Engineering

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering

The Master of Science in Industrial Engineering is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in industrial engineering, production optimisation, systems engineering, and operations management. The programme combines engineering theory with practical application in manufacturing systems, quality engineering, and research.

Core areas include industrial engineering, production systems, operations research, quality engineering, supply chain management, project management, ergonomics, manufacturing processes, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, industrial projects, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as an option under MSc in Mechanical Engineering through the College of Engineering. JKUAT is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in production system design, operations optimisation, quality management, supply chain analysis, and industrial process improvement. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practical projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for roles in manufacturing, logistics, and industrial management.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 181,000/year (KES 362,000 total) for MSc in Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Engineering option. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as industrial engineers, production managers, operations analysts, quality engineers, supply chain managers, and lecturers in industrial engineering across manufacturing companies, logistics firms, consulting firms, government, and universities.

Skills Required

Industrial Engineering and Systems Optimisation
Production Planning and Control
Operations Research and Decision Analysis
Quality Engineering and Six Sigma
Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Project Management and Execution
Ergonomics and Workplace Design
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Research Methods in Industrial Engineering
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Industrial Engineering and Systems Optimisation
Production Planning and Control
Operations Research and Decision Analysis
Quality Engineering and Six Sigma
Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Project Management and Execution
Ergonomics and Workplace Design
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Research Methods in Industrial Engineering
Thesis Research

Certifications

EBK Engineering Registration
INCOSE Systems Engineering Certification

Specializations

Production Systems

Focuses on production systems, covering planning, control, optimisation, layout, and managing production systems.

Operations Research

Examines operations research, covering modelling, optimisation, simulation, decisions, and managing operations research.

Quality Engineering

Covers quality engineering, covering standards, Six Sigma, control, improvement, and managing quality engineering.

Supply Chain Management

Focuses on supply chain, covering logistics, procurement, distribution, optimisation, and managing supply chains.

Manufacturing Processes

Examines manufacturing processes, covering machining, forming, joining, automation, and managing manufacturing.

Project Management

Covers project management, covering planning, scheduling, risk, execution, and managing industrial projects.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 291,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Industrial Engineering and Systems Optimisation
Production Planning and Control
Operations Research and Decision Analysis
Quality Engineering and Six Sigma
Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Project Management and Execution
Ergonomics and Workplace Design
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Research Methods in Industrial Engineering
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Industrial Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines systems, optimisation, improvement, integration, and managing industrial engineering.
Operations Research and Optimisation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers modelling, optimisation, simulation, decisions, linear programming, and managing operations research.
Research Methods in Industrial Engineering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, industrial engineering research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Production Planning and Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines planning, control, scheduling, layout, capacity, and managing production systems.
Quality Engineering and Six Sigma
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers standards, Six Sigma, control, improvement, tools, and managing quality engineering.
Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines logistics, procurement, distribution, optimisation, strategy, and managing supply chains.
Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers machining, forming, joining, automation, robotics, and managing manufacturing processes.
Ergonomics and Workplace Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines workplace, design, safety, human factors, anthropometry, and managing ergonomics.
Project Management for Industrial Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers planning, scheduling, risk, execution, monitoring, and managing industrial projects.
Simulation Modelling and Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines simulation, modelling, analysis, validation, software, and managing simulation models.
Industrial Automation and Control Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers automation, control, PLC, SCADA, integration, and managing industrial automation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an industrial engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and industrial engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Production Systems
Focuses on production systems, covering planning, control, optimisation, layout, and managing production systems.
Operations Research
Examines operations research, covering modelling, optimisation, simulation, decisions, and managing operations research.
Quality Engineering
Covers quality engineering, covering standards, Six Sigma, control, improvement, and managing quality engineering.
Supply Chain Management
Focuses on supply chain, covering logistics, procurement, distribution, optimisation, and managing supply chains.
Manufacturing Processes
Examines manufacturing processes, covering machining, forming, joining, automation, and managing manufacturing.
Project Management
Covers project management, covering planning, scheduling, risk, execution, and managing industrial projects.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Industrial Engineering programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, industrial projects, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover industrial engineering, production systems, operations research, quality engineering, and supply chain management. Industrial engineering sessions examine systems, optimisation, improvement, integration, and managing industrial engineering. Production systems sessions cover planning, control, scheduling, layout, and managing production systems. Operations research sessions cover modelling, optimisation, simulation, decisions, and managing operations research. Quality engineering sessions cover standards, Six Sigma, control, improvement, and managing quality engineering. Supply chain sessions cover logistics, procurement, distribution, optimisation, and managing supply chains. Project management sessions cover planning, scheduling, risk, execution, and managing industrial projects. Ergonomics sessions cover workplace, design, safety, human factors, and managing ergonomics. Manufacturing sessions cover machining, forming, joining, automation, and managing manufacturing. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with simulation software, production modelling, and quality analysis. Industrial projects provide hands-on experience with real manufacturing problems, process improvement, and system optimisation. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in industrial engineering. Guest lectures from experienced industrial engineers, plant managers, and consultants provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an industrial engineering topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme provides specialised industrial engineering knowledge essential for Kenya's manufacturing sector.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 181,000/year (KES 362,000 total).
Graduates are eligible for EBK engineering registration, enhancing professional recognition in Kenya.
Programme combines theoretical learning with industrial projects, providing practical experience.

Against it

Industrial Engineering is offered as an option within MSc Mechanical Engineering, not as a standalone programme.
Only one university (JKUAT, public) confirmed offering this specific option.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires engineering background, limiting access for non-engineering graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public181k to 291k

181k at JKUAT291k at Technical University of Kenya

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TUK Grp I Eng ~291K/yr(eafinder). JKUAT ~181K/yr(kenyaeducationguide). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible students. INCOSE may offer research grants for systems engineering research. Some manufacturing companies and consulting firms may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Scholarship
INCOSE Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
INCOSE Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
INCOSE provides research grants for systems engineering research.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: JKUAT requires Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in relevant field, or Lower Second with proof of two years of relevant experience and professional development, or a postgraduate diploma in the relevant field. Contact the university for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, industrial project reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering industrial engineering, operations research, quality engineering, and supply chain management.
Practical and Project Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through industrial projects, simulation modelling, quality analysis, and demonstrating industrial engineering skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an industrial engineering topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and industrial engineering knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Engineering option through the College of Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in industrial engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK engineering registration and INCOSE systems engineering certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Engineering option through the College of Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in industrial engineering. Graduates are eligible for EBK engineering registration and INCOSE systems engineering certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Industrial Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Optimises industrial systems, overseeing processes, improvement, efficiency, and managing industrial engineering.
Production Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages production operations, overseeing planning, scheduling, quality, and managing production.
Operations Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses operations, overseeing modelling, optimisation, improvement, and managing operations analysis.
Quality Engineer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages quality engineering, overseeing standards, control, improvement, and managing quality.
Supply Chain Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages supply chains, overseeing logistics, procurement, distribution, and managing supply chains.
Industrial Engineering Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches industrial engineering at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
SoftwarePrimary
MATLAB for modelling and simulation, covering computation, modelling, analysis, and managing engineering data.
Arena Simulation
Software
Arena for simulation modelling, covering modelling, analysis, optimisation, and managing simulation models.
Minitab
Software
Minitab for quality analysis, covering statistics, Six Sigma, control, and managing quality data.
MS Project
Software
MS Project for project management, covering planning, scheduling, tracking, and managing industrial projects.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Industrial engineering is just about factory management.
Industrial engineering covers comprehensive systems, optimisation, quality, supply chain, and operations beyond just factory management.
This programme is only for mechanical engineers.
Industrial engineering skills are valuable for production managers, operations analysts, quality engineers, and consultants beyond just mechanical engineers.
Operations research is just about mathematics.
Operations research covers comprehensive modelling, optimisation, simulation, and decision analysis applied to real industrial problems beyond just mathematics.
Quality engineering is just about inspection.
Quality engineering covers comprehensive standards, Six Sigma, control, improvement, and systems beyond just inspection.
Supply chain management is just about logistics.
Supply chain management covers comprehensive procurement, production, distribution, optimisation, and strategy beyond just logistics.
This programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Industrial engineering graduates work in diverse sectors including manufacturing, logistics, consulting, government, and services.