Masters in Industrial Engineering Specializations

Operations Research

It involves the usage of mathematical science concerned with optimal decision making and the modeling of deterministic and probabilistic systems. The specialization’s focus and fields of application are interdisciplinary in nature while embracing a broad range of quantitative techniques. Industrial engineering is generally concerned with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of personnel, material, and equipment. Altogether, operations research and industrial engineering provide a concrete and rational approach to engineering and managerial problems through a deliberate application of scientific methods.

Industrial Management

This field involves business administration and engineering that studies the structure and organization of industrial companies. The specialization consists of those fields of business administration that are necessary for the successful operation of companies within the manufacturing sector and the enveloping services (mainly operations management, marketing, and financial management).
Industrial Management concepts were strongly influenced by the  establishment of MIT School of Industrial Management in 1952 (it was renamed later in 1964 as Sloan School of Management). The Contemporary Graduate programs in industrial management field draw on Sloan’s idea and provide engineers with a strategic management education with a focus on production management, marketing, financial management, human resources as well as commercial law – augmented by corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and sustainability topics. The primary goal of the programme is to enable students and professionals to foster a holistic approach to industry management.
Usually, students acquire working knowledge of management functions and analytical skills in the first year of their degree program. After that, students seek internships and pursue their elective courses which results in a specialization.
Degree programs in Industrial Management are very popular in economies where the manufacturing output is quite high, such as the US, Germany, China, etc. German universities have incorporated a number of advanced level courses in engineering in their graduate program in Industrial management, such as the M.Eng programme. The US universities and German applied science universities offer MBA programs in Industrial Management which adhere to the original idea of Sloan and have a strong focus on the application of theory.

Manufacturing Systems Management

Manufacturing Industry is going through a rapid change. Global competition, rapid technological advances in manufacturing technology, enterprise integration, and an expanding role for software are putting tremendous pressure on manufacturing businesses ranging from the Fortune 500 companies to small job shops. Manufacturing professionals need to be up-to-date with knowledge and skills required in rapidly evolving fields. The specialization provides latest technology and broad management skills that are required for success in today’s business. This interdisciplinary specialization prepares the professionals of the manufacturing domain to lead their company when it comes to the integration of the entire product commercialization process that includes conceptualization, designing, manufacturing process development, production and distribution. The program provides a broad set of business skills to manage this integrated process including strategies, globalization, project management, and quality.

Supply Chain Management

The management of the flow of goods and services and all the processes that transform raw materials into final products is only possible with an efficient Supply Chain Management. It involves actively conducting the business's supply related activities in order to gain a competitive advantage and maximize customer value. Through SCM, suppliers develop and implement efficient and economical supply chains covering everything from production to product development to information systems.
Usually, SCM centrally controls or links the production, shipment, and distribution of a product. By effectively managing and monitoring the supply chain, firms are able to mitigate extra costs and delivery time of the products. They achieve it by keeping tighter control of internal inventories, internal production, distribution, sales, and inventories of company vendors.

In SCM, the coordination of logistical aspects consists of five parts: plan or strategy; source (of raw materials or services); manufacturing (focused on productivity and efficiency);     delivery and logistics; the return system (for defective or unwanted products).

Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering

In the contemporary times, enterprise process re-engineering and digital manufacturing are becoming prevalent in the workplace. Therefore, engineering and science professionals need to be equipped with the skills required to address the enterprise as a holistic system of technologies, decision-making processes, and cultural components. The graduate programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering program as an interdisciplinary specialization is meant for individuals who aspire to leadership positions in industry, government and academia.
Advanced manufacturing is an amalgamation of effective integration and synthesis of automation technologies, human resources, and decision making models that facilitate efficient design, planning, scheduling and control of production of goods and provision of services. On the other hand, Enterprise Engineering uses effective systems engineering tools and lean and six-sigma methodologies to engineer the entire business or design and integration of certain enterprise components for most efficient products, process and business operations.