Becoming a Production Engineer

The following article outlines the job duties, training involved, salary expectations and future prospects of taking on a career as a Production Engineer.

Preview:

Production engineers are concerned with the equipment used as a part of production processes. It is their job to keep the technology of production up to date, efficient, and economic. They have a broad view of engineering rather than a specialist one because they deal with mechanical and electronic systems, control and instrumentation, materials handling, and maintenance and quality; in order to optimize the process.

The Job:

There are three types of production. First, liquids and chemicals are produced by a continuous process in pipes and vessels. Second, goods such as cars and telephones are manufactured on a moving-belt production line, where the product is gradually assembled as it moves along. Third, large items, such as turbines and aeroplanes, are assembled in an assembly shop. Production engineers are mostly concerned with the last two of these production methods.

Production engineers decide when new technology is required and, having worked out that it will increase quality, be economical, and work effectively, they supervise its installation. Once installed, they continue to monitor its effectiveness.

Production engineers are responsible for the maintenance of all production equipment. In the most efficiently run organizations, this is achieved on a planned basis rather than simply responding to crises as they occur. Maintenance maybe carried out at a time when the production plant is not in operation, which could involve production engineers and their teams in working unsocial hours.

Their work may include studies aimed at achieving reduced waste or improved efficiency. This may involve using sensors around the plant to discover precisely what is happening. The result may be a redesign of the process, how a piece of equipment is used, or changing temperatures, pressures, or other variables. Manufacturing plant is often adjusted in order to make a different product or transformed to accommodate a new process.

Production engineers have to be up to date on a vast range of different technology. They may use robots and automated systems for weighing, counting, wrapping, or detecting poor quality in the product. Automatic equipment to test the quality of a product may be introduced at the end of a production line. Manufacture is often computer controlled so engineers need to understand computers and their application to the process.

Food processing often requires sterile or clean conditions and, whatever is being manufactured, there are always statutory requirements regarding health and safety that must be adhered to. They must liaise with purchasing managers about the supply and quality of raw materials, with production managers about the production schedule and deadlines, and with marketing managers who seek to change the product to meet market needs. In addition, production engineers will have to manage a team of engineers and technicians.

Production engineers have a very broad job. Technically, they must be proficient in dealing with many different engineering disciplines, especially mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering and computing. They must have a willingness to become involved with the process personally if things go wrong. They must manage situations and production staff, often in stressful situations, if equipment has ceased to function and loss of production is proving costly to their employers.

New machines and equipment may change people's working practices, even costing some their jobs, and must be introduced carefully, and with tact and diplomacy.

Training Involved:

In most countries, training plus academic study takes 7 years. Much training is on the job, learning in detail about different machinery, novel techniques, and gaining a thorough understanding of the production methods of their employers. A clear knowledge of the health and safety legislation and its implications for the process is essential, especially fire, chemical, and mechanical hazards.

Useful Qualifications to Have:

Useful subjects include: science, computer studies, and mathematics.

Salary Expectations:

The base salary range of a Production Engineer ranges from $55,183 to $78,126 annually, while the median salary for most Production Engineers is $66,523 annually. (US Base Pay)

Future Prospects:

Some countries have a manufacturing culture, where production workers are highly valued; others do not. Prospects are good in countries that have a strong manufacturing base (rather than in those with a service-based economy) and where labor costs are competitive. The food, oil, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, electronics and fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers are the most significant employers of production engineers.

For further information, contact professional engineering institutions representing the interests of production, mechanical, or electrical engineers. Also contact major employers of production engineers, as well as organizations that are involved in their education and training.