flow facility layout and design software, and a number of sophisticated financial and accounting databases.

In addition to these facilities and opportunities, industrial engineering students have access to the WPI's manufacturing laboratories and to the Department of Management's Hardware Laboratory, which enables them to spend time "inside the box," learning how to work with computers and networks in a self-contained computing environment. The lab supports UNIX, Windows NT and Windows 9x platforms.

Careers

Most WPI industrial engineering majors have jobs lined up by the time they graduate; many begin working (through internships and cooperative education) before they complete their studies. Our students are heavily recruited by some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including Compaq, General Electric, Fidelity Investments, Lockheed Martin, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Teradyne and W. L. Gore. Other students pursue advanced degrees at some of the best universities in the United States and around the world.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: November 08, 2006 14:24:50