While other types of engineers design things, industrial engineers design the systems that enable those things to work effectively.
Industrial engineers design, install, improve, and control large, complex systems that include the integration of people, materials, machines, and facilities. Applications are wide-ranging and include manufacturing, healthcare, public service, transportation, retailing, finance, construction, entertainment, and logistics.
As companies adopt management philosophies of continuous productivity and quality improvement to survive in the increasingly competitive global market, the need for industrial engineers is growing. The industrial engineering field is also one of the fastest growing professions in the US.
Interactive Classes
ISE students can expect classes that will personally involve you in real-world problem solving, help you communicate your ideas, and engage you in personal interactions through teamwork.
—Emily Diehl, senior
Why Industrial & Systems Engineering
—Sara Gamble, senior
Hands-On Student Projects
Our students have the opportunity to make a difference for local businesses by using problem solving skills to make them run more efficiently. As Thomas Kincer, owner of Krawler’s Edge said, “[ISE students] really made a big impact on how we do things. We’ve been able to save a lot of time in our workflow—time that we can use to do what we do best: build.” Check out some of our past senior design projects.
Global Perspective
Studying abroad is one way a student can stand out to an employer. ISE provides two such experiences: Supply Chain Engineering in China and Reliability and Business Excellence in Germany. ISE students receive study-abroad scholarships for these courses. Ultimately, ISE and the college strive to provide students with the opportunity to broaden their perspective, participate in experiential learning, and gain an edge for their future careers. Learn more about some of the study abroad opportunities for engineering students at UT.
Facilities
Our department is located in a state-of-the-art building, named for alumnus John D. Tickle (IE, ’65), who has excelled in the business world. Our facilities provide exceptional opportunities for both classroom instruction and hands-on student research.
Lab spaces include the Factory Floor Laboratory, the Ideation Laboratory (iLab), the Logistics, Transporation, and Supply Chain Engineering (LTS) Lab and interdisciplinary spaces such as the HITS Lab (with the College of Nursing) and the BEAM Center (with the Haslam Collge of Business, and the UT Space Institute).
Research Opportunities
We strongly emphasize paid, real-world experiences through undergraduate research, co-ops, and internships with ORNL and other industry partners.
Student Organizations
The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers at UT provides students with outside resources regarding their future professional careers. Alpha Pi Mu, IE’s honor society, and WISE (Women in Industrial and Systems Engineering) are two other groups you can join while at UT. Check out our student orgs.
Career Readiness
Students are expected to have a range of skills and experiences when they step forward into their career. We strive to ensure all our students are ready to excel in their chosen career upon graduation.
Not Sure What You Want To Do?
ISE gives you the flexibility to work in virtually all industries. If you like the thought of solving large, difficult, multi-faceted, often multi-disciplinary problems in challenging environments, ISE is a good fit for you. The skills required in this field frequently lead to rapid progression into management and leadership positions. Learn more about who industrial engineers are.
Connect with our Students
Not too long ago our students were in your shoes. They can tell you what it’s like to be an ISE student at UT as you make your decision about college. Email isedept@utk.edu for more information or to get in touch with a student ambassador.
Salary Outlook
Recent ISE graduates have experienced a high job placement rate. Employers include Google, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, AT&T, Shaw, Boeing, FedEx, Denso, Nike, Pratt & Whitney, ExxonMobil, USPS, Disney Cruise Lines, and countless others. The average starting salary for ISE graduates is $65,000 with potential for a signing bonus.