In addition to a wide variety of technical specialist roles, manufacturing engineers often follow career paths as operations integrators or manufacturing strategists, defining relationships between technology and organizations. Manufacturing engineers often work in concurrent engineering teams for launching production of new products. In this environment, they work in partnership with mechanical and electrical design engineers, applications engineers and marketing specialists, purchasing agents and supply chain managers, human resources specialists, accountants and financial managers. All of these occupations within a business enterprise support the production of the company's products. The manufacturing engineer is the final link.
Manufacturing is where the action is.
Modern corporations succeed or fail on the strength of their manufacturing. Since manufacturing engineers work at the core of industrial companies, they learn about the vital interests of the company and can readily grow into management positions. The path to the executive suite in many industrial companies runs through manufacturing. Much of the general education requirement is elective and can be designed to meet the needs and interests of the individual student. Common engineering sciences include solid mechanics, dynamics, thermosciences, electronics, engineering graphics and computer application.