Career Overview
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians:
- May work independently or provide technical support and services in the development of production methods, facilities and systems, and the planning, estimating, measuring and scheduling of work
- Work for manufacturing and insurance companies, government departments and establishments in other industries
Job Titles
Duties
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists:
- Develop and carry out production, inventory and quality assurance programs in manufacturing or in other industries
- Design plant layouts and production facilities
- Develop and carry out work study and related programs
- Develop and carry out industrial health, safety and safety training, and fire prevention plans and programs
- Develop applications using CAD/CAM (computer-assisted drafting, computer-assisted manufacturing) for the control of robots, computer numerical control (CNC) machines and other manufacturing processes and operations
Industrial engineering and manufacturing technicians:
- Assist in the design of plant layouts
- Carry out work measurement or other studies
- Collect operational or experimental data and assist in the development of estimates, schedules, specifications and reports
- Collect and analyze data in support of quality assurance and industrial health and safety programs
- Develop manufacturing and processing procedures and variables, set machine or equipment controls, oversee production and inspect processes
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,515% Employed Full Time
68%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
There is mobility to related fields such as technical sales. Also, promotion to managerial positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of a two- or three-year college program or equivalent in industrial engineering technology, pulp and paper technology, plastics technology, textile technology, manufacturing technology or a related discipline is usually required for industrial engineering or manufacturing technologists
- Completion of a one- or two-year college program in industrial engineering technology or in a related discipline is usually required for industrial engineering or manufacturing technicians
- Certification in industrial engineering or manufacturing technology or in a related field is available through provincial or territorial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians and may be required for some positions
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification
- A college diploma in manufacturing technology and/or trade certification and experience in machining and tooling or metalworking is required for CAD-CAM/CNC programmers
- In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body is required to use the title
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Plastics Technology
- Automation/Robotics
- Wood Products/Wood Processing Related

Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,515Employment by Region
Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 35 | 2.3% |
Kootenay | 15 | 1.0% |
Mainland/Southwest | 1,130 | 74.6% |
North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 1.0% |
Northeast | 15 | 1.0% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 125 | 8.3% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 180 | 11.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
600Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 10 | -0.2% |
Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
Mainland/Southwest | 490 | 1.4% |
North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
Northeast | Not available | Not available |
Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.0% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 0.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
---|---|
Manufacturing | 280 |
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 130 |
Construction | 70 |
Public Administration | 40 |
Wholesale Trade | 30 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.