Industrial Engineers
Background
In the military, people need to know that the equipment they are using will perform as expected when a crisis arises. Industrial engineers do research to determine the most effective ways for the military to use its people and equipment. Industrial engineers manage quality control programs to ensure that the military develops and uses high quality products and systems.
What They Do
Industrial engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Calculate the human and material resources required to produce an end product in the desired time
- Conduct studies to determine performance and reliability of equipment or systems
- Coordinate production activities with other organizations and contractors to ensure requirements are satisfied
- Design, implement, and test new systems for managing production processes
- Develop mathematical models to perform various types of cost analyses
- Plan and direct quality control and production control programs
- Study how people work with machines or computers and determine effects of human factors
- Use mathematical analysis to study operations and improve the way work is done
Physical Demands
No information available.
Special Requirements
A four-year college degree in industrial engineering, industrial management, or a related field is required to enter this career.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to plan and organize studies
- Interest in technical work
- Interest in working closely with people
- Interest in working with mathematical models and formulas
Helpful School Subjects
No information available.
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Industrial engineers usually work in offices. They may work outdoors while performing field studies or overseeing the installation of equipment and systems.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Marine Corps
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for officers.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training is offered for some specialties. Training length varies from eight to 16 weeks of classroom instruction, depending on the specialty.
Course content typically includes:
- Management standards, principles, and policies
- Problem analysis and decision making
- Production and purchasing methods
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian industrial engineers work primarily in manufacturing and consulting firms. They also work in other industries and businesses, including insurance companies, retail stores, banks, public utilities, and hospitals. Civilian industrial engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. Depending on the specialty, they may also be called production engineers, safety engineers, production planners, or quality control engineers.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 2,000 industrial engineers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new engineers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, industrial engineers are usually assigned to an engineering, management evaluation, or procurement unit. With experience, they may advance to command or policy-making positions in engineering, administration, or other fields.