Diferencias conceptuales y aplicativas entre ingeniería industrial e ingeniería de producción: un análisis crítico para la orientación profesional y académica

Abstract

Production engineering is a professional field with a wide range of career opportunities. Its main function, among others, is the automation and optimization of manufacturing processes. Its emphasis, stemming from a search for solutions to problems in the production chain, is profoundly useful for companies and industries of various types, both nationally and internationally. As a professional career, its value is undeniable, since the application of a production engineer's knowledge allows for cost reduction, time optimization, improvement of the production chain, and the proper and efficient use of resources, administrative elements, and logistics. Undoubtedly, the implementation of this field generates evident results and promotes the overall strengthening of industry. Clearly, it is a career with a wide range of possibilities and benefits for a country. However, despite its qualities and applications, it does not enjoy as much recognition as other engineering disciplines, particularly Industrial Engineering. In many cases, the two fields of study are often confused, and this creates problems from various perspectives, ranging from confusion among students in these programs and the lack of production engineering programs in the country, to confusion among companies and industries regarding the requirements for graduates of this program, among others. Therefore, it is vitally important to generate critical reflections and studies on this topic in order to clearly define the scope of the production engineering profession