You have to see the forest for the trees.
That's how Zelda Zabinsky describes being a plant industrial engineer.
"It's being able to see the big picture and explain it," she says. "Combined
with technical skills and engineering problem-solving skills."
Zabinsky is a professor of industrial engineering at the University of
Washington. She also works as an industry consultant. "I've helped a paper
company deal with an optimization problem that helped them be more cost-effective."
Zabinsky helped the company design software that would optimize its paper
sizes.
A mechanical engineer might design a machine for use in a plant, but an
industrial engineer knows how to use it.
"Sometimes you'll talk to a mechanical engineer and they'll say, 'I designed
this machine and it's not being used.' That's because they designed to specifications
without looking at the big picture. An industrial engineer talks to the mechanical
engineer and thinks: How many machines can I use? Where should I place it
in the factory? How will that affect our people?"
Zabinsky says plant industrial engineers also have to consider the cost-effectiveness
of any proposal. "For example, I'm not going to put money into a machine in
an area where I don't have demand," she says.
"I look at plant layout -- how material is moving through a variety of
areas. Which way is it going from point A to point B, and do you need every
machine to do that?" says Alan Margolese, a plant industrial engineer.
With his training as a professional engineer, Margolese could have ended
up anywhere. "I just happened to end up in wood."
While much of his attention is focused on production issues, he's also
consulted on many security issues. "I work with fire departments and insurance
companies," explains Margolese.
When his company designs a new cabinet, it's Margolese who
has to research and develop the design, change the specifications of different
equipment to accommodate the new line and determine the number of people required
to complete the project.
"That's something that's really important. You can program machines, but
you can't program people."
You can't program people, but Zabinsky says industrial engineers learn
how to work with people and get their best work. "People skills are important.
Industrial engineering recognizes that, and technical things like math and
physics."
One of Zabinsky's graduate students, Yvonne Sasmitra, has combined a computer
programming background with a master's degree in industrial engineering. "I
never really thought about wood products when I decided on industrial engineering.
I just knew I liked engineering and I love the idea of designing and making
things."
Sasmitra was hired to help design and implement a computer tracking system
for a forest products company. She had to quickly learn a lot about the pulp-making
process. "From chips to pulp, it goes through a number of different processes
and equipment. At each step, you want to ensure quality and the right chemicals,
for brightness and thickness," she explains.
On her first project, Sasmitra's computer knowledge and technical skills
quickly gained the respect of her peers. "I was a major player. If they wanted
to know things, they came to me." At the project's end, her manager complimented
her on a job well done.
"He told me I was the second woman that could say it took two men to take
over her job," she laughs. "It was true. When I left for another project,
there were two men running around trying to learn the system. He told me the
first woman was his wife, so I thought that was really nice!"
Industrial engineers have to be prepared to learn new technologies and
processes throughout their careers. "I had to learn a lot about the woodworking
industry before I could apply what I knew," admits Margolese. "Every day is
a challenge. I don't think any day I've been here is the same as the day before."
"That's the great thing about industrial engineering," says Zabinsky. "People
can go into wood fiber or other kinds of manufacturing, even the service industry."
Industrial engineers also make good candidates for advancement. "A lot
of industrial engineers become CEOs because of their skills and ability to
see that big picture."