Top Industrial Engineer Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Industrial Engineer interview by going through these most asked Industrial Engineer interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This is a general question that gives you a chance to talk about yourself. You can discuss your education, your work history and your personal interests.

    Sample Answer: I enjoy reading and learning new things. I'm currently taking a class on industrial engineering at the local college. I've been working in this industry for several years and have a lot of experience.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Personal interests
    • - Education
    • - Work history

  • Question: What have you managed?
  • Question Overview: As an industrial engineer, you'll need to manage a variety of projects. You'll want to find someone who has experience managing projects and can tell you about their methods for success.

    Sample Answer: I've managed several projects in my career. I've learned how to manage a project from start to finish, and I've learned how to manage a team as well. I'm familiar with the tools and techniques that help me manage a project.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of projects
    • - Methods for managing projects
    • - Plans for future projects

  • Question: Tell me about a project you have managed in the past and how you achieved results.
  • Question Overview: An industrial engineer should be able to tell you about a project they managed and how they achieved results. They should be able to tell you about the project's goals, how they went about achieving them and what the results were.

    Sample Answer: I managed a project that involved streamlining our company's manufacturing processes. We worked on this project for several months and were able to reduce waste by 10 percent.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of projects
    • - How they achieved results
    • - How they met goals

  • Question: What is your biggest weakness?
  • Question Overview: This is a common interview question that's designed to see how you deal with a negative situation. You should be honest in your answer and show that you're aware of your weakness and working to improve it.

    Sample Answer: I'm a perfectionist, and I tend to get frustrated when I don't meet my own high standards. I've been working on this by taking a step back and looking at the big picture.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of the weakness
    • - Evidence of working on the weakness
    • - Evidence of improvement

  • Question: How would you evaluate and improve production work station?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers are responsible for analyzing your company's production work stations. They should be able to tell you how they would evaluate and improve these stations.

    Sample Answer: I would first evaluate the work station to determine if it's operating at peak efficiency. I would then look at the people who use the work station and how they operate it. I would make suggestions for improving the work station based on my findings.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Methods for analyzing the work station
    • - Plans for improving the work station
    • - Knowledge of best practices in the industry

  • Question: Why do you want to work with us?
  • Question Overview: You want to hire an industrial engineer who's excited about working with your company. A good candidate should be able to tell you what they like about your company and what they're looking forward to in their new position.

    Sample Answer: I've been looking at your company for some time. I like the way you do business and I'm excited about the opportunity to work with you.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific reasons for wanting to work with your company
    • - Evidence of research into the company
    • - Knowledge of the company's products and services

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflict in the workplace.
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers should be able to handle conflict in the workplace. They should be able to tell you how they resolve conflict and what they do to prevent it from happening again.

    Sample Answer: I've always been able to resolve conflict in the workplace. I'm a good listener and I try to understand where others are coming from. I've been able to resolve conflicts by talking with people and finding a solution that works for everyone.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Methods for resolving conflict
    • - Ability to prevent conflict before it starts
    • - Willingness to work with others

  • Question: What is an item you use every day that needs a redesign to better suit your needs?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers are constantly looking for ways to improve the products and services they use. They should be able to tell you about an item they use every day that needs a redesign. They should also be able to tell you how they would redesign it to better suit their needs.

    Sample Answer: I use a laptop computer every day. I'd like to see a laptop with a larger screen and more memory. I'd also like to see a laptop that's more durable and has better battery life.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ideas for redesigning a product or service
    • - Knowledge of current products and services
    • - Ability to think critically about how to improve things

  • Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Question Overview: This is a common interview question that gives you a chance to talk about your professional strengths and weaknesses. You should be able to discuss your strengths in relation to the job you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for an industrial engineering position, you should discuss your strengths in relation to industrial engineering.

    Sample Answer: I'm a very organized person, and I have excellent time management skills. I'm also very detail-oriented, which helps me stay on task. I'm always looking for ways to improve my work, and I'm always open to new ideas.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of your own strengths and weaknesses
    • - Ability to explain how they apply to the job
    • - Evidence of a positive attitude

  • Question: Tell me about a time you convinced your boss to spend money not originally planned to be spent.
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers should be able to convince others to spend money on projects that will improve the company. They should be able to give you an example of a time they convinced someone to spend money on a project.

    Sample Answer: I convinced my boss to spend money on a new machine that would improve our production efficiency. I was able to show him how the machine would save us money in the long run.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to convince others
    • - Good communication skills
    • - Strong leadership skills

  • Question: What do you think of Motorola?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers work in a wide range of industries. It's important that you ask about the candidate's experience in your industry. This will give you a better idea of how they'll fit in with your company.

    Sample Answer: I've worked with Motorola products before, and I've always been impressed with their quality. I think it's important to have a good relationship with a company that makes the tools we use.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of experience in your industry
    • - Knowledge of your company and its products
    • - Ideas for improving efficiency

  • Question: How do you balance your work and life?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers are often required to work long hours and weekends. Because of this, it's important to find someone who can manage their time effectively. A good industrial engineer should be able to tell you how they balance their work and personal life.

    Sample Answer: I always make sure I have enough time to spend with my family and friends. I'm very organized and always manage my time well. I'm also a big believer in delegating tasks that can be done by others.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Methods for managing time
    • - Plans for time management
    • - Evidence of good time management

  • Question: Tell us about your previous job.
  • Question Overview: Your industrial engineer should be able to tell you about their previous job. They should be able to tell you about their role in the company and how they contributed to the company's success.

    Sample Answer: I worked as a process engineer for a small manufacturing company. I was responsible for streamlining the company's manufacturing processes. I also worked with the company's quality control team to ensure that all products met compliance standards.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of projects
    • - Skills used for each project
    • - Accomplishments

  • Question: Tell me about your background.
  • Question Overview: An industrial engineer with experience should have some experience in the field. You'll want to ask about their background and what they've done in the past.

    Sample Answer: I've had a lot of experience in this industry. I started out as an apprentice and worked my way up to a lead position. I've worked on a variety of projects and have had a lot of opportunities to learn new skills.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of past work
    • - Evidence of professional growth
    • - Specific examples of past projects

  • Question: How do you apply Lean Six Sigma tools to your everyday life?
  • Question Overview: Lean Six Sigma is a methodology that industrial engineers use to improve processes. It's a useful tool for streamlining your company's operations. A good industrial engineer should be able to tell you how they apply Lean Six Sigma to their everyday life.

    Sample Answer: I use Lean Six Sigma to manage my time and resources more efficiently. I've used it to plan my day and make sure I get everything done that I need to.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Methods for applying Lean Six Sigma in daily life
    • - Specific examples of how they use it
    • - Knowledge of the methodology

  • Question: When did you use analytical thinking to solve a problem?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers are problem solvers. They should be able to tell you about a time when they used their analytical skills to solve a problem. This could be a problem at work or in their personal life.

    Sample Answer: I had to work with a team to solve a problem with our production process. We were having trouble with the quality of our product, and we needed to find out why. I was able to use my analytical skills to break down the process and determine where the issue was coming from.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific example of a problem they solved
    • - How they solved the problem
    • - How they overcame obstacles

  • Question: What would your friends say about you?
  • Question Overview: Your friends and family can be a great source of information about your industrial engineer. They may be able to tell you about their personality, work habits and other details that will help you make a decision.

    Sample Answer: My friends would say that I'm dedicated to my job and my company. I always put a lot of effort into my work and try to do the best job possible.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive comments about their work ethic
    • - Dedication to their job and company
    • - Positive personality traits

  • Question: What was your project about?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers often work on projects that are specific to your company. As such, you'll want to know what the candidate's project was about and how it related to your company.

    Sample Answer: I worked on a project that involved streamlining our company's manufacturing process. I had to look at how we manufactured our products and how we could make them more efficient. I had to look at all the steps in the process and determine which ones were necessary and which ones could be eliminated.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific details of the project
    • - How the project was related to the company
    • - How the project was completed

  • Question: What are the bottlenecks in your project and how do you tackle them?
  • Question Overview: As an industrial engineer, you'll be responsible for identifying the bottlenecks in your project. A good candidate should be able to tell you how they identify these bottlenecks and what they do to eliminate them.

    Sample Answer: I look at the project and determine where the bottlenecks are. I then find ways to eliminate them or work around them. I've done this in my previous job and have a proven track record of success.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Methods for identifying issues
    • - Plans for addressing the issues
    • - Evidence of critical thinking skills

  • Question: Why don't you just go to America for a postdoc?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that you will get from your friends and family. It is a good idea to have a good answer ready.

    Sample Answer: I want to do research in the country because I want to contribute to the country's development. I have a good mentor who is well known in the field. I have a good lab and I have a good project.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - You want to do research in the country
    • - You have a good mentor
    • - You have a good lab
    • - You have a good project