Career summary

Details for Industrial Engineering Technicians


Description

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May study and record time, motion, method, and speed involved in performance of production, maintenance, clerical, and other worker operations for such purposes as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

Tasks

  • Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
  • Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
  • Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
  • Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
  • Evaluate industrial operations for compliance with permits or regulations related to the generation, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of hazardous materials or waste.
  • Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
  • Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
  • Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
  • Analyze, estimate, or report production costs.
  • Assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes or new products, processes, or procedures.
  • Calibrate or adjust equipment to ensure quality production, using tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, protractors, or ring gauges.
  • Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable and nonsustainable designs.
  • Coordinate equipment purchases, installations, or transfers.
  • Create or interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, formulas, or blueprints for management or engineering staff.
  • Design plant layouts or production facilities.
  • Develop manufacturing infrastructure to integrate or deploy new manufacturing processes.
  • Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
  • Develop production, inventory, or quality assurance programs.
  • Develop sustainable manufacturing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize raw material use, replace toxic materials with non-toxic materials, replace non-renewable materials with renewable materials, or reduce waste.
  • Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment.
  • Monitor and adjust production processes or equipment for quality and productivity.
  • Oversee equipment start-up, characterization, qualification, or release.
  • Oversee or inspect production processes.
  • Prepare layouts, drawings, or sketches of machinery or equipment, such as shop tooling, scale layouts, or new equipment design, using drafting equipment or computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • Prepare production documents, such as standard operating procedures, manufacturing batch records, inventory reports, or productivity reports.
  • Provide advice or training to other technicians.
  • Recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability.
  • Select cleaning materials, tools, or equipment.
  • Select material quantities or processing methods needed to achieve efficient production.
  • Set up and operate production equipment in accordance with current good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Knowledge

  • Public Safety and Security -Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Chemistry -Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Production and Processing -Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Physics -Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
  • Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Mechanical -Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

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