Department of Industrial Engineering

Hello, I’m Research Assistant Özlen Erkal Sönmez from Istanbul University - Cerrahpaşa. I completed each of my undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees in 3 different universities in the field of Industrial Engineering. In 2017, I completed my doctorate education at Istanbul University, Department of Industrial Engineering. I have been working in the same institution for more than ten years, since 2009. Firstly, I started working in Istanbul University, Industrial Engineering Department, after the division process our university underwent, I continued my studies as a research assistant as part of İstanbul University - Cerrahpaşa. Industrial Engineering Department works on systems where different production elements such as human, machine, material, energy and capital come together. They actually build these complex systems in line with the principles of efficiency and planning, to manage the management of existing resources in the best way. The Department of Industrial Engineering is quite popular not only in Turkey, but also all around the world. In fact, our department promises this great, remarkable, energetic department to both our graduates and candidates. For this, of course, a good education is required first. The academic staff in our department is great in this sense. We have 3 professors, 5 associate professors, 3 doctor lecturers, 2 doctoral research assistants and 3 research assistants. We are able to continue our work in an extremely harmonious environment. I can say that a very efficient working environment has been established in terms of both the relations between our professors and students. Considering both our background in Istanbul University and our department in Istanbul Cerrahpaşa, we are talking about a 30-year supervision of undergraduate education experience. Therefore, I can say that we are a well-established department of a new university. Our department offers compulsory and elective courses. Among our compulsory courses, there are fundamental courses such as Direction-Action Research, Statistical Quality Control, System Simulation, Production Planning and Control, Statistics. Apart from that, our students can diversify their course choices with elective courses according to their interests. We can provide this as long as the quota allows. Let me talk about what subjects we provide. It is possible for them to choose courses in a wide variety of fields such as Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Heuristic Optimization, Experiment Design, Electronic Commerce and Marketing, Technology and Research Development. This diversity in our courses is related to the diversity of the fields our students are expected to master. Our students are obliged to complete 3 different internships. Our first internship, the Workshop Internship, is a 10-day internship. Here, we can help our students take the first step into the industry. It is an internship in which the workshop environment, production technologies and machine tools are introduced. Our second internship is the Computer Internship. The students examine the computer infrastructures and applications of companies for 20 days. Finally, our students complete the Industrial Engineering Internship. Here, too, we examine various Industrial Engineering practices in internship locations. Since our last internship lasts 20 days, they have a total internship requirement of 50 days. Our department encourages participation in Erasmus and similar foreign exchange programs and is experienced in providing this, too. Our connections with universities in Germany are available not only for educational programs but also for internships. However, after the division process the university underwent, we entered the process of renewing bilateral agreements. As Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Industrial Engineering Department, we are in the process of re-erecting these agreements.
3G days are organized by Istanbul University - Cerrahpaşa, Industrial Engineering. The Industry and Quality Club organizes it nationally. In this organization, our students can both come together with professionals from the sector and establish a network for job and internship benefits. Apart from this, there are also social responsibility projects conducted by the same club. They visit children in many different schools in Anatolia and Turkey to support them with projects like “Just So You Can Read”. We also organize graduate meetings and technical trips. The advantage of the Industrial Engineering Department in terms of employment cannot be emphasized enough. Industrial engineering has a great advantage compared to other engineering fields. Industrial engineers will have many duties wherever there is a need for human supervision of systems. Besides public institutions and private companies, there are many other places in the sector that they can find work. Our students can easily find jobs in fields such as health, finance, insurance and banking. The important thing is for the student to train himself for a field and to be ready for the sector. Engineering is already difficult due to its nature. Our students should devote enough time and effort for each course in our curriculum. Students will have difficulties with courses that they haven’t reserved enough time to study. We do not think that our students who won their place in Istanbul University - Cerrahpaşa will have serious difficulties, they are already equipped with the fundamental knowledge. My advice to students who will choose the Department of Industrial Engineering is as follows. First of all, they should know what they want and decide if they want to have a role in administrative positions. If they do so, they need to improve their programming skills and language skills. In fact, I think they should learn multiple languages, not just English or a single programming language. I would also like to the point to the fact of the importance of their GPA’s. All applications made after graduation are evaluated having this in mind. I recommend that our students make an effort to keep their grade point averages high from the first day they start receiving undergraduate education. In addition, I would like them to enjoy the campus environment and get involved in activities that will lift their spirits. I think Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, like all universities in Istanbul, promises a great life in the city. It is a city that attracts our young people with its many advantages, job and internship opportunities, and cultural benefits. Also, the university is located in Avcılar, in which accommodation services such as dormitories are established, and also relatively cheaper compared to other districts. The university administration tries to satisfy all the needs of the students. Apart from that, facilities such as cafes, copy centers that students may need at any time are located right here, in the park. All these facilities will make for a comfortable academic life. Students who want to come to Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Industrial Engineering Department, should first know themselves well, and if they feel like this department is the right place for them and want to continue their studies, we, and all the staff, are waiting to support them. We wish everyone success, happiness and good luck in their career plans.