6 answers
Borna
Student
Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
4
Questions
Asked
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Industrial engineering or Electrical engineering?
Dear my friends,
thank you for giving me your time. I really need help in the place I am right now. I really love being a CEO and having the control of a company or a factory, I love to build my own startups and company and I know that, that's what I really like and all the university courses are tools for me to achieve this position. If I want to tell you about myself, I'm an 18 year old student from Iran. Im between the top 250 students in whole Iran and with my opportunity I can apply to top universities in Iran. I have worked on coding and Artificial intelligence and I also have participated in RoboCup competitions. So it means that Im good at computer. But also I was raised in a family witch my father had founded a factory. also my uncles which Im able to continue their paths. Well Im not really thinking about working there, but Im confused if I should choose Electrical engineering or Industrial engineering. I know that Electrical engineering is much harder but it doesn't matter to me. But I want to know which course will make me find new ideas for startups. well I know that if I choose Industrial Engineering I have to study subjects which can help me for controlling a company, but electrical engineering doesn't have that subjects. So which one do you think its better for me as a brighter future?
Sincerely,
Borna B.
#electrical #technology #ai #industrialengineering #business #ie #engineering
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6 answers
Ginni Goel
Online Business Manager
1
Answer
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Updated
Ginni’s Answer
Hey Borna,
I believe Industrial Engineering is a better option than Electrical engineering if you are looking for business ideas.
It combines technical skills with business acumen. Also, we all know how important the field of big data is getting. Every company today wants to make better business decisions with their increasing and complex chunks of data. Industrial engineering gives you the foundation for work in this domain.
It will also help you in financial planning, cost analysis, production planning and physical distribution of goods and services.
Industrial Engineers can also join private consultancy firms, R&D establishments of big companies or as purchase engineers and technical sales managers. Because of the broad-based nature of the course, production and they can work with all types of engineering and manufacturing industries in the private and public sectors.
Hope this is helpful for you!
Regards,
Ginni
I believe Industrial Engineering is a better option than Electrical engineering if you are looking for business ideas.
It combines technical skills with business acumen. Also, we all know how important the field of big data is getting. Every company today wants to make better business decisions with their increasing and complex chunks of data. Industrial engineering gives you the foundation for work in this domain.
It will also help you in financial planning, cost analysis, production planning and physical distribution of goods and services.
Industrial Engineers can also join private consultancy firms, R&D establishments of big companies or as purchase engineers and technical sales managers. Because of the broad-based nature of the course, production and they can work with all types of engineering and manufacturing industries in the private and public sectors.
Hope this is helpful for you!
Regards,
Ginni
Carlos Granja
Management
5
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Carlos’s Answer
Interesting question i have to say. I guess formal education isn't going to be a problem for you as you have the right mindset. You are not deciding whether to go to school or not, you are trying to decide which field to pursue.
With that I have personal experiences and some thoughts as I am originally from South America and I may have some cultural affinities to you.
My point. As I grew up in South America, Engineering careers are seen as the best, the harder ones, whereas some other careers are seen as easier. What is interesting about this is that for what you describe, you are trying to decide between two technical careers, yet your bigger picture goal is business. By this, I don't mean that if you are a EE or industrial Engineer you couldn't do it, but I mean you should look into other careers that would round your business part of it i.e. Marketing, Business
Look, you already have a lot of technical inclinations which is great, but as a business owner you will have to be more in tune with the business side of the house, money, human resources... heck if you are the CEO you get your pick of which EEs or MEs you want to hire..etc
Look at the degree path that will complement what you want to do
Do not make a decision based on a degree that is harder (or not)
Make decisions for yourself, not because of what is expected from the family
With that I have personal experiences and some thoughts as I am originally from South America and I may have some cultural affinities to you.
My point. As I grew up in South America, Engineering careers are seen as the best, the harder ones, whereas some other careers are seen as easier. What is interesting about this is that for what you describe, you are trying to decide between two technical careers, yet your bigger picture goal is business. By this, I don't mean that if you are a EE or industrial Engineer you couldn't do it, but I mean you should look into other careers that would round your business part of it i.e. Marketing, Business
Look, you already have a lot of technical inclinations which is great, but as a business owner you will have to be more in tune with the business side of the house, money, human resources... heck if you are the CEO you get your pick of which EEs or MEs you want to hire..etc
Carlos recommends the following next steps:
Nick D
New York, USA
67
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Nick’s Answer
This is a vey interesting and important question. It shows a good degree of self-awareness on your part to consider your strengths and interests rather than follow the pack. Your assessment of IE vs EE is revealing. Have you considered that a person interested in EE might find IE more challenging?
An EE career could be very successful and satisfying in a narrow field of work. This is not to say that an excellent EE could not rise in business management. Plenty do because of their natural abilities and deep technical knowledge which they use to make better decisions. They may get an advanced degree in business.
The IE starts out with a broader knowledge of science and business, specifically educated in both. An excellent IE is ready to start on a management track, perhaps starting at the bottom as they should, learning the business and moving ahead.
You indicate a talent for business in your family. If deep EE would strengthen your business, which it could, and you could rely on your natural business talents this would be good. But if your business needs professional business acumen to move ahead then IE is best.
Choose the degree that you are more likely to complete. Don’t create any unnecessary barriers to your career.
There is, as you infer, a social bias, towards EE, ME, CS and a few others. People in these careers can be successful but perhaps get stuck in their track. I personally know many engineers who are perfectly happy with this and don’t even want to know about the broader business as long as they can work in their lab or at their design table.
In my personal experience, I am a successful and retired Senior Engineering Manager with a Manufacturing Engineering degree, like IE, and advanced degree in business management. My interests are broad and having an excellent science e education and natural talent I was empowered to see the big picture. IE is more about how people work, schedules, deadlines, efficiency, balance sheets, income statements and profits. The IE understands and harnesses the powers of the EE, ME, CS and others, including those with business degrees, to drive a successful business.
Therefore, I admit my bias is towards the IE degree. However, if your business requires top talent in a field for innovation and you cannot find the talent then it could be up to you to provide it, if you actually have that degree of natural ability. You may need the specific degree to manage the innovation of others with technical talent necessary to keep the business alive. If you are not naturally interested or talented in EE, or another specific degree, do not choose it. The advice here is to make sure you are master of the science driving the business as well as the operations.
The value of the IE choice is often underestimated by students and academics but recognized by business. It could be the better choice for the broader minded person.
An EE career could be very successful and satisfying in a narrow field of work. This is not to say that an excellent EE could not rise in business management. Plenty do because of their natural abilities and deep technical knowledge which they use to make better decisions. They may get an advanced degree in business.
The IE starts out with a broader knowledge of science and business, specifically educated in both. An excellent IE is ready to start on a management track, perhaps starting at the bottom as they should, learning the business and moving ahead.
You indicate a talent for business in your family. If deep EE would strengthen your business, which it could, and you could rely on your natural business talents this would be good. But if your business needs professional business acumen to move ahead then IE is best.
Choose the degree that you are more likely to complete. Don’t create any unnecessary barriers to your career.
There is, as you infer, a social bias, towards EE, ME, CS and a few others. People in these careers can be successful but perhaps get stuck in their track. I personally know many engineers who are perfectly happy with this and don’t even want to know about the broader business as long as they can work in their lab or at their design table.
In my personal experience, I am a successful and retired Senior Engineering Manager with a Manufacturing Engineering degree, like IE, and advanced degree in business management. My interests are broad and having an excellent science e education and natural talent I was empowered to see the big picture. IE is more about how people work, schedules, deadlines, efficiency, balance sheets, income statements and profits. The IE understands and harnesses the powers of the EE, ME, CS and others, including those with business degrees, to drive a successful business.
Therefore, I admit my bias is towards the IE degree. However, if your business requires top talent in a field for innovation and you cannot find the talent then it could be up to you to provide it, if you actually have that degree of natural ability. You may need the specific degree to manage the innovation of others with technical talent necessary to keep the business alive. If you are not naturally interested or talented in EE, or another specific degree, do not choose it. The advice here is to make sure you are master of the science driving the business as well as the operations.
The value of the IE choice is often underestimated by students and academics but recognized by business. It could be the better choice for the broader minded person.
Abhilash Suresh
Tech support engineer
56
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Abhilash’s Answer
If you are looking to be a CEO, Industrial Engineering helps you get a better understanding of design, integration of systems and improvements. It combines specialized knowledge and skill in the math and social sciences to help predict and evaluate the product being developed. Industrial engineering offers an education in both engineering and business. It is a field of choices.
IE helps you:
- Improves customer service
- Makes work safer, efficient and rewarding
- Helps understand and reduces costs with technology
All these are important traits of a leader.
IE helps you:
- Improves customer service
- Makes work safer, efficient and rewarding
- Helps understand and reduces costs with technology
All these are important traits of a leader.
Joveli Stesha Njomin
Inventory Management
4
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Joveli Stesha’s Answer
Hi Borna,
I honestly believe that if you really like the EE field, you should pursue it for an undergraduate degree, then take IE for your master's degree. You can always join IE later when you have more experiences in the EE field as well, but IE is a blend of many different engineers who would like to take the management route. I have friends in ChemE who would like to do their master's degree in IE just because of the management side.
It's so beneficial if you have both skillsets!
I honestly believe that if you really like the EE field, you should pursue it for an undergraduate degree, then take IE for your master's degree. You can always join IE later when you have more experiences in the EE field as well, but IE is a blend of many different engineers who would like to take the management route. I have friends in ChemE who would like to do their master's degree in IE just because of the management side.
It's so beneficial if you have both skillsets!
Gary Michon
Property Manager
13
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Gary’s Answer
If you are looking to be a CEO, Industrial Engineering helps you get a better understanding of design, integration of systems and improvements. It combines specialized knowledge and skill in the math and social sciences to help predict and evaluate the product being developed. Industrial engineering offers an education in both engineering and business. It is a field of choices.
IE helps you:
- Improves customer service
- Makes work safer, efficient and rewarding
- Helps understand and reduces costs with technology
All these are important traits of a leader.
Good luck with your quest.
IE helps you:
- Improves customer service
- Makes work safer, efficient and rewarding
- Helps understand and reduces costs with technology
All these are important traits of a leader.
Good luck with your quest.