Industrial Engineers are people-oriented systems integrators. They apply practical and scientific knowledge to solving engineering and management problems with special consideration for the human element. They design and implement systems, which maximize efficiency in the utilization of resources: energy, money, material, machines, and personnel."

Students in the Cal Poly's Industrial Engineering (IE) program design, install, and improve systems that integrate people, technology, materials, and information. Industrial Engineering students use the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design and specialized knowledge and skills in the mathematical, physical, and social sciences to specify, predict, and evaluate the results of systems. The problems they solve combine both engineering and management concerns.

Industrial Engineering students take courses in :

• Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing
• human factors and ergonomics
• economics, including cost analysis
• operations research and simulation
• inventory management
• quality control
• supervision
• information technology and database design
• facilities planning and design

They also take Engineering support courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, statistics, computer science, and mechanical and electrical engineering.

You might enjoy Industrial Engineering if you :

• like solving problems
• are a people person
• see the 'big picture'
• like competition and challenges
• want to learn skills that cut across industries and engineering discipline