Can Mechanical Engineer Work In Automobile Industry? - SKengineers

 

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN INDUSTRY?

Mechanical Engineering is one of the basic branches of engineering and its fundamental principles are used in the design, development and construction of nearly all of the physical devices and systems we see around us including but not limited to automobiles, machines in all kind of factories, machinery used in building construction, road construction, agriculture, etc. Mechanical engineers are also involved with the design, construction and operations of all kinds of machinery. They conceptualize design for any product to be manufactured. They also develop, test and manufacture the state-of-the-art machinery.

Manufacturing sector encompasses a set of industries to make or produce anything in a factory and therefore, it requires a great deal of specialized knowledge.  Mechanical engineers are often referred as manufacturing engineers also as they are recruited by all kinds of companies which manufacture a variety of machines, robotics and other equipment. The mechanical engineers are normally responsible for the design, selection of materials, specifications and the development of production processes and equipment.  Responsibility for plant layout, production planning and control, as well as plant maintenance is also a major job responsibility that mechanical engineers undertake.

Job opportunities for Mechanical Engineers -

Students who complete a BTech in mechanical engineering can look for employment in almost every type of manufacturing industry such as automobile, aerospace, railway coach factory, chemical manufacturing plants, metal producing plants, etc. apart from the private sector, mechanical engineers gain employment in public sector units such as BHEL, SAIL, GAIL, Indian Railway, Electricity Boards. Typical examples of the technology that mechanical engineers deal include automobiles, aircrafts, turbines, robotics, agriculture machinery, etc.  Mechanical engineering, being a basic branch of engineering, provides employment in all kind of industries and therefore, is a branch of choice for aspiring engineers.

There are around 300,000 mechanical engineers in India, who have been serving in different industries. Role of mechanical engineering can never be neglected. If we talk about the percent-wise breakup of mechanical engineers employed in different industries, then the below table clarifies:

Transportation equipment manufacturing             12%

Scientific research and development services       7%

Machinery manufacturing            13%

Computer and electronic product manufacturing               7%

Architectural, engineering, and related services  22%

Skills Students Gain with Mechanical Engineering Study

Apart from the study of regular topics, mechanical engineering students are trained to nurture other skills needed to undertake the professional challenges further. These skills are:

Innovation -

Mechanical engineers develop and design complex machines and heavy pieces of equipment. The innovation they learn while study plays a crucial role in this.

Mathematical Knowledge -

Statistics, calculus, and other advanced mathematical concepts are always helpful to mechanical engineers for designing and analyzing the complex machinery.

Communication Skills -

Mechanical engineers are supposed to coordinate with professionals from other divisions like architects and computer scientists. They must be great at communication to analyze what the approaches mentioned by others.

Decision- making Skills -

Mechanical engineers need to be good at decision-making since they need to decide about the new processes to be implemented while building complex machines that too in short span of time.

Core Mechanical Skills -

There is no denying the fact that mechanical engineers should be adept at their core skills i.e. conceptualizing the mechanical processes and building the new systems & devices.

‘Make in India’ initiative by Government of India:

Make in India is an ambitious initiative launched by government of India to attract manufacturing enterprises from abroad as well as domestic origin to set up manufacturing units in India to enhance the share of manufacturing in our GDP from current 15 percent to 25 percent by 2025. Manufacturing being one of the highest employment generating sector has been of current focus though capacity up-gradation, skill development and industrial development. To achieve this target, government of India has adopted a mix of policies for ease of doing business in India though good governance, decreasing red-tapism and scaling up infrastructural development to multiply the role of mechanical engineering.

Industry 4.0 concept -

Industry 4.0 has been defined as “a collective term for technologies and concepts of value chain organisation which draws together Cyber-Physical Systems, the Internet of Things, and the Internet of Services”. In Industry 4.0, cyber-physical systems made up of connected systems of software, sensors, machines, workpieces, and communication technologies monitor physical processes, create a virtual copy of the physical world, and make decentralised decisions.

 

According to Sackey et al. (2016), the following areas need attention in any Mechanical Engineering (ME) curriculum enhancement initiatives for Industry 4.0: (i) Data science and advanced (big data) analytics; (ii) Advanced simulation and virtual plant modelling; (iii) Data communication and networks and system automation; (iv) Novel human-machine interfaces; (v) Digital-to-physical transfer technologies, such as 3-D printing; (vi) Closed-loop integrated product and process quality control/management systems; (vii) Real-time inventory and logistics optimisation systems; (viii) Teaching and learning demonstration infrastructure. Similarly, for education systems in general to meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, it should recommend three things: (i) providing broader skill sets; (ii) offering job-specific capabilities; and (iii) closing the IT skills gap.

Responsibilities -

As a mechanical engineer, you'll need to:

research and develop products

improve production processes, such as those in large oil refineries, or services within buildings

design and implement cost-effective equipment modifications to help improve safety and reliability

develop a project specification with colleagues, often including those from other engineering disciplines

develop and use new materials and technologies

manage people, projects and resources - this will depend on your role

develop, test and evaluate theoretical designs

discuss and solve complex problems with manufacturing departments, sub-contractors, suppliers and customers

make sure a product can be made reliably and will perform consistently in specified operating environments

manage projects using engineering principles and techniques

plan and design new production processes

produce details of specifications and outline designs

recommend modifications following prototype test results

use research, analytical, conceptual and planning skills, particularly those in mathematical modelling and computer-aided design

consider the implications of issues such as cost, safety and time constraints

work with other professionals, within and outside the engineering sector

monitor and commission plant and systems.

Salary -

Starting salaries for mechanical engineers, and for those on graduate training schemes, are in the range of £20,000 to £28,000.

With experience this can increase to between £25,000 and £35,000. At a mid-level for lead or principle engineers, salaries are around £35,000 to £50,000.

When a senior level is reached, such as chief engineer, salaries of £45,000 to £60,000+ can be achieved.

Salaries vary from company to company and some sectors attract higher salaries, according to demand.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours -

Working hours typically include regular extra hours, but not usually weekends or shifts.

Self-employment and freelance work are possible for qualified engineers with a good track record and experience. Short-term contract or consulting work is also possible, often arranged through agencies.

What to expect -

The work is mainly office-based with regular visits to plants, factories, workshops or building sites. Factory production areas can be noisy.

Women are currently underrepresented within chartered engineering, although there are initiatives in place to try and encourage more women into the industry, such as WISE and Women's Engineering Society (WES).

Opportunities are usually available in towns and cities that have a strong manufacturing or research base, or in regions where there is a local facility that supports specialist engineering.

Travel within a working day is frequent and absence from home overnight and overseas work or travel may be required.

There are many opportunities to work abroad, particularly throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.

Qualifications -

To get into mechanical engineering you'll usually be required to have a degree. Relevant subjects include:

 

aeronautical engineering

agricultural engineering

computer-aided engineering

engineering science

manufacturing engineering

mechanical engineering

nuclear engineering.

A good honours degree is usually required, although some employers place as much emphasis on people skills and commercial awareness as on class of degree.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not essential but it can be useful, especially if your first degree is not in an engineering or other related subject. Masters are available in subjects such as:

computer-aided engineering

design engineering

manufacturing engineering

mechanical engineering

medical engineering.

It's useful if your first degree or Masters is accredited by a relevant professional body, such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), as it can help you to achieve the status of chartered engineer at a later date. Details of accredited courses are available at Engineering Council - Accredited Course Search.

You could become an engineering technician without a degree, HND or foundation degree. However, to work up to the role of mechanical engineer you would need to build up the necessary skills and knowledge, and possibly take higher qualifications.

Student membership with a professional body will help you keep up to date with developments in the industry and enable you to start making contacts. Relevant organisations include:

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

Skills

You'll need to show:

a high level of technical and scientific knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to practical problems

good oral communication skills and confidence in dealing with a range of people, including clients, contractors, designers, directors and plant operators

precise and concise written communication skills

the ability to work well within a team

IT skills, particularly computer-aided design

creative ability

the ability to work under pressure

organisational skills, such as time and resource planning

fluency in a second language - depending on the type of industry, this may be helpful for dealing with international offices or clients.

Work experience

Work experience is valuable and many large employers offer structured internship programmes and summer placement schemes. These provide an excellent insight into the nature of the work and are often hands-on.

Some degree courses offer a year in industry, which really helps to demonstrate what the career will be like, as well as making some good contacts for future job prospects. This type of relevant experience will provide evidence of skill development and commercial awareness.

Employers -

Mechanical engineers can find employment in a huge range of sectors; mechanical engineering has usually played a part in almost all the products and services we see around us.

Employers of mechanical engineers include:

aerospace and automotive industries

the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence, e.g. the Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG)

construction and building services

energy utilities, including nuclear

engineering consultancies

government agencies

manufacturing industries

medical engineering

oil and gas industries, including petrochemical industries

process industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics

the public sector, including the Civil Service, local authorities, hospitals and educational institutions

research establishments, both academic and commercial

sports engineering

transport, including road and railways.

Look for job vacancies at:

The Engineer Jobs

Recruitment agencies such as Match tech and Hays advertise vacancies and handle contract vacancies, particularly for experienced engineers.

Find out about employers before your final year and make contact with them at engineering recruitment fairs.

Mechanical engineer jobs

Mechanical Engineering Graduate

Dunbia

Various locations

Competitive salary

Engineering & Maintenance Industrial Placement 2022

Sellafield Ltd

Cumbria

£17,001-£19,500

Graduate Mechanical Engineer

PA Consulting Group

Royston

Competitive salary

View more engineering jobs

Professional development

It's possible to enter the engineering industry through a graduate training scheme. If you do this, you'll complete a structured course of training, which usually involves working within a variety of disciplines.

It's likely that you'll work towards gaining chartered engineer status (CEng), which is an internationally-recognised qualification awarded by the Engineering Council. This will give you higher earning potential and improved career prospects. You'll need to be a member of a professional institution, such as IET or IMechE, so that you can apply through them for professional registration.

The process of becoming chartered is more straightforward if you have an accredited undergraduate degree, along with a Masters or an accredited integrated MEng degree. To see which qualifications are accredited see the Engineering Council.

Some employers will offer opportunities to study for a part-time MSc in a relevant subject.

 

You'll also need to demonstrate that you're working at a particular level and have the required professional competences and commitment, as set out in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

Most large firms offer structured training and encourage continuing professional development (CPD). Usually, firms offer in-service training and short courses for specific needs. This may include placements in different departments to widen your experience. Professional bodies, such as IMechE and IET, can help with CPD.

Career prospects -

Most careers in engineering lead to a senior position with responsibility for other staff or larger projects and budgets. If you're required to lead teams or manage projects, developing people management skills will be helpful.

Gaining chartered status (CEng) is a significant help in career progression - this is proof that you've met a standard of experience and knowledge in the engineering profession. Also, all chartered engineers who are members of a professional engineering institution and registered with the Engineering Council are eligible to apply for European Engineer (Eur Ing) status. This is useful for working internationally.

You may decide to develop additional skills, such as business or management skills, to get involved with larger projects and take on greater responsibility. Good commercial awareness is also important for career development.

You may be able to move into business functions, such as procurement, sales and marketing or human resources (HR). Once you have developed your technical skills, you can move into senior engineering posts, such as engineering director. You could also consider moving into engineering consultancy.