Industrial engineers held about 241,100 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most industrial engineers were as follows:
Computer and electronic product manufacturing
13%
Machinery manufacturing
9
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
8
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing
6
Engineering services
5
Depending on their tasks, industrial engineers work either in offices or in the settings they are trying to improve. For example, when observing problems, they may watch workers assembling parts in a factory. When solving problems, industrial engineers may be in an office at a computer where they analyze data that they or others have collected.
Industrial engineers may need to travel to observe processes and make assessments in various work settings.
Work Schedules
Most industrial engineers work full time. Depending upon the projects in which these engineers are engaged, and the industries in which the projects are taking place, hours may vary.