Industrial engineers should be capable of looking at your company’s engineering processes, the people who work with them and how they operate. Once they assess the situation, they should identify gaps to close to increase efficiency. Your industrial engineer should be able to give insight into their methods for streamlining processes. What to look for in an answer:

• Ideas for reducing waste in various areas
• Strong organizational skills they apply to the industry
• Knowledge of company processes

Because an industrial engineer might need to refine a company’s manufacturing processes, they’ll also work at improving their safety. A good industrial engineer will look at how your company does things currently and come up with creative ways to make them better and safer. What to look for in an answer:

• Creative problem-solving skills for hidden safety issues
• Ability to ensure safety while maintaining effectiveness
• Knowledge of best safety practices

Industrial engineers often work in conjunction with other staff members or teams of people. Because one primary goal is eliminating waste, you’ll want an industrial engineer who’s able to streamline processes and other professional tasks. Your prospective hire should be able to tell you how their input on various teams improved productivity. What to look for in an answer:

• Specific examples of teams and tasks
• Methods for improving teamwork and goals
• Evidence of good interpersonal skills and communication

Industrial engineers can face a variety of professional challenges in their work. It’s important that you get an industrial engineer who understands this is a normal part of the process. An ideal candidate should have some personal coping skills they use to deal with work stress. In addition, they should be able to tell you how they overcome these obstacles to stay on task. What to look for in an answer:

• Methods for analyzing the situation critically
• Ability to reverse engineer an issue and find its source
• Willingness to seek advice

Any industrial engineer with experience should know what process analysis is, how it works and how it relates to their job. Good industrial engineers use process analysis to study all the operations of your company. They can then tell you which of these operations is productive, which ones are not and how to modify things to increase overall effectiveness. What to look for in an answer:

• Working knowledge of process analysis
• Methods for applying the concepts to your industry
• Plans for new processes

Industrial engineers hold an important leadership role when implementing changes to the ways they expect team members to complete their work. They should understand that changes in company policy can be challenging. Successful industrial engineers are able to teach new concepts and reinforce new habits over time. Interviewers can ask this question to learn about a candidate's perspective on staff training and their ability to help others adjust to more efficient systems. Good answers should feature:

• Reference materials
• Checking for understanding among personnel
• Patience