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Industrial technology is 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. Many two- and four-year colleges offer degrees in this field, often in electronics, safety, construction, computer systems, manufacturing and graphics^[1].

The National Association of Industrial Technology, NAIT, accredits selected collegiate programs in Industrial Technology. Additionally, an instructor or graduate of an Industrial Technology program may choose to become a Certified Industrial Technologist by sitting for a rigorous exam administered by NAIT and covering essential topics in the field.

Industrial Technology includes wide-ranging subject matter and could be viewed as an amalgamation of industrial engineering and business topics with a focus on practicality and management of technical systems with less focus on actual engineering of those systems.

Typical curriculum at a four-year university might include courses on manufacturing process, technology and impact on society, mechanical and electronic systems, quality assurance and control, materials science, packaging, production and operations management, and manufacturing facility planning and design. In addition, the Industrial Technologist may have exposure to more vocational-style education in the form of courses on CNC manufacturing, welding, and other tools-of-the-trade in manufacturing. This differentiates the field of Industrial Technology from other engineering and business disciplines. Graduates of Industrial Technology programs are seen as moderators between engineers, top management and production-line workers.

1. ^ http://www.nait.org National Association of Industrial Technology

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