CHAPTER 2 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING –

AN OVERVIEW

2.0 Mechanical Engineering –

An Overview

Learning Outcome

• Upon successful completion of this chapter, students should be able to

– Establish learning goals and identify career goals based on their program of study

– Explain the different fields of mechanical engineering

2.0 Mechanical Engineering –

An Overview

Contents

• 2.1 Introduction to Engineering

• 2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

• 2.3 Program of Study

• 2.4 Career Path

• 2.5 The many Facets of Mechanical Engineering

2.1 Introduction to Engineering

“Ask yourself, what do I touch that’s not engineered? Engineering develops and delivers consumer goods -- builds networks of highways, air and rail travel, and the internet – mass produces antibiotics, creates artificial heart valves, builds lasers – offers wonders like imaging technology and conveniences like microwave ovens and compact disks. In short, engineering makes modern life possible. ”

William A. Wulf President of the National Academy of Engineering

2.1 Introduction to Engineering

Engineers change the

world

Engineers accelerate innovation

Engineers explore in Ingenious Ways

Engineers are Professionals

Engineers create revolutionary

ideas

2.1 Introduction to Engineering

• The word “Engineering” is derived from the Latin root “Ingenium” which means to put talent, ability, genius, and cleverness to work in the real world

• The word “Ingenuity” also comes from the latin root “Ingenium”

• Thus, Engineering is a creative profession

• “Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create

the world that never has been” (Theodore Von Karman)

University provides theoretical knowledge

Grad.Eng

Industry provides practical knowledge for 3 years

Mentoring Scheme

Professional Assessment Examination

to obtain PEng status

ENGINEERING EDUCATION & TRAINING IN MALAYSIA

Professional Competency Examination

to obtain Practicing Certificate

2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

• Mechanical engineering is one of the largest, broadest, and oldest engineering disciplines

• The term “Mechanical Engineering” originated in the nineteenth century

• Before that there were two recognized branches of engineering, namely military engineering and non-military

• These were concerned with the building of roads, bridges and canals

• Henceforth the first professional engineering society was formed in 1818 known as the UK Institution of Civil Engineering

2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

• As civil engineering deals with the construction of buildings, tunnels and bridges but the design and maintenance of steam locomotives involved different skills and thus the formation of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering in Birmingham in 1847

• During this era, the steam engines played a very important role in the development of mechanical engineering throughout the 19th century, with the application not only in transportation but also industry

• By the 20th century mechanical engineering has become broader, embracing internal combustion engine, drive mechanism, machine tools, air-condition plants and refrigeration systems

2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

• Mechanical Engineering is a versatile field and forms a good foundation for work in other fields

• The field of Mechanical Engineering deals with forces, materials, energy, fluids, motion and design

• Mechanical engineers apply their knowledge of the above elements to devise products to solve problems and to advance society through technology

“Mechanical Engineers research, develop, design, manufacture and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing machines such as electricity-producing generators, internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, and jet and rocket engines. They also develop power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, robots used in manufacturing, machine tools, materials handling systems, and industrial production equipment ”

US Department of Labor

2.2 What is Mechanical Engineering?

Category Nos.

Professional Engineer

11399

Graduate Engineer 86562

TOTAL 97,961

REGISTRATION WITH BEM (YEAR 2015)

2.3 Program of Study

2.3 Mechanical Engineering –

Program of Study

• The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME) offers 7 accredited Mechanical Engineering-based undergraduate BEng programs

• Students spend the first two years taking the basic mechanical engineering courses and spend the last two years doing their specialization courses

• Each program will include – General Education courses in the humanities and social sciences also

known as University General Subjects

– Co-curriculum courses

– Preparatory courses in mathematics, science and computer programming

– Core courses in fundamental mechanical engineering subjects

– Elective Courses/Courses in specialized fields

2.3 Mechanical Engineering –

Program of Study

• For an accredited engineering program in Malaysia, the Board of Engineers Malaysia specifies that the following are core areas for Mechanical Engineering :

Materials

Statics and Dynamics

Fluid Mechanics

Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer

Mechanical Design

Instrumentation & Control

Solid Mechanics

Manufacturing/Production

Electrical Power & Machines

Electronics & Microprocessors

Computer Aided Engineering

Vibrations

Program of Study

• Please refer to the ‘ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Handbook Session 2015/2016’ for the details of each programme :

– Programme Objectives

– Programme Learning Outcomes

– Areas of Study

– Career Prospects

2.4 Career Path

• A profession has to do with the discipline/field of engineering an individual pursues in the early days of academic studies

• It does not end after graduation for in pursuance of becoming a true professional, there are many other skill sets that are not taught in university but are required

• The experiential learning is what develops competency and maturity for one cannot exist without the other

• For an individual to be regarded as a professional engineer, he must not only be academically qualified but also have the level of maturity and correct attitude and able to demonstrate competency levels befitting that required by the discipline

2.4 Mechanical Engineering –

Career Path

• In Malaysia, in accordance with the Registration of Engineers Act 1967, it is a requirement of the law that Any person who wants to take up employment as an engineer MUST be registered as a Graduate Engineer with BEM (Board of Engineers Malaysia)

• As such, it is prudent for an engineering graduate to register as a Graduate Engineer at the very beginning of his engineering career

• After accumulating enough experience and fulfilling all requirements, a graduate engineer can then apply to BEM to be upgraded as a Professional Engineer which will entitle him to use the Prefix, ‘Ir’ infront of his name and ‘PEng’ at the end of his name

2.4 Mechanical Engineering –

Career Path

• Engineers tend to practice their profession as members of teams, led and managed by senior engineers who are employees, even though they also assume the role of employers in many aspects of their relationships with their juniors

• The more senior engineers usually are seated in the high level management strata dealing more with the leadership and management of large resources of men, materials and finance over which they have control

2.4 Mechanical Engineering –

Career Path

• It is the juniors who are more involved in the detailed technical practice of the profession

• In today’s context in major organizations the technical direction comes from higher boards to provide guidance and direction in line with the organization’s goals and objectives

• These directions and guidelines cascade down to the middle management who translates the actions and the lower rung to execute the action plans

• This is done so because of the complexity of goals that necessitates the participation of other elements such as finance, supply chain, legal and human resource that are not necessarily “engineering” per se

2.4 Mechanical Engineering –

Career Path

• Engineering therefore, is a unique profession in which all of the marks of the professional have crucial importance:

– he must have high-level skills and he must develop different skills as his career advances

– he must have a strong motivation for service because everything he does impinges on the community in some way or other

• Engineering is predominantly an employee profession

– Absence of a personal practitioner-client relationship

– The whole community is the ultimate client rather than the individual clients as in the case with other professions

2.4 Mechanical Engineering –

Career Path

2.5 The Many Facets of Mechanical Engineering

• Mechanical engineers have to deal with a wide range of issues relating to different fields during the course of their work

• The following is a list (not exhaustive) of the diversity of the fields of Mechanical Engineering :

– Applied Mechanics

– Fluids Engineering

– Heat Transfer

– Bioengineering

– Tribology

– Internal Combustion Engines

2.5 The Many Facets of Mechanical

Engineering

• The following is a list (not exhaustive) of the diversity of the fields of Mechanical Engineering :

– Fuels & Combustion Technology

– Nuclear and Power Engineering

– Advanced Energy Systems

– Solar Engineering

– Petroleum Engineering

– Marine Engineering

– Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering

– Environmental Engineering

2.5 The Many Facets of Mechanical

Engineering

• The following is a list (not exhaustive) of the diversity of the fields of Mechanical Engineering :

– Noise control & Acoustics

– Solid Waste Processing

– Engineering & Technology Management

– Manufacturing Engineering

– Plant Engineering & Maintenance

– Materials Engineering

– Non-Destructive Evaluation

– Pressure Vessels and Piping

2.5 The Many Facets of Mechanical

Engineering

• The following is a list (not exhaustive) of the diversity of the fields of Mechanical Engineering :

– Dynamics Systems & Control

– Design Engineering

– Computer-aided Engineering Technology

– Industrial Engineering

– Electrical & Electronic Packaging

– Micro-electromechanical systems

2.5 The Many Facets of Mechanical

Engineering

Resources

RESOURCES

1. Anthony Johnson & Keith Sherwin, Foundations of Mechanical Engineering, Chapman Hall, 1996.

2. J. Wickert, An Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, Nelson, Thomson Canada Ltd, 2006

3. Paul D Ronney, Basics of Mechanical Engineering, University USC, 2006

4. Undergraduate Handbook 2011/2012, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

5. Online Resources: http://www.suite101/content/mechanical-engineering

http://www.mfeng.com

http://www.careercornerstone.org/industrial

http://www.masterportal.eu

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsc13

…………End of Chapter 2