About the Program of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology

What is Industrial Technology?

The National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) defines Industrial Technology "as a field of study designed to prepare technical and/or management oriented professionals for employment in business, industry, education, and government. Industrial Technology is primarily involved with the management, operation, and maintenance of complex technological systems while Engineering and Engineering Technology are primarily involved with the design and installation of these systems."

Industrial Technology is a relatively new discipline, which gained distinction in the early 1960s as the result of industrial demand for technical managers who could make knowledgeable decisions about managing work forces in technical areas. TTU's Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Department offers a four-year degree program leading to a bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology with a minor in Business Management. The department began in 1956 within the College of Engineering and has the distinction of being accredited by the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) since 1982. Today it serves as a model for Tennessee and the nation.

The Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology prepares technologists for employment in manufacturing, engineering and management positions. Through specialized classes, group projects, and individual assignments, students learn to be creative and resourceful. Students learn public relations, personnel supervision, and problem solving through group work, instruction, and guest speakers. This background enables graduates to share the planning responsibilities of the engineer, scientist, or manager, as well as the production responsibilities of the technician, craftsman, or laborer. Manufacturing and Industrial Technology graduates are trained in group leadership and communications at all levels of the industrial workforce.

The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology is built upon technical education and operations, human and industrial relations, business administration and specialized technology. The department strives to keep the curriculum up-to-date, incorporating new technological developments as they occur. Besides the general education curriculum, the department offers a unique combination of courses in areas related to manufacturing, mechanical, industrial, and electrical advanced technologies. This breadth of knowledge and hands-on experience provide MIT graduates with skills needed for today's manufacturing job markets. Occupational Safety and Health, Plant Layout and Material Handling, Industrial Communications, and Industrial Supervision enable the industrial technology graduates to the competencies required to apply the latest technological advances in a given field.

The curriculum also emphasizes other vital areas in the industrial workplace: Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, Accounting, Human Relations, Psychology, Motion and Time Study, and Statistical Process Control. The addition of these courses to the curriculum gives MIT graduates well-rounded education appealing to employers. This lets potential employers know that graduate understand all of the common operations that exist within a manufacturing environment.

Professional support of any college program is a tremendous advantage to both the students and the businesses. The MIT Advisory Board (MITAB) gives this support to the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology. Nissan America, TRW, Peterbuilt, Saturn, BMW, UPS, and Advances Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., are a few of the companies represented on the board. The advisory board is a great way to look at companies and see what they have to offer. They also provide a great collective knowledge about the industrial field from which all MIT students are encouraged to draw. Manufacturing and Industrial Technology students are also given the opportunity to participate in co-operative education assignments with well-respected industrial manufacturers. Qualified students gain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money to offset educational expenses.

By supplying graduates with a technical, operational, and managerial education, the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology meets the needs of industry. The wide breadth of technical positions in the industry ensures the Manufacturing and Industrial Technology graduate an interesting and challenging career. Most of the MIT graduates receive multiple job offers by the time of graduation. This trend is expected to continue, with MIT graduates in high demand for many years to come. Traditionally, TTU's MIT graduates successfully move through the ranks in industry to top leadership positions. Examples of positions held by manufacturing and industrial technology graduates include quality assurance managers, plant managers, project managers, line supervisors, production management and control managers, maintenance mangers, manufacturing technologists, and production planning analysts. If you have further questions about career opprotunities, please consult the Office of Career Services web site: http://www.tntech.edu/career/