Industrial engineering is a dynamically developing field, integrating practices from several engineering disciplines. In this article, we analysed the development of science and research in industrial engineering by examining publication trends in indexed databases. Based on published studies, we identified key competencies required by industrial engineers to effectively manage corporate resources. Along with multidisciplinary knowledge, industrial engineers must be able to implement practical solutions considering environmental and safety aspects. The education is essential for future industrial engineers to have the opportunity to develop necessary skills. The article also explores the education of industrial engineers, and the development of the number of graduates in Slovakia. The results indicate that the content of industrial engineering education only partially meets current requirements. Additionally, our findings show a stable trend in industrial engineering publications in indexed databases, and after a decline, a slightly increasing trend in the number of industrial engineering graduates.