This question seems simple, but there's a twist since the correct answer to this question and similar ones mean you didn't sleep through college lectures and your studies. Be prepared to answer definitions similar to this in the interview because they are commonly asked and are typically 'weed out' questions. Fortunately, this is also an excellent way to demonstrate to the interviewer you know the foundations that are important to the position. Answering the question the right way shows you know your industrial engineering definitions, especially when it comes to the basic concepts you need for the job. When answering a knowledge based question, keep your answer precise and to the point.