Texas A & M: The Virtue Of Industrial Engineering

The function and purpose of most engineering disciplines is known by most non-engineers, and often one can make an educated guess as to what a certain engineer may design and build. However, any industrial and systems engineer will tell you they’ve been asked the question “What does and industrial engineer do” more times than they can count. Most industrial engineers will respond with a simple definition like the one provided by the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, which states “Industrial and systems engineering is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy” (IISE official definition). Often this reply is met with a more puzzled and confused

One such virtue of thought that was discussed briefly is Techne, which is a virtue that every engineer should want upon leaving college. The ability to create new things of value is what separates engineers from other professions, and specifically for an industrial engineer, Techne would apply to the creation of many types of intricate systems. Another beneficial virtue that is represented in the core values at Texas A&M is integrity, and it is a virtue and value that every excellent engineer or working professional should possess and constantly strive for. Integrity can be defined as doing the right thing simply because it is just, not because one may receive recognition or reward for choosing the moral path. This idea can be contrary to the goal of every single company, which is to make money. Creating new things, sculpting good employees, improving efficiencies serve as preliminary goals or means of increasing profit. Often, it is observed that industrial engineers are in the money saving business, which many often forget can be just as important as the actual creation and selling of a product. However, the paths of high integrity and high profit do not always coincide creating situations where an engineer may question one’s integrity. For this reason, integrity serves as perhaps the most important virtue an engineer can possess entering the working world and throughout one’s