1. Work Design & Measurement
A Work System is a system in which human participants and/or machines perform work (processes and activities) using materials, energy, and information integrated with technology resources to efficiently and effectively produce products and provide services for internal or external customers. The objective is to create and measure performance of a standardized work environment that maximizes worker satisfaction while creating value for stakeholders. In this work systems, time is the critical currency.
Work Systems Design involves the decomposition, definition, integration, recombination, and verification of human-machine systems, including the work methods, equipment, technology and work environments required to execute productive activities within an enterprise. Critical to the process is ensuring of the functions of a human resource(s) and machines are properly integrated into a fair day’s work.
Work System Measurement covers the tools and techniques used to evaluate the output rates of a system including the time for average, well trained workers to carry out specified tasks given defined levels of performance defined work settings, as well as other productivity measures. Collecting and analyzing data can range from Stopwatches and Spreadsheets to more passive Big Data systems.
2. Operations Research & Analysis
Operations Research and the Management Sciences include a variety of problem-solving techniques focused on improved efficiency of systems and support in the decision-making process. The realm of Operations Research involves the construction of mathematical models that aim to describe and/or improve real or theoretical systems and solution methodologies to gain real-time efficiency. The knowledge area of Operations Research is by its nature mathematical and computational. A fundamental basis in this knowledge area includes probability, statistics, calculus, algebra, and computing.
3. Engineering Economic Analysis
Engineering Economics is a specific knowledge area of economics focused on engineering projects. Industrial engineers need to understand economic viability of any potential problem solution.
4. Facilities Engineering & Energy Management
Facilities Engineering is concerned with the arrangement of physical resources to support the optimal production and distribution of goods and services. Energy Management includes the planning and operation of energy required in facilities to support the production and distribution of goods and services. Their close interrelationship accounts for their knowledge topic described in a common section.
5. Quality & Reliability Engineering
Quality Engineering covers the tools and techniques employed in manufacturing and service industries. In product manufacturing, these techniques help prevent mistakes or defects in products. In service processes, these tools are used to avoid problems when delivering solutions or services to customers. A closely related knowledge area is Reliability Engineering. These concepts are used to determine the ability of a system or component to function under stated conditions for a specified period.
6. Ergonomics & Human Factors
Ergonomics and Human Factors as a field of research and practice is concerned with the design and analysis of equipment and devices that fit the human body and its cognitive abilities. The knowledge area includes contributions from anthropometry, statistics, psychology, physiology, biomechanics, industrial design, graphic design, operations research, and other disciplines. It is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body and its cognitive abilities. The areas of emphasis are: Physical Ergonomics, Cognitive Ergonomics, and Organizational Ergonomics.
7. Operations Engineering & Management
Operations Engineering and Management is an area of technical management dealing with the design and analysis of production and service processes. From an industrial engineering viewpoint this knowledge area employs tools and techniques to ensure business operations function efficiently, using as few resources as needed, and effectively in meeting customer requirements.
8. Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Management (SCM) covers the movement, production, and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, finished goods, and services from point of origin to point of consumption or use. Suppliers, manufacturers, intermediaries, stores, and service enterprises are involved in delivery of products and services to end customers in a supply chain.
9. Engineering Management
Engineering Management is a focused area of management dealing with the application of engineering principles to business practice. Whereas Operations Engineering and Management focuses on the design and analysis of production and service processes, Engineering Management deals with the technical business side of the organization.
10. Safety
Occupational Safety Engineering addresses the origins of workplace accidents, regulations, and management practices towards mitigating hazard exposures, preventing harm, and reducing liability. Safety engineering also addresses methods and measures for recognizing and controlling workplace physical hazards, as well as approaches for dealing with accidents and facilitating recovery.
11. Information Engineering
Information Engineering is an approach to planning, generating, distributing, analyzing, and using collections of data in systems to facilitate decision making and business communication.
12. Design and Manufacturing Engineering
Design and Manufacturing Engineering focuses on tools and techniques to conceptualize, engineer, produce, and qualify physical products across feature-scales, production quantities, and application domains. From an industrial engineering viewpoint, this knowledge area is concerned with the development, optimization, and standardization of methods to transform raw materials into functional products to satisfy the applications’ and stakeholders’ requirements in the most time and cost-efficient manner.
13. Product Design & Development
Design and Manufacturing Engineering focuses on tools and techniques to conceptualize, engineer, produce, and qualify physical products across feature-scales, production quantities, and application domains. From an industrial engineering viewpoint, this knowledge area is concerned with the development, optimization, and standardization of methods to transform raw materials into functional products to satisfy the applications’ and stakeholders’ requirements in the most time and cost-efficient manner.
14. System Design & Engineering
Design and Manufacturing Engineering focuses on tools and techniques to conceptualize, engineer, produce, and qualify physical products across feature-scales, production quantities, and application domains. From an industrial engineering viewpoint, this knowledge area is concerned with the development, optimization, and standardization of methods to transform raw materials into functional products to satisfy the applications’ and stakeholders’ requirements in the most time and cost-efficient manner.