ABOUT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

The main focus of manufacturing and production engineering is to produce high-quality and economically competent goods for buyers exact specifications. This branch of engineering is a blend of both science and technology. Advanced manufacturing [AM] could improve efficiency by extending the quality and range of existing products and services. It is a growing field; the demand is high both in India as well as abroad. The advancement in manufacturing and production can also lead to the formation of entirely new industries.

WHAT IS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT?

The significant difference between a manufacturing engineer and a production management engineer is:

A manufacturing engineer converts tangible [raw materials] to their final shape. In contrast, a production engineer handles both tangible and non-tangible items involved in conversion.

Manufacturing engineers are foremost concerned with the initial framework of the research, design, layout etc., of the outcome/product. A manufacturing engineer should master leadership skills, teamwork skills, an expert in communication and commercial awareness. Besides all these, they should have a good knowledge of equipment for purchase, installation and repair, and relevant technical skills.  A sound manufacturing engineer can be otherwise called a problem solver. The power of advanced manufacturing is reflected in producing reliable, affordable, readily available and more exciting products with a high level of design.

A production engineer inspects the reliability of products, prepares safety protocols, reports issues to the manager, and develops strategies for improving efficiency and profit. They do so by checking the production rate of goods, assembly and handling and focus on eliminating the cause of the delayed output. A sound production engineer should have a good hold on excellent verbal and written skills, adapt to high-pressure working conditions, have critical thinking skills, along with problem-solving ability. A Bachelor's degree is required to become a production engineer, which comprises subjects like engineering materials, machining science, tool design, forming casting etc. This degree program also includes course work in logistics, materials and operation management. There are four types of production, namely;

- Unit or job type of production
- Batch type of production
- Mass /flow production
- Continuous production or process production

ELIGIBILITY AND CAREER IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Great job opportunities exist for both manufacturing and production engineering. A four-year bachelor's degree [B.E] from an accredited university is the minimum qualification for manufacturing engineers and production engineers for initial-level positions. And those who aim for the top post do enrol in a master's program. Compared to other engineering degree courses, not as tricky. Also, the difficulty could depend on the institution selected.

Jobs for manufacturing engineer:

- Designing new equipment
- Repairing equipment
- Supervising engineering and technical staff
- Responding to breakdowns etc.

Production engineers are great in demand in manufacturing industries, organisations, managing new production processes etc. The job also offers an appreciable salary for experienced people. Manufacturing engineers’ demand is expected to go up. Considering the new tend of new jobs filled, an annual increase of 5% is expected in the next few years.