University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Dec 11, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2024-2025

Industrial Engineering, B.S.


Industrial engineering (IE )which includes operations research and systems analysis is a field of study for individuals who are interested in analyzing and formulating abstract models of complex systems with intention of improving system performance. Unlike other traditional engineering disciplines and sciences, the industrial engineering considers the role of the human decision-maker as a key component of the complexity of systems.

IE applies mathematics to business processes to improve efficiency and productivity. IE uses technology to properly manage resources, including workers, and designs and analyzes complex systems that integrate technical, economic, and social factors for all types of organizations.

IE’s methodologies involve probability, statistics, optimization, economic decision analysis, and computer science. Important application areas are supply chain systems, manufacturing, quality control, economic and financial systems, energy systems, healthcare systems and many others.

IE areas of study are Systems Engineering, Facilities Engineering and Planning, Operations Engineering, Work Design and Quality Engineering. To help explain these areas, a sample of the topics taught in these areas is listed below. This list is from the NCEES, 2020, Principles and Practices for IE. These are the topics IE’s must know to pass the professional engineering examination.

  1. Systems Engineering A. System analysis and design tools (e.g., flowcharts, Pareto charts, affinity diagrams, nominal group technique, input/output analysis, value stream mapping) B. Requirements analysis (e.g., Quality Function Deployment, functional requirements, constraints) C. Performance measures and applications (e.g., cost, environmental sustainability, output) D. Modeling techniques (e.g., simulation, queuing, linear programming, graph theory and networks, Markov chains) E. Process types (e.g., discrete versus continuous, manufacturing, service) F. Model assessment (e.g., interpretation, verification, validation, sensitivity analysis) G. Bottleneck analysis (e.g., theory of constraints) H. Value analysis and engineering I. Project management and planning (e.g., PERT/CPM/CCPM: risk analysis, cost, scope, and time; Gantt charts).
  2. Facilities Engineering and Planning A. Process flow B. Layout design techniques (e.g., systematic layout planning [SLP], affinity diagram, relationship diagrams, center of gravity rule) C. Space analysis (e.g., equipment needs, demand, location, footprint of the equipment/WIP sizing, warehousing) D. Capacity analysis (e.g., calculation of personnel requirements, calculation of machine requirements) E. Cost-benefit analysis F. Site selection factors and methods (e.g., prioritization, factor weighting, network optimization) G. Unit load analysis H. Facility life cycle cost analysis (e.g., acquisition, implementation, sustainment, retirement) I. Material handling techniques and equipment (e.g., conveyors, industrial trucks, manual, overhead crane)
  3. Operations Engineering A. Forecasting methods (e.g., time series, causal models, qualitative techniques) B. Production planning methods (e.g., capacity planning, materials planning, JIT, lot sizing, workforce planning, aggregate planning) C. Engineering economics (e.g., break-even analysis, technical capability assessment, ROR) D. Costing systems (e.g., activity-based costing including cost drivers, guidelines for overhead, labor, materials) E. Production scheduling methods (e.g., shortest processing time first, due date order) F. Inventory management and control policies (e.g., deterministic, stochastic) G. Distribution models (e.g., transshipment, direct ship, cross docking, intermediate storage) H. Storage and warehousing methods I. Transportation modes (e.g., truckload [TL], less than truckload [LTL], air, rail, ship)
  4. Work Design A. Methods for analysis and improvement (e.g., therbligs, motion study, man-machine charts) B. Line balancing C. Work measurement systems techniques (e.g., stopwatch, predetermined time systems, proprietary process determined time system) D. Learning curves E. Sample size calculations F. Work sampling analysis G. Safety codes, standards, and voluntary guidelines (e.g., ANSI, OSHA, MIL STD, NIOSH) 3 H. Methods for quantifying risk factors (e.g., NIOSH lifting equation, OSHA limits for noise, coefficient of friction, RULA) I. Limits of human capacity (e.g., strength, endurance, metabolic energy, range of motion, vision, hearing, skeletal-joint force analysis, exposure) J. Lifting aids (e.g., hoist, cranes, lifting tables) K. Link analysis and associated criteria (e.g., importance, frequency of use) L. Workplace design/human–computer interaction (e.g., use of anthropometric data) M. Days Away, Restricted and Transferred (DART) rate calculations (e.g., injury/illness incident rate and/or management of information required to calculate this rate) N. Manufacturing/service process planning (e.g., selection of operations, sequence, instructions, tooling and fixturing, mistake proofing)
  5. Quality Engineering A. Statistical process control (e.g., control chart construction and interpretation) B. Process capability analysis (e.g., Cpk, Cp) C. Acceptance sampling (e.g., single sampling, double sampling, MIL STD 105E, Dodge Romig, OC-curves) D. Quality systems (e.g., Deming, TQM, ISO 9000, benchmarking) E. Techniques for process improvement (e.g., design of experiments [DOE], Taguchi, FMEA) F. Reliability analysis G. Maintenance procedures (e.g., reactive, preventive, predictive) H. Root cause analysis

Contact Information


474 Laxalt Mineral Research Building
(775) 784-6771
Fax (775) 327-5059
Website: http://www.unr.edu/cme

All students and Incoming transfer students:
College of Engineering Advisement Center
Scrugham Engineering and Mines, Suite 131
(775) 682-7721
coenadvising@unr.edu

Juniors and seniors should contact their faculty advisor directly.

See http://www.unr.edu/cme/undergraduate/advising to find your advisor. 

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Icon  at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.  If a major to major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement if available. If neither is available, access established transfer course equivalencies to assist in your planning.

Admission Requirements


Admission requirements and procedures are available at http://www.unr.edu/admissions requirements. Only students who are eligible to enroll in MATH 181 (as demonstrated through placement tests) may enter specific major programs within the College of Engineering. Others may enter the undeclared engineering program, and may require more than four years to complete the curriculum. Undeclared engineering students must be admissible to a specific major program within four regular semesters (fall and spring).

NOTE: Students must earn a C or higher in courses marked with (*).

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 123
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement |  30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR including ENGR 301 and IMSE 482
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 40 Upper-Division Units
  • As per engineering accreditation requirements, students are required to have the following:
  • a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of a combination of college-level mathematics and basic sciences with experimental experience appropriate to the program
  •  a minimum of 45 semester credit hours of engineering topics appropriate to the program, consisting of engineering and computer sciences and engineering design, and utilizing modern engineering tools

I. Core General Education Requirements (27-30 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .” Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course descriptions.

A. Effective Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (4 units) - CO2


  • (4 units) CO2 *
  • NOTE: Incoming engineering students are expected to place in MATH 181 or higher. Students who do not place in MATH 181 may be required to take additional credits before declaring their major.

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (8 units) - CO4, CO4L


D. Cultures, Societies & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses.

F. History & Culture, Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Core Requirements (3 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV). Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter for a list of approved CO10 courses.

C. Global Context - CO11


D. Ethics - CO12


E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13


F. Application - CO14


III. Additional College Requirements (0 units)


IV. Major Requirements (90 units)


A. Major Requirements (75 units)


B. Technical Electives (15 units)


A minimum of 6 units of IMSE technical electives are required. At most 3 units may be taken from a subject outside an ABET accredited engineering field. Choose from:

V. Minor Requirements (0 units)


VI. Electives (0 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


Use the Planner in MyNEVADA to build a custom graduation plan. Review and adjust the plan in each academic advisement session.

A. First Year


Spring Semester (17 units)


B. Second Year


C. Third Year


D. Fourth Year