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Industrial and Systems Engineering

The profession of Industrial and Systems Engineering is about choices. Other engineering disciplines apply skills to very specific areas. ISE gives you the opportunity to work in a variety of businesses. Whether it's distributing products worldwide, manufacturing superior automobiles, or streamlining the procedures in an operating room, all of these situations share the common goal of increasing efficiencies and saving companies money.

The most distinctive aspect of Industrial and Systems Engineering is the career and job flexibility it offers. Industrial and Systems Engineers are the "engineers for the 21st century."

The BSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering program is accredited by the  Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and both the Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering Program Criteria.

Program Overview Major Requirements Apply Now 

Contact Us
Vijitashawa Pandey, Associate Professor and Chair
Engineering Center 502
(248) 370-4044
[email protected]

overview

Students in the ISE bachelor's program take a variety of courses to prepare for their career. They include:

  • General education courses such as writing, formal reasoning and global perspectives.
  • Math and sciences courses in calculus and physics.
  • Engineering core courses such as Introduction to Industrial and Systems Engineering, CAD and computer problem solving.
  • ISE professional courses in simulation, ergonomics and human factors, quality control, operations research, PLM, lean, Industry 4.0, data analytics, ERP, robotics, production systems and leadership.
  • A team-based senior design experience that is conducted at a local company.  Companies that hosted senior design projects include General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Rayconnect, Brose, JR Automation, McLaren Oakland Hospital, Comerica Bank, Mirari, DTE Energy, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital and Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital.

ISE jobs by the numbers

  • Comparing the number of ISE jobs in the U.S. with other engineering fields:
Industrial and Systems Engineering 313,980
Electrical Engineering 307,540
Civil Engineering 300,850
Mechanical Engineering 293,960
  • Comparing the number of ISE jobs in Michigan with other engineering fields:
Mechanical Engineering 40,340
Industrial and Systems Engineering 25,380
Electrical Engineering 12,390
Civil Engineering 5,740

2020 Data from U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

what is ise

Industrial and Systems Engineers focus on solving problems from a system-level perspective, which includes people, machines, materials, energy, technology, information and software. Industrial and Systems Engineers must design solutions that consider all of a system’s components so that everything works together to improve overall system performance.

As companies adopt management philosophies of continuous productivity and quality improvement to survive in the increasingly competitive world market, the need for Industrial and Systems Engineers is growing. Why? Industrial and Systems Engineers are the only engineering professionals who are trained as productivity and quality improvement specialists. They are leaders in six sigma and lean systems initiatives. The Industrial and Systems Engineer is synonymous with systems integrator – a big-picture thinker who takes what exists today and conceptualizes what should exist in the future.

A lot of engineers become disillusioned with the engineering profession because they get involved in minutiae or they end up on a CAD machine all the time and they never get out in the operating environment. ISE provides an opportunity for a challenging career working with people where you can have a direct impact on the success of an organization.
 
What others are saying about ISE
objectives & outcomes

The ISE B.S.E. Program Educational Objectives are a set of skills that are necessary to function successfully in modern engineering practice. It is expected that ISE graduates have been prepared in each of these areas and will exhibit each of these characteristics as they pursue their professional careers:

The objectives of the Industrial and Systems Engineering program are to produce graduates who will:
  • design, develop, implement, sustain and improve systems which integrate people, materials, equipment, information and energy
  • operate effectively in dynamic and diverse organizations
  • demonstrate a professional attitude, integrity and commitment to life-long learning in their work
Student Outcomes are a set of skills that assure the achievement of the ISE program educational objectives. Before graduating, ISE students will demonstrate their skills in the following key areas:
  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
student resources
Academic Advising
Scheduling - what semesters ISE courses are offered

X = on-campus and O = online

Course Fall Winter Sum I Sum II
Required        
ISE 3318 X      
ISE 3330   X    
ISE 4469 X      
ISE 4483 X      
ISE 4484 X or O X or O    
ISE 4485   X O  
ISE 4487   X    
ISE 4491 X X    
Elective        
ISE 4410       O
ISE 4421 X      
ISE 4422   X    
ISE 4423   X    
ISE 4431 X or O      
ISE 4435 X or O      
ISE 4441 X or O      
ISE 4450 X or O      
ISE 4455   X or O    
IDE 4456 X or O      
ISE 4461     X  
ISE 4462   X    
ISE 4463   X    
ISE 4464     X or O  
ISE 4466 X      
ISE 4467 X      
ISE 4480 X      
ISE 4482        
ISE 4488 X      
ISE 4900 X or O X or O X or O X or O

Notes:

  • Courses left blank are offered occasionally
  • ISE 4900 will offer several different topics - may of may not be offered any given semester
2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog
Computer account access and information for SECS students
SECS Student and Professional Organizations
Scholarship Opportunities
Full-time Job Opportunities, Summer Internships and Co-op Positions

School of Engineering and Computer Science

Engineering Center, Room 301
115 Library Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-447
(location map)
Dean's Office (248) 370-2217
Academic Advising (248) 370-2201

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