Fundamentos epistemológicos de la ingeniería industrial en relación con las líneas de profundización del programa de ingeniería industrial de la sede principal

Abstract

This document analyzes the epistemological foundations of Industrial Engineering with the aim of conceptually articulating the professional profile of the industrial engineer with the specialization tracks of the academic program at the Main Campus. Through a conceptual review, the text examines the type of knowledge produced by the discipline, characterized by its applied, interdisciplinary, and contextual nature, as well as its relationship with the exact, social, and economic sciences. The study addresses the main epistemological approaches underpinning contemporary Industrial Engineering, highlighting epistemological pluralism, systems thinking, pragmatism, and an ethical-humanistic perspective. Additionally, it explores the implications of this framework for curriculum design, graduate profiles, and the development of key professional competencies. Finally, the relevance of the specialization tracks in Process Improvement and Organizational Management is justified, demonstrating their epistemological coherence, formative complementarity, and contribution to the education of professionals capable of critically, ethically, and sustainably intervening in complex productive and social systems.