Manufacturing engineers design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.

  • Troubleshoot new or existing product problems involving designs, materials, or processes.
  • Investigate or resolve operational problems, such as material use variances or bottlenecks.
  • Identify opportunities or implement changes to improve manufacturing processes or products or to reduce costs, using knowledge of fabrication processes, tooling and production equipment, assembly methods, quality control standards, or product design, materials and parts.
  • Apply continuous improvement methods such as lean manufacturing to enhance manufacturing quality, reliability, or cost-effectiveness.
  • Provide technical expertise or support related to manufacturing.
  • Incorporate new manufacturing methods or processes to improve existing operations.
  • Review product designs for manufacturability or completeness.
  • Determine root causes of failures or recommend changes in designs, tolerances, or processing methods, using statistical procedures.
  • Prepare reports summarizing information or trends related to manufacturing performance.
  • Prepare documentation for new manufacturing processes or engineering procedures.
  • Design layout of equipment or workspaces to achieve maximum efficiency.
  • Communicate manufacturing capabilities, production schedules, or other information to facilitate production processes.
  • Supervise technicians, technologists, analysts, administrative staff, or other engineers.
  • Design, install, or troubleshoot manufacturing equipment.
  • Evaluate manufactured products according to specifications and quality standards.
  • Estimate costs, production times, or staffing requirements for new designs.
  • Train production personnel in new or existing methods.
  • Design tests of finished products or process capabilities to establish standards or validate process requirements.
  • Analyze the financial impacts of sustainable manufacturing processes or sustainable product manufacturing.
  • Develop sustainable manufacturing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize raw material use, replace toxic materials with non-toxic materials, replace non-renewable materials with renewable materials, or reduce waste.
  • Purchase equipment, materials, or parts.
  • Evaluate current or proposed manufacturing processes or practices for environmental sustainability, considering factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, water pollution, energy use, or waste creation.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, participate in educational programs, attend meetings, attend workshops, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the manufacturing field.
  • Redesign packaging for manufactured products to minimize raw material use or waste.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 89% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 62% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 62% responded "Every day".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 50% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 50% responded "Extremely important".
  • Contact With Others — 47% responded "Constant contact with others".
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Work Activities
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Determine operational methods.
  • Create graphical representations of industrial production systems.
  • Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
  • Determine causes of operational problems or failures.
  • Design industrial equipment.
  • Install production equipment or systems.
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Knowledge

Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving
  • Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics
  • Using mathematics to solve problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • PTC Creo Parametric Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Exchange Hot Technology
  • IBM Notes Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
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