Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering Major
Manufacturing Engineering is a good choice for people who have both aptitude and interest in production of goods for improved living standard for the general populace. This career field is all about the production of goods—from automobiles and tractors and airplanes…to electronic products, recreational products, sports equipment, books and toys…to foodstuffs. Manufacturing engineers are employed in every industry that produces goods of some kind.
Manufacturing engineers may focus on the interaction between work piece and tool as process scientists or process engineers. They may concentrate on integrating the many different processes and parts necessary to make up finished products—as production engineers. Or, as manufacturing systems engineers, they may take a very wide view of the manufacturing enterprise, including its supply chain, distribution channels, financial structure and resource management. In every particular focus, manufacturing engineers are the people who design the processes through which products are made with the required functionality, to high quality standards, in the quantities needed, available when and where customers prefer, and at the best possible price.
Every day, manufacturing engineers make decisions about technology, machinery, people, and money. The preparation for the excitement and challenge of modern manufacturing requires students to master the mathematics and applied science common to all engineering disciplines. They then will master the fundamentals of process engineering and production engineering so that they may apply these principles to production of any type of goods.
Graduates of the Manufacturing Engineering program will be able to:
- Solve problems relevant to modern manufacturing industries, with principal emphasis on process engineering and production engineering, as well as selected aspects of process science and the manufacturing enterprise.
- Design competitive manufacturing processes and production systems, integrating machinery, technology, people and money, with appropriate consideration for environmental factors, health and safety, sustainability and ethical, economic, social and political issues.
- Engage in effective learning in topics and areas relevant to professional advancement and to enhancing the quality of personal life.
- Participate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams in both leadership and followership roles.
- Effectively communicate complex technological concepts, issues and professional details to a variety of audiences.
Manufacturing Engineering graduates are well positioned to select career employment in any manufacturing industry. Graduates are actively recruited by companies that produce agricultural and construction machinery and vehicles, complex industrial apparatus, recreational vehicles, airplanes, household goods, building products, and both industrial and consumer electronics. Manufacturing Engineering graduates generally begin their careers designing processes and production systems or directly managing some phase of manufacturing. Frequently, they progress to increased responsibilities, with broader scope and yet more opportunity.
Manufacturing Engineering Areas of Emphasis
Students majoring in Manufacturing Engineering may prepare for specific career choices by careful use of the two technical electives and the three Engineering Science requirements included in the Manufacturing Engineering major. It is suggested that students confer with their academic adviser for assistance in choosing the most appropriate optional courses. These topical areas also are available for post-graduate study, leading to Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering degrees. For more complete details, see the Graduate Bulletin online.
Manufacturing Sequences for Non-Majors
Most industrial enterprises engage in the production of some sort of goods in some way and to some degree. Students majoring in other disciplines can enhance their career value by expanding their knowledge of process engineering and production engineering. For students majoring in other engineering disciplines or in the agricultural or physical sciences, the technological foundations of manufacturing can be acquired through IME 330 Manufacturing Processes,IME 380 CAD/CAM for Manufacturing, IME 430 Process Engineering and IME 431 Production Engineering. Also, engineering majors from other disciplines may elect to acquire more depth in electronics manufacturing (IME 427 Packaging for Electronics) and plastics and composite manufacturing (IME 432 Composite Materials Manufacturing, IME 435 Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing, IME 437 Methods for Precision Manufacturing).
Manufacturing Engineering Minor
Most industrial enterprises engage in the production of some sort of goods in some way and to some degree. Students majoring in other disciplines can enhance their career value by expanding their knowledge of the technologies, processes and systems of manufacturing. A minor in Manufacturing Engineering may be earned by any student in good standing and majoring in any engineering discipline or applicable agricultural or physical sciences. Students electing to pursue this minor will be expected to have achieved the necessary pre-requisite knowledge, consisting of basic calculus, statistics and physical sciences. Students completing a minor in Manufacturing Engineering will gain highly relevant understanding of the technologies, machine tools, fixturing and tooling, and production systems employed in the manufacture of a wide variety of goods used in modern society.
Interested students are encouraged to visit with relevant faculty in the IME Department for advice on course selection to best suit their career interests.
Major Requirements
Major: Manufacturing Engineering
Degree Type: B.S.Mfg.E.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 131
General Education Requirements
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| UNIV 189 | Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | Writing in the Technical Professions | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): | ||
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| PHYS 252 | University Physics II | 4 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list | ||
| Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Major Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| Manufacturing Engineering Core Requirements | ||
| IME Courses Required: | ||
| IME 111 | Introduction to Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering | 3 |
| IME 311 | Work/Station Design and Measurement | 3 |
| IME 330 | Manufacturing Processes | 3 |
| IME 380 | CAD/CAM for Manufacturing | 3 |
| IME 430 | Process Engineering | 3 |
| IME 431 | Production Engineering | 3 |
| IME 432 | Composite Materials Manufacturing | 3 |
| IME 440 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
| IME 456 | Program and Project Management | 3 |
| IME 460 | Evaluation of Engineering Data | 3 |
| IME 461 | Quality Assurance and Control | 3 |
| IME 480 | Production and Inventory Control | 3 |
| IME 482 | Automated Manufacturing Systems | 3 |
| IME 489 | Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Capstone | 3 |
| MATH Courses Required: | ||
| MATH 128 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 1 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 259 | Multivariate Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| ME Courses Required: | ||
| ME 212 | Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Engineers | 3 |
| ME 221 | Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| ME 222 | Engineering Mechanics II | 3 |
| ME 223 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| ME 331 | Materials Science and Engineering | 4 |
| Other Required Courses: | ||
| ENGR 402 | Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility | 1 |
| PHYS 252L | University Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| Manufacturing Electives | ||
| Computer Science Electives: Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Visual BASIC | ||
| Beginning FORTRAN | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Introduction to Computing | ||
Any programming language course must be approved by your adviser. | ||
| Engineering and Science Requirements: | ||
| CE 309 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| ME 350 | Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Circuit Analysis I | ||
| Digital Design | ||
| Electrical Engineering I | ||
| Technical Electives: Select 6 credits from the following: * | 6 | |
| Welding Technology | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Packaging for Electronics | ||
| Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing | ||
| Systems Engineering and Management | ||
| Logistics Engineering and Management | ||
| Integrated Industrial Information Systems | ||
| Total Quality In Industrial Management | ||
| Reliability Engineering | ||
| Operations Research I | ||
| Simulation of Business and Industrial Systems | ||
| Industrial and Manufacturing Facility Design | ||
| Individual Study | ||
Only one of the following four courses may be counted as technical electives. | ||
| International Business | ||
| Foundations of Management | ||
| Foundations of Marketing | ||
| Business Law I-Contracts, Property and Torts | ||
| Total Credits | 131-132 | |
| * | Other technical elective courses: Students may request approval for other 300-400 level engineering or related courses to be approved as technical electives. To request approval, a student should submit a memo to their academic adviser indicating the course of interest and why the course should be approved as a technical elective. This memo will be reviewed by the academic adviser and the IME Department for approval. |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college. Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.
- Grades less than ‘C’ will not be accepted for CHEM, MATH, and PHYS.
- 300-400 level BUSN courses require at least junior standing and a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA.
Minor Requirements
Manufacturing Engineering Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 16
| Required Courses | ||
| IME 330 | Manufacturing Processes | 3 |
| IME 380 | CAD/CAM for Manufacturing | 3 |
| IME 430 | Process Engineering | 3 |
| IME 431 | Production Engineering | 3 |
| Electives: Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Welding Technology | ||
| Packaging for Electronics | ||
| Composite Materials Manufacturing | ||
| Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing | ||
| Quality Assurance and Control | ||
| Automated Manufacturing Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
- Only students majoring in engineering (except construction management) may elect a minor in Manufacturing Engineering.
