BSIE students develop skills to design, improve, install and operate integrated systems of people, machines, materials, information and energy. This requires a broad background in mathematics, physical sciences and engineering science.
The curriculum includes both traditional areas of industrial engineering such as work analysis and design, human-machine systems, engineering economy and statistics, and contemporary areas such as simulation modeling, operations research, and quality management.
Industrial engineering (IE) is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design. It is an interdisciplinary engineering discipline that is highly focused on human factors and includes elements of management.
The curriculum of the BSIE program is designed to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities of contemporary industrial engineering practice. Courses emphasize the application of modern tools, including computer modeling and simulation, logistics and distribution, human factor engineering, production planning and quality control.
The BSIE program requires students to receive satisfactory ("C-" or better) grades in all required courses. Students whose BSIE coursework is not of satisfactory academic standing may be removed from the major and/or excluded from the university. It is the student's responsibility to keep up with the requirements of their major and to consult their undergraduate advisor regularly. Students who have been excluded from the major may not seek readmission to it until they have demonstrated that they are capable of maintaining good academic standing.
Prepare for the BSIE - Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
BSIE is the second largest program at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, graduating about 70 seniors each year. The department’s undergraduate and graduate students are among the most successful in the college, with many receiving competitive starting salaries from employers.
Industrial engineers determine the best way to use the basic factors of production — people, machines, materials, information equipment and energy — to make a product or provide a service. They are the bridge between management goals and operational performance, motivating people as well as determining what technology and systems should be used.
BSIE graduates are in high demand across the United States, with nearly limitless career opportunities and fast-paced professional growth. Armed with a broad skill set, they are improving the world in many ways, including shortening rollercoaster lines, simplifying operating rooms, managing global supply chains and solving logistics problems. Many also pursue graduate level work in areas that require a technical foundation, such as medicine or law. They can be found anywhere that complex processes are involved.
The duration of an industrial engineering program varies, but typically it is a four-year bachelor’s degree program.
A Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (BSIE) is a degree program that prepares students to design, improve, and manage integrated systems involving people, machines, materials, information, and energy. The curriculum includes traditional and contemporary areas of industrial engineering, such as work analysis, human-machine systems, engineering statistics, simulation modeling, and quality management.
Becoming an industrial engineer usually requires completing a four-year bachelor’s degree program in industrial engineering.
With an industrial engineering degree, you can work in various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and services. Industrial engineers manage production processes, improve efficiency, and make decisions to optimize resources while ensuring quality and customer satisfaction.
Industrial engineering programs are offered by various universities and colleges. Some examples of universities offering industrial engineering programs include LU (Lamar University) and Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.
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Try these questions from our free BSIE - Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
What is the primary goal of ergonomics in industrial engineering?
Answer: B. Fitting the work environment to the capabilities and limitations of the worker
Ergonomics aims to design work systems, tools, and environments that match human capabilities to reduce injury risk and improve efficiency.
Which industrial engineering technique uses predetermined time standards (like MTM or MOST) to set labor standards without direct observation of the task?
Answer: C. Predetermined motion time systems (PMTS)
PMTS assigns standard times to basic human motions, allowing analysts to build a time standard from a task description before the job is performed.
Which technique in industrial engineering breaks a complex task into therbligs (fundamental motion elements) for micro-motion analysis?
Answer: B. Simo chart / therbligs analysis (Gilbreth method)
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth developed therbligs—17 basic motion elements—used in simultaneous motion (simo) charts to analyze and improve work methods.
What is the purpose of a time-and-motion study in industrial engineering?
Answer: B. To determine standard times for tasks by observing and timing work elements
Time-and-motion studies break jobs into elements, time them with a stopwatch, apply performance ratings, and add allowances to establish standard times.
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