What is an Industrial Scientist
Industrial Scientists oversee and conduct research related to a specific industry. This research can be applied to the development of new products and the improvements of existing products. They play an important role in developing, adapting and producing products before they are ready to sell to consumers.
Academia Vs. Industry Research
The field of Industrial Science can be broken down into two sub-fields of Academia and Industry Research. The choice between working in Academia versus Industrial Research comes down to working style and desired environment of the individual.
Academia
Working as an Industrial Scientist in academia is highly research based. You are working to improve processes and manufacturing concepts from a industry-wide perspective. Much of the work done in this role is independent and you are not working on one product specifically which can give you freedom in the avenues in which you get to explore.
In academia, you are largely responsible for sourcing your own funding which can be a daunting process for those just starting their careers in Industrial Science. Once you have collected and summarized your findings, you can sell your research to companies looking to streamline and improve their manufacturing and product development processes.
Industry
When working as an Industrial Scientist in an industry based roll, you are more likely to focus on one single product at a time. In this roll, you are employed directly by a company to improve or design the manufacturing process of one of their products. The scope of this roll is much more narrow and you typically work in a group setting as opposed to individually.
Working in an industry based roll often allows scientists to see the direct impact of their work and funding is provided by the company hiring you to conduct research on their behalf. Conversely, when products aren’t performing as anticipated, budget cuts can put pressure on research and science departments.
Education
To become an Industrial Scientist in Canada, a Bachelors Degree is required at minimum. Many entry level scientist jobs require a bachelor’s degree for assistant or internship level roles. To progress in the field of Industrial Science, you will need a Master’s Degree or PH.D. Executive or management roles will require a PhD in Canada.
Experience
The field of Industrial Science is broad and has many sub-fields. As such, to enter a career path in Industrial Science, you will need a post-graduate education in the specific field you are looking to enter. For example, a post-graduate degree in agriculture will provide you with the background you need to conduct research and design agricultural related products. Additionally, internship experience in the field you are looking to enter is beneficial for starting you career in Industrial Science.
Skills
Organizational Skills
Industrial Scientists require a high degree of organizational skills, especially when working in an academia setting. It is common to be balancing multiple projects and data sets in this role and confusion can lead to costly errors. In an industry setting, your data sets are typically very large and having strong organization skills is a key skill to hold.
Analytical Skills
A large proportion of an Industrial Scientists workload is analyzing data sets and research to draw conclusions. Strong analytical skills allow are required in most roles as is the confidence to interpret data individually.
Creativity
Depending on what sector of Industrial Science you choose to work in, creativity will allow you to make informed suggestions backed by data. When designing and developing products, Industrial Scientists must be able to think outside the box and exercise creativity to improve on and design existing processes or develop new products.
Observational Skills
When it comes to interpreting data, observational skills are required. The smallest outlier in data can indicate much larger and costly outcomes further down the production process and observing these outliers with caution can save time, money and energy.
Collaborative Skills
If you choose to pursue a career in the industry side of Industrial Science, be prepared to be working collaboratively with others. While academia based work in primarily done individually, industry based work is almost always completed in teams. The ability to work well with others and take direction is key to succeeding in this role.
Career Outlook
Industries
You can find Industrial Scientist jobs in almost any industry that produces products. Common industries include manufacturing, agriculture, engineering and technology, food science and earth science but your options are not limited to those departments.
Work Structure
Unlike academia, where you likely will be working independently on your own schedule, those working in industry will follow a similar schedule to the typical 9-5 job. Your schedule will be more concrete as you will be expected to attend meetings, corporate events and adhere to the organizational hours. When choosing between academia and industry, its important to consider your working style, environment and personal motivations in your work.
Salaries
It’s important to note that salaries for Industrial Scientists vary across industry and sectors in Canada. As of 2021, the median salary for a Materials Scientist which can be applied across a variety of industries is $50.26 per hour or an annual salary of $104,541. Materials Scientists can be paid as high as $66.67 per hours making an annual salary of $138,674. (jobbank.gc.ca)
The Three Aspects of Industrial Science
Product Development and Design
In the development and design stage of industrial science, scientists focus on the appearance, functionality and manufacturability of a given product. They establish key metrics such as production time, production cost and what technology is required to produce and manufacture the product.
Product Testing and Troubleshooting
Once Industrial Scientists have established the design and manufacturing required of a product, the product moves onto the testing and troubleshooting stage. In this stage, a prototype of the product is developed using the manufacturing process established in the development and design stage. The product then must undergo rigorous testing by industrial scientists to determine what aspects require revision.
Product Redevelopment
Once a product has undergone the testing and troubleshooting stage, it then moves onto the redevelopment stage. In this stage any errors or reasons for failure are evaluated by scientists and solutions are developed. The product then goes back through the second stage of testing and will continue to cycle through testing and redevelopment until scientists have achieved their final product.
After a product has successfully passed all three stages, the product can move into full production and is ready to enter the consumer market.
Industrial Scientists at Work
To provide a better understanding of Industrial Scientists at work, here is an example of their work in modern use.
Simply Dental is known for its extensive line or oral hygiene products ranging from toothbrushes to oral rinses. After mass success selling their products to adults they are looking to develop a toothbrush line for children aimed at making dental hygiene more exciting. The first product they are looking to produce is for children aged 7-10.
Their team of industrial designers begins the process of developing and designing the new product. They research the demographic of 7-10 year olds and apply their existing knowledge of toothbrush manufacturing to create a manufacturing plan for the new line. Their key findings indicate the need for a smaller sized brush with softer bristles and a wide array of exciting colors. After a test manufacture is completed they have a selection of prototypes to test.
In the testing stage, the industrial scientists do stress tests on the toothbrush to test durability as well as flexibility and softness, as the product is designed for children. They test the product on a group of 7-10 year olds and collect feedback ranging from comfort to ease of use to design preference. They analyze the information they have collected and determine the brush bristles need to be made softer. The product goes back through the development and manufacturing phase and the new softer brush is re-tested on a new control group.
Once the new control group completes their testing and the industrial scientists conclude their research, the product is approved to be manufactured and sold to the consumer market. Industrial scientists will continue to monitor consumer feedback and adjust and refine the product as needed.
From toothbrushes to TV’s to the shoes on your feet, behind every product is a team of industrial scientists who have tested and refined the product you are purchasing. The jobs of an industrial scientist are endless and their work is vital to the success of modern manufacturing.