What is industrial engineering?
Industrial engineering is all about making complex systems, processes, and resources work better—boosting productivity, efficiency, and quality in producing goods and services. Industrial engineers use science, math, and engineering methods to smooth out operations and cut out waste. They study and design workflows, looking at things like time, cost, materials, and workforce. They spot bottlenecks, set up performance measures, and come up with ways to make the whole system run better. Sometimes, they even use computer simulations and data analysis to help businesses make smarter decisions.
Industrial engineering course curriculum
If you’re thinking about studying industrial engineering at a higher level, having a solid background in math, statistics, computer science, physics, and chemistry can set you up for success. A typical industrial engineering program covers topics like production systems planning, manufacturing systems design, supply chain management, and more. There are also specialized online courses that let you focus on specific areas you’re interested in—like using data to make better engineering decisions or mastering industry tools for simulations.
You can start building the skills you need for this field through online learning with Sign up for an intensive boot camp or go for a full degree program, whether that’s a bachelor’s or (for more advanced learners) a master’s in a related field. There are even executive education programs tailored for busy professionals.
Explore industrial engineering jobs
Industrial engineering is super flexible, with uses in all kinds of industries. Some fields that depend on industrial engineers include:
- Manufacturing: Designing assembly lines, fine-tuning inventory levels, or cutting down waste.
- Logistics: Building transportation networks, managing warehouses, or predicting demand.
- Healthcare: Improving operating room efficiency, streamlining patient flow, or reducing medication mistakes.
- Telecommunications: Planning network layouts, optimizing routing systems, or easing congestion.
- Information Technology: Developing IT setups, speeding up database searches, or lowering IT costs.
Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out the learning options on and kickstart your education today!