The Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management is a unique combination of engineering, business and leadership studies. The recent growth in the importance of digital technologiesand the on-going digitalisation of companies and society make the skills that our graduates have even morevaluable. In particular, the ability to understand and integrate technology and engineering on the one hand, and business and management on the other hand is becoming increasingly critical. 

Upon graduating from the Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, graduates willhave: 

• An integrative understanding of technology and business. Graduates understand engineering processes, technical systems and underlying technologies and how they are connected to value creation  and building competitive advantage.  
• Strong leadership and people skills. Graduates are equipped to lead and develop organisations and motivate people to realise their inherent potential. 
• Practical problem-solving and strong analytical skills. Graduates possess applicable practical skills to solve complex business problems, and are skilled in data crunching, building statistical models, and applying the data to solve problems and create business value.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and a can-do attitude. Graduates are able to identify innovative opportunities and act upon innovative opportunities for adding value for technology-basedbusinesses, and they are confident and willing to face challenges and tackle new tasks withdetermination.  
• Broad knowledge of various organisations. Graduates are able to apply their learnings to a wide scale of technology-based businesses from early-stage startups to large multinational corporations. 
• Hands-on experience. Graduates have practical experience in putting the theories into action within the context of technology-based businesses.
• Knowledge and skills needed to follow and articulate the scientific development within the field of the chosen major and/or minor as well as to apply scientific knowledge and scientific methods independently, which also provide a solid basis for scientific postgraduate education.

• Major (45 ECTS)
• Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)
• Minor (20 ECTS)
• Elective studies (25 ECTS)

Students must choose a major from one of the following four options:

• Operations Management
• Organization Design and Leadership
• Product and Innovation Management
• Strategy.
   

The major consists of three core courses that are common for all students. In addition, there are three major-specific courses and a research assignment which includes doing a scientific study on a topic related to the chosen major. The master's thesis is also typically done on a topic related to the chosen major.

The degree includes a minor, chosen from an appropriate field of engineering. There are restrictions on the choice of the minor. Depending on the content of the bachelor's studies the choice of minor can also be free (i.e. the minor need not be from a field of engineering and the restrictions on the choice need not apply). 

Each of these elements are described in detail in this guide. 

Each student's major and minor are confirmed in the Personal Study Plan.

In order to support graduation in 2 years, it is important to recognize the critical path. Students are encouraged to choose their major before the 1st year starts. Thereby, the first autumn emphasizes the compulsory courses of the major enabling the research assignment already in the first spring (or the 2nd autumn). The research assignment is a prerequisite for starting the master’s thesis. Although the intensive work takes place in the 2nd spring, preparations for the master’s thesis should gradually start in the beginning of the second year. The choice and timing of the optional courses of the major should support the progress in the critical path.

During the 1st autumn, students should choose their minor (whether the choice is restricted of free). In the planning and scheduling of studies, students should take into consideration quotas, prerequisite knowledge and the suggested sequence for the courses in the minor. The sooner the choice of the minor is made; the more possibilities a student has to level the overall workload without delaying the graduation. Likewise, planning of a semester in a foreign university becomes easier.

The last element in making the personal study plan is choosing the electives.

Professor in charge: Lauri Saarinen
Extent: 45 credits
Code: SCI3108

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations that are at the core of successful technology-based businesses. Theserange from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes the organization’s goals and competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The major in operations management builds on the generic principles on operations management but emphasizes novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilizing the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.

Advanced production systems cross organizational borders and utilize external resource networks effectively in global scale. Business models have developed beyond the conventional manufacturing-focused forms into service systems and project or solution business. As technological, social or organisational innovations emerge, resources and processes in production systems should be vigorously re-configured for improved performance from customers’, network partners’ and society’s perspective. Sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency are all important elements of performance. Consequently, the major in operations management focuses on operations strategy, management of operations in inter-organizational systems, as well as the life-cycle management of production systems and their offerings to clients. Industrial service systems, project business framework, and integration of digital technologies into operations are central contextual themes.

Learning objectives and career paths

The students majoring in operations  management attain comprehensive understanding of modern operations management practices and the underlying theories. The specific learning objectives are:

• Ability to plan and control operations in a multi-firm context
• Ability to configure and manage resources and processes in inter-organizational relationships
• Ability to analyse the performance of and the risks related to modern production systems through the relevant life cycle
• Ability to manage value in production systems according to the requirements of the dynamic business environments.

Operations Management is a wide field with a lot of diverse career paths. Operations manager is just one typical entry position, which may gradually lead to an executive role, such as COO (Chief operating officer), in a larger organization. Because managing operations means getting the right things done, it is excellent training for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well. There are also several fields of specialization in operations management enabling diverse positions in a variety of organizations already in the beginning of the career. Furthermore, expert positions in consulting, research or educational organisations are possible.

Common core courses 12 credits

Major-specific courses 20 credits 

^{TU-E0100 Research Assignment is a prerequisite for starting the master’s thesis.}

Optional courses

Choose 13 credits from the list of optional courses

Organization design and leadership

Operations management

Strategy

Innovation & entrepreneurship

Finance & financial engineering

Professor in charge: Jari Ylitalo
Extent: 45 credits
Code: SCI3094 

The major in organization design and leadership focuses on issues of organizational design, motivation and leadership that are critical to the creation and transformation of technology-based businesses. The central question addressed is how companies can grow and prosper while at the same time preserving their adaptability, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset. The success of any organization depends on the potential of its people and its capabilities to maintain a purpose-driven organization. Therefore, to be able to renew themselves companies need to unleash and develop their human potential by enabling teams and individuals to self-organize (as opposed to just executing decisions made by top managers) and pursue collective action to seize entrepreneurial opportunities.

The major draws on theoretical perspectives from the social and behavioural sciences as well as from humanities to develop an understanding how teams and companies can build high-performing cultures, how they can motivate and lead their people, and how they can create, motivate, and lead change both in business and in society through various forms of organizing. It addresses topics such as motivation and human potential; organizational design and culture; change and development; knowledge and talent management; collaboration and social interaction; formation and management of agile teams; and agile and transformational leadership as critical success factors for creating and transforming technology-based organizations.

Learning objectives and career paths

Students majoring in organization design and leadership develop knowledge and skills about designing organizations and motivating individuals that are important in dealing with change and renewal, and they are able to apply these skills in the context of both early-stage startup and transformational business settings. The specific learning objectives are:

• Ability to design and develop adaptive and creative organizations, which includes:
  • Organizing and leading change in organizational context
  • Enabling entrepreneurial and innovative behaviour within organization
  • Building an adaptive, ethical, and empowering organizational culture.
• Ability to activate the knowledge and talent embedded in the organization, which includes:
  • Motivating autonomous but pro-organizationalbehavior
  • Organizing teamwork, collaboration and work practices that foster collective action and change
  • Unleashing and developing inherent human potential
  • Designing processes to capture and utilize knowledge.

A major in organization design and leadership provides knowledge, competences, and capabilities that enable entry and progression in a wide range of areas of expertise. Typical entry positions after graduation are in business development or transformation functions, consulting (in particular regarding change management), design and management of knowledge work practices, and functions that enable and support the development and organizing of human potential.

Common core courses 12 credits 

Major-specific courses 20 credits  

^{TU-E0100 Research Assignment is a prerequisite for starting the master’s thesis.}

Optional courses

Choose 13 credits from the list of optional courses

Organization design and leadership

Operations management 

Strategy

Innovation & entrepreneurship 

Finance & financial engineering 

Professor in charge: Mikko Jääskeläinen
Extent: 45 credits
Code: SCI3116 

The major in Product & Innovation management approaches the renewal and transformation of business from the perspectives of new products, operations and technologies. The major addresses the questions of how new technologies and innovations are channeled into new products, how innovative operations management can be used to design existing operations to support and execute new products and innovation, and how the product management can be used to orchestrate the development of businesses, especially in new ventures and during rapid growth.

The development of technology creates opportunities for new innovations and products. Especially increasing role of software and data has altered the technological environment of businesses, requiring greater anticipation of future development. The rise of technology platforms and ecosystems has transformed the ways companies must organize. This development has challenged the traditional ways of organizing by pushing the two fields - operations and product development – closer together. In software-driven companies, an engineering team is simultaneously both the unit of production and the unit of development. This has heightened the importance of centering the organizations around product management and integrating innovations into operations.

The major covers the scope of modern, technology-driven organization from technology strategy, to operationalized innovations, and to product-centric organizations. The major is targeted especially to those with interest in exploring opportunities in startups or in product and technology management and seeking a career trajectory towards Head of Product- or CTO-positions.

Learning objectives and career path

The major covers the scope of modern, technology-driven organization from technology strategy, to operationalized innovations, and to product-centric organizations.The students majoring in product and innovation management gain a comprehensive understanding of modern technology, innovation, and product management practices and the underlying theories. The specific learning objectives are:

• Understanding contemporary concepts, theories, and tools in technology, innovation, and product management
• Ability to create, evaluate and analyse technology, innovation and product strategies
• Ability to identify operational and organizational constraints in current operations and to design solutions using emerging technologies to address those constraints

The major in product and innovation management provides knowledge and competences that offer students diverse career options. The approach of the major is conceptual but leans towards implementation. The topics of the major become relevant when they are not only thought through but also enacted and implemented. Consequently, the major is targeted especially to those with an interest in exploring opportunities in roles that are close to technology, products, operations and seeking a career trajectory towards Head of Product- or CTO-positions. Such roles can be found in startups, scale-ups and equivalent parts of larger organizations.

Common core courses 12 credits

Major-specific courses 20 credits 

^{TU-E0100 Research Assignment is a prerequisite for starting the master’s thesis}

Optional courses

Choose 13 credits from this list of optional courses.

Organization design and leadership

Operations management

Strategy

Innovation & entrepreneurship

Finance & financial engineering

Professor in charge: Kimmo Karhu
Extent: 45 credits
Code: SCI3109

The major in strategy focuses on topics related to the identification, formulation and implementation of courses of action that improve or sustain business performance and thus support the creation and transformation of technology-based businesses. Identifying proper courses of action requires the ability to analyze and synthesize a wide range of different pieces of information and to exercise judgment. Often such analysis is carried out by teams. To achieve their objectives the courses of action also need to be implemented and put into practice.

The major in strategy puts particular emphasis on the development of strong analytical and judgment skills. It exposes students to a wide range of critical business situations that call for analysis and the exercise of judgment and thereby develops a broad and holistic perspective on technology-based businesses. Topics include the evaluation of the strategic impact of new technologies; mergers and acquisitions; using analytics and data to solve complex real life problems; setting up and managing problem-solving in teams; formulating and leading change initiatives; and setting up, supporting and successfully leading corporate ventures.

Learning objectives and career paths

Students majoring in Strategy will attain a comprehensive understanding and skills that enable them to conceive of proper courses of action and lead strategic initiatives that transform existing business and build new business. The specific learning objectives are:

• Ability to lead and organize strategy work to improve value creation
• Ability to analyze sources of competitive advantage in technology based-business
• Ability to build and renew technology-based business in new and established organizations

Majoring in Strategy offers students many attractive career options. Common entry positions after graduation include strategy and business development functions in corporations, management consulting, investment banking, founders/CEOs in startups, positions in venture capital and private equity firms or other organizations building and transforming technology-based business. Later in their careers our graduates often work as CEOs, members of top management teams, and investors.

Common core courses 12 credits

Major-specific courses 21 credits

^{TU-E0100 Research Assignment is a prerequisite for starting the master’s thesis}

Optional courses

Choose 12 credits from this list of optional courses.

Organization design and leadership

Operations management 

Strategy

Innovation & entrepreneurship 

Finance & financial engineering 

Graduates from the programme will have a solid competence in engineering. The foundation for this engineering knowledge is created in Bachelor’s studies and refined at the Master’s level.

To acquire appropriate level of knowledge in a technical discipline, the student can choose the minor from an appropriate field of engineering. The selection of the minor is regulated, and suitable options depend on the educational background of the student.

Students with Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, and all other students with equivalent educational background: Students with BSc in IEM or equivalent studies are required to choose the minor of their master’s studies in a field of engineering that clearly differs from industrial engineering and management. The minor may be in a different field of engineering than the minor of their bachelor’s degree. The minor should be selected from the offering by Aalto schools of technology. However, the programme may disallow some minors because of overlap with industrial engineering and management. For the same reason, the programme may also restrict the choice of optional courses within a minor. 

The educational background is assessed during the admission process. Graduates from the Bachelor’s Programme in Science and Technology (Teknistieteellinen kandidaattiohjelma) majoring in industrial engineering and management follow these guidelines.

Students with a Bachelor’s degree with the major in a field of engineering that clearly differs from industrial engineering and management: The minor can be chosen freely. Again, the educational background is assessed during the admission process.

Students with a Bachelor’s degree in other fields: Students with bachelor’s degree in non-engineering fields such as natural sciences choose the minor of their master’s studies in a field of engineering that clearly differs from industrial engineering and management. The minor should be selected from the offering by Aalto schools of technology. However, the programme may disallow some minors because of overlap with industrial engineering and management. For the same reason, the programme may also restrict the choice of optional courses within a minor.

Any student may also include a second minor in the elective studies. The programme has no restrictions concerning the second minor.

In every case, the minor may be of master’s level or bachelor’s level. The minor is confirmed in the Personal Study Plan.

All minors at Aalto: Minors.

Basically, minors provided by CHEM, ELEC, ENG or SCI (i.e.Aalto Schools of Technology) and designed only for the Master's level (Level equals "Master") are suitable. Exceptions are listed in this page. 

When your choice of minor is restricted, please note the following general principles:

• The objectives and content of the minor must be clearly from a field of technology other than IEM.
• Some minors contain courses that are offered by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (course code format being TU-9XXX) or the School of Business (99X99999). Replace these courses with other courses accepted in the minor.
• The following Master's level minors do not fulfill the programme's intention of " a minor in a field of engineering that clearly differs from industrial engineering and management":
  • Code: CS.a Creative Sustainability
  • Code: BIZ5230 (BIZ)/IDBM.a (ARTS) International Design Business Management
  • SCI3038 Multi-Disciplinary Energy Studies
  • ENG3074 Real Estate Economics
  • ENG3073 Human-Centered Living Environment
  • SCI3098 Human-Computer Interaction
  • SCI3072 USchool
  • SCI3073 Analytics and Data Science
  • SCI3086 Financial Engineering
  • SCI3090 Startup Minor/SCI3110 AVP Startup Minor
  • Bachelor-level minors: ENG3049 Aaltonaut, ENG4007 Kiinteistötalous (Real Estate Economics), ENG4006 Kestävät yhdyskunnat (Sustainable Communities), CHEM3040 CHEMARTS, SCI3030 Informaatioverkostot (Information Networks), SCI3063 Tilastotiede (Statistics), and SCI3114 Tulevaisuudentutkimus (Future Studies).
• Some minors may also contain courses that have strong business, societal, or varying content although they are offered by departements in the Schools of Technology. These types of courses must also be replaced with other courses in the minor. In ENG3060 Mechanical Engineering, a student can choose courses from several tracks (topic groups). The following restrictions concern this minor: 
  • The MEC-E1001 Mechanical Engineering in Society course offered as common studies or courses under the topic group "Societal perspectives in engineering" are not allowed in the minor.
  • Product Development track is only allowed with the following contents: 
    • MEC-E3001 Product Development Project 10-15 cr
    • MEC-E3002 Methods in Early Product Development 5 cr
    • MEC-E3005 Prototyping for Innovation 5 cr

A minor designed for the bachelor’s level may be included in the master’s degree. Many of the bachelor-level minors are offered in Finnish, which may in practice limit the choices of foreign students. Problems may also arise if the student does not have sufficient prerequisite knowledge for a master-level minor, and the prerequisite course is offered in Finnish. The following minors should not have these problems:

• CHEM3055 Chemical Engineering
• ELEC3057 Digital Systems and Design
• ENG3083 Computational Engineering
• SCI3104 Quantum Technology
• SCI3096 Data Science
• SCI3031 Computer Science (only advanced study path of the minor is accepted)

Students choose 25 ECTS of elective studies.  As elective studies, students can

• select additional courses from the major
• select individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University
• select a second minor, (if it fits into your degree)
• select individual courses form other Finnish Universities
• participate in an international student exchange programme https://www.aalto.fi/en/other-studies/exchange-studies
• include 1-10 ECTS of work experience completed in Finland or abroad.
  • please note that if you include course JOIN-A0003 Contributing in Community (3 cr) in your degree, only 7 credits of practical training is accepted in the degree.

Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in. All studies planned to be taken at another Finnish University or abroad should be approved in the personal study plan before taking the courses.

Compulsory language studies for students whose language of education is Finnish or Swedish are included as part of the bachelor’s degree. If the language studies have not been completed in the phase preceding master’s studies, they must be taken during the master’s degree studies. In this case, the student must take 2 ECTS in second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language (including both oral (o) and written (w) proficiency).

Students who have received their education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or received their education abroad are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language. Students with excellent command of English (e.g. English as a first language) may alternatively choose 3 ECTS of Finnish or Swedish courses instead. In this case, according to the Degree Regulations, the student has not demonstrated the requisite written and oral language requirement in a foreign language, which is reflected in the appendix of the degree certificate.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS).

Students are required to complete a master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 ECTS. The thesis is written on a topic related to the major, and is agreed upon with a professor who specializes in the topic of the thesis.

For more information about master's thesis process, please see MyCourses>>