All engineers work in planning, designing, implementing and controlling the systems that enable people to use technology. Industrial engineers in turn design systems that enable people and society to improve productivity, efficiency, effectiveness, and quality. The industrial engineer has a dual role, both to extend the human capability to operate, manage and control the overall production system, and to ensure the safety and well-being of those working in the system.

The process of engineering always starts with measurement. Where other engineers might measure temperatures, pressures, or loads, the industrial engineer measures the time of a work cycle, the dollar value of expenditures, rates of machine failures, and demand for finished goods. Usually, the mathematical analysis must take into account risk and uncertainty to a larger extent than in other engineering fields.

Theses systems are broadly designed and are characterized by a need to integrate both the physical and decision-making capabilities of humans with all aspects of the system design. Problems can range from the design of a factory floor to the overall corporate plan for procurement, production, and distribution. Industrial engineers are found in nearly every industry including healthcare, energy, and communications.

Process of Industrial engineering

Method, operation, process, task etc. are used in the context of improving production and engineering activities in organizations. The term “Method” was popularized by method study and methods engineering subjects. The term process was popularized by Gilbreth when he developed process charts. In the process chart, operation is one of the activities. Task was used by Taylor. Process seems to be more popular terminology now as process planning,  process orientation and process mapping became popular terms. Industrial engineering carried on processes to do productivity improvement and reduce cost is termed as process industrial engineering. Product industrial engineering and process industrial engineering, redesign of products and processes for productivity improvement and cost reduction are the core engineering activities in industrial engineering.

Production methods or processes efficiency engineering was indicated by Henry Towne in his 1886 paper. He specially emphasized that engineers managing manufacturing shops and works have to focus on reduction of cost of production and do engineering changes to achieve it. A logical and systematic procedure for reducing costs, increasing production without an impairment to quality was described by F.W. Taylor in his 1895 paper. Since then, many more improvement ways were added to the industrial engineering of processes.

Process Industrial Engineering – Methods and Techniques

1. Identifying, Analyzing and Installing High Productivity Equipment and Machines
2. Identifying, Analyzing and Utilizing High Productivity Special Processes
3. Developing special purpose machines
4. Installing accessories for productivity improvement
5. Using Jigs and Fixtures
6. Using more productive tools –
7. Using new lubricants
8. Using new cutting fluids
9. Cutting parameters optimization
10. Process parameters optimization – Six Sigma – Tolerances
11. Assembly line balancing – Redesign of work stations to facilitate balanced load on work stations and matching the line to tact time.
12. SMED
13. Poka Yoke
14. Method Study
15. Digital Transformation of Processes
16. Machine Work Study
17. Operation Analysis
18. Process Analysis
19. Electric power consumption analysis and reduction
20. Predictive maintenance
21. Preventive maintenance https://www.emaint.com/works/optimize-preventive-maintenance/
22. Total Productive Maintenance
23. OEE improvement https://www.oee.com/improve-oee.html
24. Lean Manufacturing
25. Manufacturing Cost Policy Deployment (MCPD)
26. Six Sigma
27. Equipment Replacement Study and Decision