Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineers save industries and businesses money and increase efficiency by eliminating waste of time, money, materials, energy, and other commodities.
Industrial engineers design a wide variety of systems that combine people, technology, information, materials, transportation, and energy to make goods or services. They solve problems in health care, aviation, defense, retail, transportation, entertainment, and finance, and in industries that manufacture everything from breakfast cereal to aircraft engines.
About the Major
An Industrial Engineering BS from UB leads to careers in industries such as airline operations, automotive manufacturing, health services, military operations, and financial services. At UB, students are taught by award-winning faculty and participate in cutting-edge research in areas such as smart manufacturing, human-computer interaction, design for disabled individuals, manufacturing, hazardous materials routing, aviation safety and security, and data mining. Industrial engineers solve modern management problems, using sophisticated quantitative analysis. With the rapid infusion of computer technology into manufacturing processes and service systems, coupled with the demand for higher product quality in a competitive marketplace, IEs are an essential and valued part of many organizations.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduates have the opportunity to work with faculty on research addressing important societal needs, such as improving health care systems, making public transportation accessible to people with disabilities, and making our nations’ transportation systems more energy efficient.
Employment Outlook
The demand for Industrial Engineers is strong in today’s economy. The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics emphasizes how the versatility of Industrial Engineers means that their work is valuable for a range of industries, leading to a stable job outlook. Changes in how health care is delivered is also creating new demands for IEs. According to a recent Forbes Magazine article, job postings for Industrial Engineers have far exceeded hires, indicating strong needs for new IE talent.
Our degree-holders work in a number of industry and government settings including: Baxter Health Systems, Boeing, Bose, California State Legislature, Cameron International, Covidien, Disney, Dresser-Rand, DuPont, General Electric, General Motors, Praxair, United Healthcare, and Wilson Greatbatch.
Accreditation
The Industrial Engineering BS program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Industrial and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.