Career Paths
Leaders will often deviate from the rails that have been put before them.
Business Development
These careers involve the expansion of the core of a business through mergers and acquisitions or the expansion of the business into new product/services lines or geographic regions. Typically these careers evolve from careers in sales, or planning, or financial analysis. An MBA is generally essential for these careers.
See Profiles In This PathConsulting
These careers involve advising external clients in areas where you have special expertise. Typical areas of expertise include information technology, general Industrial Engineering, or project management. Consulting is often a first step career leading to a management position for a client company or other company which needs your expertise.
See Profiles In This PathCustomer Service
These careers involve being an interface between a company’s clients and the product/service it provides. Customer service positions involve supporting the client after the initial sale has been made. Customer service careers often extend the level of business revenue generated from a client. Customer service careers involve a high level of relationship building.
See Profiles In This PathEntrepreneur
These careers involve the development of a new business entity or the acquisition of an existing business and growing it to a higher level. Entrepreneurial careers typically start when you are at a young age but after some experience in a larger business. Most entrepreneurs will eventually sell their businesses when it gets to a certain level of success and then repeat this process several times.
See Profiles In This PathFacilities Engineering
In their role as a Facility Engineer, IE's have responsibility for ensuring that facilities support the business needs. Facility Engineers work in every type of organization. Facility Engineers can be involved in such activities as layout of the work area and determining facility needs such as power, light, sound protection and environmental conditions.
See Profiles In This PathFinance/Planning
These careers involve high level decision making. These decisions include mergers/acquisitions/business growth. These careers are rare for new graduates and typically evolve from success in running a business unit. These careers typically require an MBA.
See Profiles In This PathGovernment
Industrial Engineers in government service do what IE's do in any organization - make the organization work more efficiently. These jobs look like project Industrial Engineering jobs. The main difference is compensation and job security. While government positions typically pay less than those in the private sector, the job security is often much better.
See Profiles In This PathHospital Industrial Engineers
When IE's work in a health care setting, they often are called Management Engineers. In this role, IE's will facilitate improvements in hospital practices to make the hospital run more smoothly while keeping the cost of health care under control.
See Profiles In This PathHuman Resources
These careers involve all the activities needed to support the employment practices of the business. These include compensation practices, benefits, organizational development, training, recruiting, succession planning and diversity programs. These careers typically require a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations.
See Profiles In This PathInformation Technology
These careers involve the development and execution of information technologies needed to support the business. These careers require a high level of project management skills as well as needs identification for new technologies.Z
See Profiles In This PathLegal
Industrial Engineers who pursue legal careers can follow many paths. Those who wish to have a corporate career typically specialize in legal needs of businesses: contracts, mergers/acquisitions, business restructuring, corporate finance and related areas. Other legal careers pursued by Industrial Engineers include: litigation, intellectual property, or general practice. Some of our graduates have also served as judges at different levels of the government.
See Profiles In This PathOperations Leadership
These careers involve leadership of all aspects of the business including delivery of the product or service, sales and marketing, and strategic financial planning. These are P/L jobs (profit/loss) and typically require experience in 2 of the 3 areas of the businesses listed above. Typical titles for these businesses include Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
See Profiles In This PathProject Industrial Engineering
Project Industrial Engineers are at the forefront of driving continuous improvement projects. They typically have a portfolio of projects they are working on. Most of their days are spent where the project is being made. Because of their wide variety of experience, Project IE's are often promoted to factory management positions.
See Profiles In This PathProject Management
These careers involve directing one-of-a kind initiatives. While construction is the dominant source of project management jobs, any large scale initiative requires project management. This could include a new product launch, a technology upgrade, or integration of an acquisition into the business.
See Profiles In This PathQuality Engineering
Quality engineers are problem solvers who have responsibility for all aspects of quality including manufacturability, sourcing of purchased parts, setting quality standards, resolving quality issues, negotiating warranty claims, and working with everyone who designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains the product.
See Profiles In This PathSales
These careers involve helping clients identify products/services that meet their needs. Sales careers involve prospect identification, relationship building, proposal development, sales presentations, and product/service delivery and support.
See Profiles In This PathSupply Chain Management
These careers involve the delivery of the product/service to the company. These careers include forecasting, procurement of raw materials, production planning and logistics planning.
See Profiles In This PathTechnical
Some Industrial Engineers will continue their careers in a technical capacity. In these cases, they will lead other engineers and technical professionals and will serve their organizations by the analytical work their group provides.
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