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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.

The Manufacturing Engineering program at NDSU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org ).  The curriculum is designed to produce baccalaureate-level graduates who are well prepared to accept engineering positions in industry and government or to pursue advanced degree studies. Graduates of the Manufacturing Engineering program will be able to:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Engage in effective learning in topics and areas relevant to professional advancement and to enhancing the quality of personal life.
  4. Participate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams in both leadership and followership roles.
  5. 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 technical electives and the Engineering Science electives 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, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering,  and Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering degrees. For more complete details, see the Graduate Bulletin online.

Selective Admission 

The Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering has a selective admission policy. To be admitted to the Manufacturing Engineering program, freshman applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5 and a composite ACT score of 21 or higher. Transfer students, whether from another university or from another department at NDSU, must have an institutional grade point average of at least 2.30.

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 through advanced manufacturing courses (IME 427 Packaging for ElectronicsIME 432 Composite Materials ManufacturingIME 433 Additive Manufacturing, IME 435 Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing, and  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 189Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
MATH 165Calculus I4
Science & Technology (S):
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 122General Chemistry II3
PHYS 252University Physics II4
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits42

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
Manufacturing Engineering Core Requirements
IME Courses Required:
IME 111Introduction to Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering3
IME 311Work/Station Design and Measurement3
IME 330Manufacturing Processes3
IME 380CAD/CAM for Manufacturing3
IME 430Process Engineering3
IME 431Production Engineering3
IME 440Engineering Economy3
IME 456Program and Project Management3
IME 460Evaluation of Engineering Data3
IME 461Quality Assurance and Control3
IME 480Production and Inventory Control3
IME 482Automated Manufacturing Systems3
IME 489Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Capstone3
MATH Courses Required:
MATH 128Introduction to Linear Algebra1
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
ME Courses Required:
ME 212Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Engineers3
ME 221Engineering Mechanics I3
ME 222Engineering Mechanics II3
ME 223Mechanics of Materials3
ME 331Materials Science and Engineering4
Other Required Courses:
ENGR 402Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility1
PHYS 252LUniversity Physics II Laboratory1
Manufacturing Electives
Computer Science Electives: Select 3 credits from the following:3
Visual BASIC
Beginning FORTRAN
Computer Science I
Introduction to Computing
Engineering and Science Electives: Select 9 credits from the following:
CE 309Fluid Mechanics3
ME 350Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer3
Select one of the following:
Circuit Analysis I
Digital Design
Electrical Engineering I
Technical Electives: Select 9 credits from the following:9
Welding Technology
Human Factors Engineering
Packaging for Electronics
Composite Materials Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing
Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing
Methods for Precision Manufacturing
Systems Engineering and Management
Logistics Engineering and Management
Integrated Industrial Information Systems
Management of People Systems
Total Quality In Industrial Management
Reliability Engineering
Operations Research I
Simulation of Business and Industrial Systems
Industrial and Manufacturing Facility Design
Only one of the following five courses may be counted as technical electives.
International Business
Business Law I-Contracts, Property and Torts
Foundations of Management
Foundations of Marketing
Management Information Systems

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 required courses in CHEM, MATH, and PHYS.
  • 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 the IME Department indicating the course of interest and why the course should be approved as a technical elective. This memo will be reviewed by the IME Department Chair for approval. 

  • 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: 18

Required Courses
IME 330Manufacturing Processes3
IME 380CAD/CAM for Manufacturing3
IME 430Process Engineering3
IME 431Production Engineering3
Electives: Select 6 credits from the following:6
Welding Technology
Packaging for Electronics
Composite Materials Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing
Plastics and Injection Molding Manufacturing
Methods for Precision Manufacturing
Quality Assurance and Control
Automated Manufacturing Systems
Total Credits18

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Only students majoring in an engineering discipline or with department permission agricultural or physical science majors may elect a minor in Manufacturing Engineering.