Career Overview
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Also Known As
- Industrial Engineering Technician
- Manufacturing Technology Analyst
- Quality Control Engineering Technician (QC Engineering Technician)
- Quality Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- 3D Printing Tech (Three Dimensional Printing Technician)
- Additive Manufacturing Production Technician
- Additive Manufacturing Technician
- Analysis Tester
- Boiler Water Tester
- Business Process Analyst
- CAD Specialist (Computer Aided Design Specialist)
- Cellophane Tester
- Cloth Tester
- Diagnostics Engineering Specialist
- Efficiency Analyst
- Efficiency Expert
- Engineering Specialist
- Engineering Technician
- Engineering Technologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
- Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
- Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
- Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
- Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Design
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Information Ordering
- Category Flexibility
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Some College Courses
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
- C
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Extensible markup language XML
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- 3-axis computer numerically controlled CNC milling machines
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Air conditioning units
- Air heaters
- Air purifying respirators
- Angle plates
- Autocollimators
- Automated vision systems
- Automatic microhardness testers
- Band saws
- Belt conveyors
- Bench grinders
- Bioreactors
- Blow molding machines
- Boring tools
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $46,370 |
| Median | $64,790 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $97,670 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 73,410
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Industrial Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Manufacturing Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $68,730
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $65,040
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $77,180
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.