What is Industrial Engineering?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Industrial Engineering employs engineering, management, and economics ideas which help in enhancing the effectiveness of various organizations, systems, and processes. Industrial engineers develop, analyze, and improve systems that involve human resources, materials, machines, information, and energy using their knowledge of math, science, and technology. Industrial engineers are hired across multiple domains such as manufacturing, logistics, transportation and healthcare. They are involved in the design and development of various quality control systems and organisation of supply chain systems. 

Some of the key benefits of pursuing Industrial Engineering courses include:

Diverse Career Opportunities: Industrial engineers mix problem-solving and business savvy skills to optimize all different types of systems and processes. They use engineering principles to make things work better, faster, and smarter for manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, IT and logistics, and almost any other industry one can think of. The job role consists of placing order for any of the parts, altering the layout for manufacturing processes, and even designing safe and efficient procedures for factory workers. Employers actively look for graduates who have attended Industrial Engineering classes in order to help them run their businesses efficiently. 

Growing Demand: Several recent employment reports suggest that industrial engineers are in demand across a variety of industries as business owners need professional advice in order to minimize their costs, maximize profits, ensure faster production processes and smooth operations. Apparently, the vacancies for Industrial Engineering professionals will increase by 12% between the years 2023 and 2033, leading to more earning opportunities for students with BTech Industrial Engineering or M Tech in Industrial Engineering degrees.

Skill Enhancement: Industrial Engineering courses enable students to enhance their skill set as they are involved in handling the overall management and operations of industrial processes that helps one hone their problem-solving, critical thinking, management, and communication skills, to name a few. Most importantly, these skills are transferable and can prove to be beneficial in the long run.

Technology is changing the way people and machines interact in the workplace, home, and recreation spaces, which brings big challenges in the design and application of devices and systems. An industrial engineer with the right strengths can be a game-changer in making human-machine interfaces effective and automated systems efficient and reliable. 

Which is why Industrial Engineering skills are creating high-demand capabilities in areas such as software development, project management, and human engineering.

Hence, looking at the current scenario, we can say Industrial Engineering plays a major role in people's lives. 

You can find some good Industrial Engineering books for reference given below, which can help you cover the college syllabus with ease:

• Introduction to Operations Research by Frederick S. Hillier and Gerald J. Lieberman
• Production Planning and Control: Text and Cases by S. K. Mukopadhyay
• Introduction to Industrial Engineering by W. Patrick Neumann and Richard A. Wysk
• Systems Engineering and Analysis by Benjamin S. Blanchard and Wolter J. Fabrycky

Industrial Engineering freshers can get jobs across various work sectors as they are important for manufacturing and production, process optimization, quality management, supply chain, and logistics. Here is a list of some popular Industrial Engineering jobs in India that could fetch you decent salary packages:

• Supply Chain Analyst
• Operations Manager
• Industrial Engineer
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Modeling and Simulation Specialist

The average Industrial Engineering salary potential for beginners is around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA, which differs on the basis of internship experience, skill set, job role, recruiter, and the company location. For students straight out of college, this is the initial salary package but with years of experience in the field, the earning potential will also increase and can easily go up to INR 10 LPA.

You do have some interesting options for Industrial Engineering courses and certifications online, which are affordable and convenient for you to complete at your own pace. Here is a list:

Note: This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

You must keep in mind that online Engineering courses are not valid in India anymore as per the latest UGC and AICTE guidelines because of the technical nature of the discipline that demands practical, hands-on training, which gets restricted in the online mode.

The eligibility requirements to pursue undergraduate courses in Industrial Engineering are as follows:

• Candidates seeking admission in graduate courses need to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects

• The requirement of percentage of marks varies from institute to institute.

• Candidates should qualify the entrance exam through which the institute offers admission.

• Candidates must clear entrance exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, KCET, COMEDK UGET, etc. to pursue this course.

You need to complete Class 12 in the PCM subjects with at least 50 to 60% marks to become eligible for pursuing BTech Industrial Engineering. For M Tech in Industrial Engineering, you must have a bachelor's degree in the same field or other relevant field with a minimum score of 55%. You can also go for a PhD in Industrial Engineering if you wish to dive deeper and conduct research in this field. For that, you need a master's degree with 55 to 60% marks.

If you are somebody who can conduct activities or procedures to resolve production problems, estimate effects of product design changes on expenditures, coordinate and implement quality control objectives, review production schedules and specifications and orders, and help in maximizing product reliability and cost minimization, you can definitely pursue Industrial Engineering courses. Basically, if you are ready to take up challenges and offer quick solutions to problems, this can be the perfect course for you.

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the age requirements for pursuing the BTech Industrial Engineering course, but it is seen that students who opt for the course are mostly between 17 and 25 years old at the time of taking admission.

It is better to always crosscheck by visiting the official website of the institution where you are planning to take admission because the eligibility requirements get revised every year, and hence, they can vary according to the current academic session.

To get a seat for courses in Industrial Engg., you need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria and give relevant entrance tests for admission. You must work hard and get excellent marks in the exam.

Further, you must fill out the college application forms before the last date to ensure a smooth admission process. After the exam results are out and you've got your scorecard, you need to apply for the college counseling process via the college portal. Make sure you go for the counseling process that is meant for seat allotment on the basis of your marks and rank in the exam.

After getting the seat, you need to go to the allotted college to pay the Industrial Engineering course fee after which you can start attending classes as per schedule. For merit-based admissions, many colleges also take extra rounds like the GD or PI to shortlist the candidates.

The Industrial Engineering admission process can easily take up to 3 to 5 months until you get the final seat at a decent college. Every college adheres to certain admission guidelines that involve many formalities like entrance exams, college applications, result announcements, college cutoffs, college counseling, seat allotment, course fee payment, and final admission confirmation. So, you should stay calm and patient during the entire Industrial Engg. admission procedure.

When it comes to pursuing Industrial Engineering in India, several entrance exams can act as a gateway to some of the best colleges in the country offering courses in Industrial Engineering at various levels like diploma, UG, PG, and PhD.

Students can check the number of colleges that accept specific exam scores and then decide the exam they would like to appear for afterwards:

Note: Some colleges accept multiple entrance exam scores.

The time needed to prepare for the Industrial Engineering entrance exams cannot be said with any certainty and rather depends on the specific exam difficulty level that you're planning to appear for. Generally, you should start your preparation at least 6 to 8 months before the final exam is scheduled to take place so that you have enough time in hand to cover the entire syllabus, have a look at last years' question papers, practice mock tests, and plan your revision in the last 1-2 months.

The entrance exams are usually highly competitive in nature, esp. national level exams, with intense competition for seats every year at top colleges. Other entrances like KCET, COMEDK UGET or college level exams are also competitive and difficult to crack.

Though the competitiveness factor varies on the basis of the college or particular exam, the number of applications, seats available, and last year's student feedback, you should give your best and prepare well to get excellent marks and grab a seat at a top BTech Industrial Engineering college.

The duration of Industrial Engg. courses varies on the basis of the course level at which you're studying the course and the college. For UG courses, you need to invest at least 4 years to complete the entire coursework. For PG courses, the general time span is 2 years in India. You can also go for a diploma course in Industrial Engineering, which usually takes 3 years to complete after completing your Class 10. 

Further, for integrated BTech+MTech courses, you need 5 years, and the PhD in Industrial Engineering course has a duration of 3 to 6 years, depending on the research topic chosen by you.

Well, the MTech Industrial Engineering classes cover a variety of concepts like manufacturing systems control and analysis, inventory planning, advanced operational research, supply chain, quality engineering, industrial systems design, etc. This coursework is designed to prepare you to maximize the efficiency of every process of the industrial job.

You get to learn how to project costs and define parameters for things like delivery time, operating man hours, and shipping costs. You will be taught how to use advanced software models to process all the information and come up with the most effective way of managing business systems and processes, which can lead to overall skill development and excellent career prospects given the market demand at present.

If you love the idea of industrial management and have an interest in engineering applications as well, you must go for the course. Rest; the choice rests with you completely based on your interests and future plans in life.

Both choices can be fruitful in their own ways. If you want to explore advanced-level concepts and techniques related to industrial management and operation of business processes, you can go ahead with your MTech degree, which is spread across 4 semesters with excellent coursework and practical training. 

But, if you're satisfied with your academic learning in the 4-year BTech Industrial Engineering course, you can look for a job in both government and private sectors where recruiters do offer decent salary packages to talented graduates who have the right attitude and skills to excel at work.

So, it really depends on your interest areas and career plans in life. You need to sit and think about it carefully to make a wise decision. Best wishes.

While the core subjects taught in Industrial Engineering classes vary on the basis of the course level and the institution, there is some commonality in the fundamental concepts that provide a foundational base to the students for the field. Some general core subjects for Industrial Engineering courses are given here:

• Materials Science
• Basic Electrical Engineering
• Mechanics of Solids
• Manufacturing Processes
• Fundamentals of Management
• Operations Research
• Total Quality Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Quality Control and Cost Estimation

Relevant Link: Industrial Engineering Syllabus

Industrial Engineering includes minimizing project costs, defining parameters and constraints for things like delivery time, operating man hours and shipping costs in manufacturing processes across various industries. Hence, students get to study about the cost estimation and cost control methods where they can learn how to calculate the product cost before its actual manufacturing and come up with effective strategies to minimize the cost as much as possible and maximize the profits. The subject is very important for students who wish to pursue a successful career in Industrial Engineering.

Relevant Link: Industrial Engineering Syllabus

Industrial Systems Design deals with the real-world industrial design scenarios. You can find yourself doing year-long projects analyzing, for example, systems of an ice cream truck, how the product is stored, how much of it goes to waste, how the deliveries are transported, who decides the price, order quantity, and so much more. Many universities also give actual projects from big companies so you gain real experience with real-life problems and solutions. The subject is of utmost importance for students willing to become an industrial engineer in the near future.

Reference Link: Industrial Engg. Syllabus

There are more than 250 colleges in India that offer Industrial Engg. courses in the full-time mode. Talking about the private colleges, the SASTRA University, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra), PSGCT Coimbatore, and Ramaiah Institute of Technology are some of the top choices.

Coming to the popular government colleges offering various courses in Industrial Engineering, the top IITs, NITs, DTU, Jamia Millia Islamia, NSUT Delhi, College of Engineering (Pune), and GGSIPU Delhi stand out as popular options.

When it comes to looking for the best college for Industrial Engineering courses, course fee is a key factor that every student considers before selecting the college. The average tuition fee for Industrial Engg. courses is around INR 2 Lacs to INR 8 lakh, which usually differs on the basis of the course level and the college.

Other than the tuition fee, you also have to pay extra charges like that of hostel accommodation, admission application, semester exam registration, industrial workshops, lab work, etc.. You can check the detailed fee structure for the course at the official websites of the colleges you're planning to apply to so that you get a clear picture.

Industrial engineers work to maximise the quality of a product or service by developing integrated systems of materials, machines, energy, information, and people.

They engage in cost analysis and financial management and ensure that processes are efficient. They are instrumental in identifying various areas for improvement and also design new processes and systems to ensure productivity of the industrial units. 

Industrial engineering professionals work in every engineering industry, be it mechanical, electrical, electronics or computer. The salary of an industrial engineer can vary depending up on the course done, professional skill and experience. At the entry-level, the salary range can vary from INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA.

As industries will continue to seek new ways to contain costs and improve efficiency, employment opportunities for industrial engineering are very high. According to the external sources, employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 10 per cent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Industrial Engineering skills such as critical thinking and creative, problem solving and learning new methods, team player beside having the knowkedge of core subjects are highly in demand in the industrial sector, owing to large scale production of resources. It also includes reviewing production schedules, specifications, orders, and related information to learn about manufacturing methods, procedures and activities.

 For companies which are engaged in the production or manufacturing of goods be it electrical, mechanical, electronics or computer or common household items, industrial engineering professionals are required there. Some of the top companies are:

• Caterpillar Inc.
• Aditya Birla Chemicals
• Boeing
• Unilever
• Siemens Energy
• SKF India

Industrial engineering has enormous career opportunities as industrial engineers are required in every organisation engaged in production or manufacturing. It is an effective career option for those who wish to reduce operating costs of an industry and increase the production. 

The following colleges are popular for offering Diploma courses in Industrial Engineering:

 The various PG Diploma courses are as follows: