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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: Why do you think we should hire you?
  • Question Overview: This is a great question for any candidate to answer. You want to know how they think and what they value. It's also a good opportunity to learn more about their personality and how they would fit into your company.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who always puts in the extra effort to get the job done. I'm a team player who can work well with others. I'm also a creative problem solver who can help your company streamline processes and increase productivity.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of how they can contribute to your company
    • - How they fit into your company's culture
    • - Why they want the job

  • Question: What do you want to be after 20 years?
  • Question Overview: Your industrial engineer should have a long-term career plan. They should be able to tell you what they want to do in the next five years and in the next 20 years.

    Sample Answer: I want to be an engineering manager. I'd like to work on a variety of projects and have the opportunity to lead a team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Plans for their career
    • - Ambition
    • - Evidence of strong work ethic

  • Question: What do you like about your current team?
  • Question Overview: You should always ask your industrial engineer about their current team. They should be able to tell you what they like about their team and how they work together. This is a good way to gauge how your industrial engineer will work with your team.

    Sample Answer: I really enjoy working with my current team. We have a lot of fun together, but we also work hard to get the job done. I've learned a lot from them and I think we're all better engineers because of it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of teamwork
    • - Evidence of good interpersonal skills and communication
    • - Plans for improving teamwork and goals

  • 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: What is a tough situation you had to experience while working in a team?
  • Question Overview: Industrial engineers work in teams for various projects. It's important to find someone who can work well with others. Your industrial engineer should be able to tell you about a time when they had to work with a team and how they handled the situation.

    Sample Answer: I've worked with other people in large and small groups as a part of a team. I have great communication skills and have been a team leader. I learned a lot from others in an apprentice position that helped me look at job-related tasks in new ways.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of working well with others
    • - Ability to work well in a team
    • - Ability to handle difficult situations

  • Question: What language do you feel most comfortable with?
  • Question Overview: You may need to communicate with your industrial engineer in a variety of ways. It's important that you find someone who can communicate with you in a way that makes sense to you. If you have a preference for a particular language, it's important to ask about this.

    Sample Answer: I'm most comfortable with English. I can also speak Spanish.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Language skills
    • - Ability to communicate effectively

  • Question: What do you think makes you a good fit for the job?
  • Question Overview: This is a good question to ask your industrial engineer candidate. They should be able to tell you what they think makes them a good fit for the job. They should be able to tell you about their experience and how it relates to the job.

    Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in this industry, and I've worked with many different companies. I'm familiar with the latest compliance codes and best practices. In addition, I have a lot of experience working with teams and know how to get the most out of them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of experience
    • - Evidence of skills and abilities
    • - Personal qualities that make them a good fit

  • 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: How did you apply Lean concepts in your last role?
  • Question Overview: Lean concepts are a big part of industrial engineering. These concepts are used to streamline processes and eliminate waste. A good industrial engineer should be able to tell you how they applied Lean concepts in their previous job.

    Sample Answer: I applied Lean concepts to my previous job by looking at the company's processes and identifying areas where we could eliminate waste. I was able to reduce the amount of time it took to complete tasks by 20%.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Specific examples of Lean concepts
    • - Methods for applying Lean concepts
    • - Evidence of success with Lean concepts