What is an Industrial Engineering Technician?
By applying engineering techniques and principles, industrial engineering technicians assist industries and manufacturing facilities with their productivity, safety and efficiency. Industrial engineering technicians help implement designs in order to be more efficient and effective with materials, machines and personnel. They plan workflow, conduct studies, prepare machinery and equipment layouts, and analyze production costs.
Most industrial engineering technicians work as assistants to industrial engineers, performing inspections and tests on equipment according to their supervisors' instructions.
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What does an Industrial Engineering Technician do?
An industrial engineering technician studies the activity at a factory, manufacturing plant, or warehouse to make sure production is as efficient and safe as possible. Technicians see if there is a need for equipment renovations, if more labor is needed on the factory floor, or if new assembly line strategies need to be implemented.
An industrial engineering technicians' job may include many different responsibilities, depending on the employer. One facet of the job is often in helping develop, evaluate and improve methods and procedures for processes. They may be involved in the setup and layout of processes and standards, in preparing layouts for equipment and machinery, or troubleshooting and proposing solutions to problems in quality control. They may also observe and record operations for time, motion, method and speed in order to establish production rates, or to improve efficiency.
An industrial engineering technician may also perform audits and inspections, write directives, reports and procedures, implement preventions or solutions to problems, analyze and improve processes, or recommend fixes. Some technicians also train and oversee personnel and make sure things are being done in compliance with legal regulations.
Industrial engineering technicians responsibilities may include:
- Suggesting changes to methods of operation, material handling, or equipment layout
- Interpreting engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, and formulas
- Conferring with management or engineering staff to determine quality and reliability standards
- Recommending changes to production standards so as to achieve the best quality within the limits of the capabilities of the equipment
- Helping plan work assignments, taking into account workers’ performance, the capabilities of machines, and production schedules
- Preparing charts, graphs, and diagrams to show workflow, routing, floor layouts, how materials are handled, and how machines are used
- Collecting data to assist in process improvement activities
What is the workplace of an Industrial Engineering Technician like?
Industrial engineering technicians work in varied industry settings, but still perform the same basic functions. Businesses that may employ industrial engineering technicians include factories, offices, stores, repair shops, health care facilities, and landfills.