The industrial specialization at Mercer draws upon four foundational areas---management science, the application of mathematical techniques to solve management problems; ergonomics, the study and design of the interaction between humans and machines; manufacturing, the design and development of processes and systems to transform inputs to products; and quality, the application of statistical methods and managerial principles to improve the quality of products and services. This broad base provides industrial specialization students at Mercer with a solid and varied background as they pursue a career in the wide-ranging field of industrial engineering.

Engineering disciplines offer the opportunity for people to be innovative in a work environment that interests them. In other words, engineers dedicate their careers to new ideas and improvements to existing ideas in all facets of the economy. Industrial Engineering (IE) is the most diverse and flexible of all the engineering disciplines. The primary focuses of Industrial Engineers are quality and productivity. IEs serve their employers by streamlining processes and systems with the goal of improving quality, saving time, and reducing cost. Organizing a warehouse, setting up distribution routes, and planning a theme park layout are all jobs for industrial engineers. Students and professors work together to improve processes. A large number of Industrial Engineers work in the manufacturing and service industries. Recently, however, businesses are realizing the benefits of employing IEs in all departments including marketing, finance, and personnel. Companies from IBM and Microsoft to Disney and Coca-Cola use Industrial Engineering majors to help manage their businesses. Today, Industrial Engineers are earning more than ever. Naturally, several factors affect income: more education, experience, and responsibility will yield an increase in salary. Industrial Engineers today are earning salaries comparable to those of other engineering disciplines. The salaries for Industrial Engineers are considerably higher than those for general civil, environmental, and geotechnical engineers. However, Industrial Engineers earn significantly less that of specialists in areas such as petroleum, nuclear, and mining engineering. Nevertheless, beginning upon graduation, Industrial Engineers earn first-rate salaries.