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Industrial Engineer Interview Questions

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  1. As an industrial engineer, your job may entail streamlining company processes to make them more efficient and eliminate waste. What are your skills here? See answer
  2. Your responsibilities as an industrial engineer may relate to safety in the workplace. Can you tell me about your processes for improving safety? See answer
  3. You may work as part of a team for various engineering projects. What experience do you have working on a team? See answer
  4. When you face obstacles with your industrial engineering projects, how do you work through these challenges to keep the project on track? See answer
  5. As an industrial engineer, process analysis is an important part of your job. Can you tell me about your understanding and application of process analysis? See answer
  6. What is your approach to training production professionals on how to complete new, more efficient workflows? See answer
  7. As an industrial engineer you determine how to set up equipment to optimize production. How does the physical layout of a production plant impact overall efficiency?
  8. How does quality control impact your work as an industrial engineer?
  9. Explain the difference between basic processes and secondary processes. How do you apply each when planning company workflows?
  10. Are you familiar with working in a line organization environment and delegating tasks based on authority?
  11. Tell me about the process you use to source new locations for manufacturing and storage. How do you assess the viability of a potential new location for expanding or moving the business?
  12. Do you have experience in vendor management?
  13. What is product grouping and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this organization method?
  14. What does ISO 9000 mean and how do you apply this benchmark to your workflow assessments?
  15. Are you familiar with industry time standards for selecting, installing and using key types of equipment?
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6 Industrial Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

As an industrial engineer, your job may entail streamlining company processes to make them more efficient and eliminate waste. What are your skills here?

A:

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

Example:

“I studied my previous company’s protocols in detail. I have excellent organizational skills, and I restructured those protocols so that the company could manage time and resources more efficiently.”

Q:

Your responsibilities as an industrial engineer may relate to safety in the workplace. Can you tell me about your processes for improving safety?

A:

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

Example:

“I’m familiar with current compliance codes regarding safety in this industry. Safety in the workplace has always been a top priority for me. My safety processes protocol includes ensuring that workers are safe and equipment operates as it should. I always incorporate the most recent compliance codes into workplace tasks without sacrificing production efficiency.”

Q:

You may work as part of a team for various engineering projects. What experience do you have working on a team?

A:

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

Example:

“I’ve worked with other people in large and small groups as a part of a team. I have great communication skills and have been a team leader. I learned a lot from others in an apprentice position that helped me look at job-related tasks in new ways.”

Q:

When you face obstacles with your industrial engineering projects, how do you work through these challenges to keep the project on track?

A:

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

Example:

“I take a look at the specific issue and see if I can work backward to find where it started. At my previous job, I would always locate the source of the problem and determine the best course of action.”

Q:

As an industrial engineer, process analysis is an important part of your job. Can you tell me about your understanding and application of process analysis?

A:

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

Example:

“Process analysis means looking at a problem as a series of stages. I’ve used process analysis to break down a task into manageable steps that I can complete efficiently.”

Q:

What is your approach to training production professionals on how to complete new, more efficient workflows?

A:

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

Example:

"I think the initial training and ongoing support are equally important when implementing a new system. I start by preparing an outline that explains the key aspects of the change and how they relate to each role. This allows everyone to follow along with a document during the training and review it afterward, accommodating multiple learning styles. I use call-and-response questions to confirm that everyone understands key points. I have everyone practice the new workflow to give them chances to ask questions and troubleshoot issues."

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