HOW MECHANICAL ENGINEERS WORK

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Mechanical Engineering is one of the broadest professions.  Mechanical engineers work in almost every industry, in private practice, in government, in medicine, in law, and in universities.  Their work can take them around the world - anywhere there are machines, there are mechanical engineers.  Anywhere includes the bottom of the ocean - they design and work in deep-sea exploration bathyscaphes - and space - mechanical engineers are part of the team designing and building the space station Freedom, and fly as space shuttle astronauts.  Wherever mechanical engineers work, however, they are engaged in one or more of eight different assignments:

RESEARCH.  Research engineers collect data in laboratories an din the field to gain knowledge about systems and materials and the laws of motion.  In many ways, engineers and scientists doing research do much the same work.

DEVELOPMENT.  In development, engineers take research results and build prototype devices or systems that solve a problem.  Usually this early development work is used to test an approach, and often requires modifications.  Development engineers often work closely with research engineers.

DESIGN.  In design, engineers conceive the machines, systems or approaches that will solve a specific problem.  The solution is always spelled out quantitatively and put into drawings or equations.

TESTING.  To test, engineers take a development device or a full-scale completed machine and operate it to determine its performance under all possible conditions.  Often, testing means finding out how much the machine can take before it breaks or fails.  Testing also includes finding out how safe a machine is under usual and unusual operating conditions.

MANUFACTURING.  Production engineers select the equipment and machines that will manufacture a finished product.  This can range from building a factory assembly line, to fashioning a very precise surgeon's tool.  Generally, engineers involved in manufacturing are concerned with production efficiency, economics and safety.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE.  Some equipment and systems require continual maintenance.  Many mechanical engineers perform this function in power plants and advanced manufacturing sites.

MARKETING & SALES.  Products and systems that are extremely complex often require a marketing and sales force with detailed technical experience.  These engineers often help customers design the optimum product for their needs, and support installation and training.

ADMINISTRATION.  In many companies and organizations, especially those in technical fields, mechanical engineers are involved in supervising and coordinating the work of others.  Companies in technical fields often recruit their senior executives from the ranks of the engineering staff.  It is not unusual for the president of a technical manufacturing company, for example, to be an engineer.

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