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Science & ResearchISCO 2141

Manufacturing engineer

A manufacturing engineer is a person who designs production processes, taking the general principles of engineering and applying them to the specific constraints of one industry and the products it makes.

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Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

adjust engineering designs

perform scientific research

use technical drawing software

advise on manufacturing problems

ensure material compliance

About manufacturing engineer

The engineer establishes how a given item will actually be made: the sequence of operations, the machines and tooling, the settings, the inspection points and the handling between them. Knowledge of manufacturing technology and of manufacturing and distribution processes keeps a process realistic, because a tolerance that is easy to hold on one machine may be impossible on another.

The engineer adapts technical designs where a product cannot be made as drawn, proposing a change that keeps the function and makes the product possible to manufacture.

Before a process is adopted, the engineer evaluates whether it pays for itself over the volume expected, weighing tooling cost against cycle time and scrap. The engineer uses CAD software for the fixtures, layouts and tooling the process needs. Industrial engineering and engineering principles underpin all of it, and consumer protection requirements shape what the finished product has to satisfy. Formal requirements are set by the employer.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

production processesproduction processesMaterials and techniques required in the production and distribution processes.engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.manufacturing processesmanufacturing processesThe steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.production engineeringproduction engineeringThe subfield of industrial engineering that corresponds to the practice of generating efficient products by transforming raw material into finite products.consumer protectionconsumer protectionThe current legislation applicable in relation to the rights of consumers in the marketplace.industrial engineeringindustrial engineeringThe field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.ensure health and safety in manufacturingensure health and safety in manufacturingEnsure health and safety of personnel during manufacturing process.advise on manufacturing problemsadvise on manufacturing problemsAdvise the visited industrial plants on how to better oversee production to ensure that the manufacturing problems are correctly diagnosed and solved.ensure material complianceensure material complianceEnsure that the materials provided by suppliers comply with the specified requirements.assess financial viabilityassess financial viabilityRevise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Asse...approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
Optional (25) — show
continuous improvement philosophiescontinuous improvement philosophiesUnderlying ideas of quality management systems. Implementation process of lean manufacturing, Kanban, Kaizen, Total Quality Management (TQM) and other continuous improvement systems.human-robot collaborationhuman-robot collaborationHuman-Robot Collaboration is the study of collaborative processes in which human and robot agents work together to achieve shared goals. Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) is an interdisciplinary researc...circular economycircular economyThe circular economy aims to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use and recycling them at the end of their life cycle. It impro...design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.CAE softwareCAE softwareThe software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.reverse engineeringreverse engineeringThe process of extracting knowledge or design information from anything man-made and reproducing it or anything else based on the extracted information. The process often involves disassembling someth...industrial research and developmentindustrial research and developmentThe set of activities that companies carry out to do industrial innovation and introduce new engineering products and services or new industrial production processes.keep up with digital transformation of industrial processeskeep up with digital transformation of industrial processesKeep up to date with digital innovations applicable to industrial processes. Integrate these transformations in the company's processes aiming for competitive and profitable business models.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.recruit employeesrecruit employeesHire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.assess the life cycle of resourcesassess the life cycle of resourcesEvaluate the use and possible recycling of raw materials in the whole product life cycle. Consider applicable regulations, such as the European Commission's Circular Economy Policy Package.apply advanced manufacturingapply advanced manufacturingImprove production rates, efficiencies, yields, costs, and changeovers of products and processes using relevant advanced, innovative, and cutting edge technology.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.use CAM softwareuse CAM softwareUse computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.integrate new products in manufacturingintegrate new products in manufacturingAssist with the integration of new systems, products, methods, and components in the production line. Ensure that production workers are properly trained and follow the new requirements.advise on efficiency improvementsadvise on efficiency improvementsAnalyse information and details of processes and products in order to advise on possible efficiency improvements that could be implemented and would signify a better use of resources.create a work atmosphere of continuous improvementcreate a work atmosphere of continuous improvementWork with management practices such as continuous improvement, preventive maintenance. Pay attention to problem solving and teamwork principles. Empower teams to identify opportunities and then drive ...draft design specificationsdraft design specificationsList the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.monitor plant productionmonitor plant productionMonitor plant processes and efficiency set-up to ensure the maximum output of production levels.recommend product improvementsrecommend product improvementsRecommend product modifications, new features or accessories to keep customers interested.liaise with engineersliaise with engineersCollaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.provide improvement strategiesprovide improvement strategiesIdentify root causes of problems and submit proposals for effective and long-term solutions.analyse production processes for improvementanalyse production processes for improvementAnalyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.maintain financial recordsmaintain financial recordsKeep track of and finalise all formal documents representing the financial transactions of a business or project.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a manufacturing engineer do?

Manufacturing engineers design manufacturing processes for different kinds of production processes. They integrate those specificities and constraints posed by the industry or the product being produced with general and wide-spread manufacturing engineering principles into the design and planification of manufacturing processes.

What skills does a manufacturing engineer need?

A manufacturing engineer needs 15 essential skills, including production processes, engineering principles, manufacturing processes, technical drawings, production engineering.

Will AI replace manufacturing engineer jobs?

The AI disruption score for manufacturing engineer is 43/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: ensure material compliance, ensure equipment availability, manage budgets. Most resilient: create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement, liaise with engineers, continuous improvement philosophies.

Quick Facts

SectorScience & Research
ISCO GroupScience and engineering professionals
Essential Skills15

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