Industrial Engineers on their Current Practice: Implications for the Integration of Social and Technical Sub-Systems in Work System Design

Sub-optimal work system design results in ill-effects for individuals, businesses, and society. By improving the integration of social and technical systems in design by industrial engineers, work system  outcomes  could  be  improved.  Semi-structured  interviews  were  conducted  with  19  Canadian  industrial  engineers.  Data  was  transcribed,  coded,  and  analyzed  using  an  iterative,  inductive   process.   Results   showed   that   industrial   engineering   practice   is   diverse   and   is   influenced  by  macro-,  meso-,  and  micro-level  ecological  factors.  Stakeholder  awareness  of  industrial  engineering,  management  support  and  understanding,  role  clarity,  organizational  structure,  and  relationships  between  industrial  engineers  and  management,  system  users,  and  ergonomists  all  influenced  the  effectiveness  of  industrial  engineers.  It  was  concluded  that  a  systemic approach to changing the work system design process is most likely to be successful in establishing  consistent,  long-term  improvement  of  work  system  outcomes  and  application  of  ergonomics.  Further  investigation  of  work  system  design  practices  from  the  perspective  of  management and system users is recommended.