Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Contents

Who is a Manufacturing Engineer?

A petroleum engineer is someone who locates reservoirs of natural gas and crude oil beneath the earth’s surface, and then determines if the effort of extracting the product will be worth the time and money for the company he/she works for. After the decision has been made to drill, it is the job of the petroleum engineer to find the best and most cost efficient way to extract the product. Basically, petroleum engineers are concerned with four main areas: finding oil, evaluating whether it has potential, recovering the oil, and transporting/storing it.

What They Do

Responsibilities

As a manufacturing engineer, you’ll need to:

  • design new systems, equipment and processes for the introduction of new products or the improvement of existing ones
  • work with other engineers, such as chemical, mechanical and electrical engineers, to ensure all product and system requirements are taken into account from the initial product conception to the finished result
  • examine, tender for and install new equipment, making sure you get the highest quality at the best price
  • liaise with suppliers and customers
  • plan and organise maintenance of equipment
  • identify faults, investigate production problems and repair equipment quickly and efficiently
  • improve current operations wherever possible
  • supervise junior engineers and sub-contractors and ensure effective communication in order to avoid errors
  • organise plant start-up and shut-down schedules to ensure minimum loss of production time and profits
  • keep statistical and financial records and work with finance professionals to manage budgets
  • liaise with research and development staff to ensure the company is at the forefront of ground-breaking research
  • keep up to date with current and developing trends in the manufacturing industry, at a national and international level.

Work Environment

Most companies operate a shift system. Working hours may include regular unsocial hours, including weekend and evening work. You may have to work extra hours, particularly at times when a new process is being installed and tested.

Career breaks are possible but the speed of technological change means that you should keep up to date with the profession or you may not be able to re-enter at the same level. Some employers run career break schemes, which allow jobs to be kept open.

Salary

A person working as a Manufacturing Engineer in Kenya typically earns around Ksh124,000 per month. Salaries range from Ksh56,800 (lowest) to Ksh196,000 (highest).

Job Market

Manufacturing engineers can be employed in any industry that has an end product. You can find opportunities in:

  • aerospace
  • automotive
  • biotechnology
  • clothing
  • food and drink
  • oil refinery
  • pharmaceutical
  • plant and machinery manufacture
  • plastics.

Employers range from small local operations to large multinational organisations with plants and operations all over the world.

Central and local government also employ manufacturing engineers, as do the armed forces and utility companies.

Education

To become a manufacturing engineer you’ll typically need a degree in engineering. The following engineering degree subjects are particularly relevant:

  • chemical engineering
  • electrical/electronic engineering
  • manufacturing or production engineering
  • mechanical engineering.

Although you don’t need a postgraduate degree, having a relevant Masters in engineering, an engineering doctorate (EngD) or an integrated MEng degree can enhance your prospects.

It’s also possible to enter at a trainee level with an engineering HNC, HND or foundation degree. With experience and further qualifications, you’ll then be able to progress to more senior roles.

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