Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
From Unofficial Guide to Engineering
Contents |
What is Industrial Engineering and Operations Research?
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research "concerns the design, development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, knowledge, equipment, energy, and material." Basically, it is a fusion between engineering, applied mathematics, statistics, and business in order to optimize a system, whether this is a manufacturing plant or the line structure at an amusement park. And it is for this very reason that it is very difficult to explain exactly what industrial engineers do.
What careers are available in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research?
Because of its broad course material, the content learned in the major can be applied to almost any job. People who graduate from IEOR enter manufacturing, quality control, system optimization for service companies, consulting, and investment banking.
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Berkeley
Industrial engineering is a very mathematically oriented major. Statistics is used to determine whether a process is working correctly and simulations are formed to test various ideas. In addition, more than many other engineering majors, teamwork and interacting with people is vitally important. Designing better systems requires talking to the people who know those systems best and a job is never conducted individually. Furthermore, many important business concepts are taught in the major as one needs to account for economic realities while designing a particular system. Finally, the senior project enables the student to solve actual problems from local industrial firms and government agencies.
If you are looking for a major that will supply you with general, applicable knowledge, like math, and enjoy interacting with people, IEOR is the major for you.
Student Comment
Works Cited
Wikipedia.com
Links
http://ieor.berkeley.edu - department website
