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Mechanical Engineering as a Career

Mr TRC Raja, FSIETMSc(Engineering)(NUS),PGDSA(NUS),BE(First Class),MSc(prod-First Class)

PGDM(UK),GDPM(SIM),Dip.T&D(UK), ChFC, Senior Financial Consultant (NTUC Income)

President, SIET (2012/2013)H/P: 98172337 

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[Supertanker AbQaiq]

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Mechanical engineers design and build engines,power plants... [Volkswagen W16]

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Highlights

• About the Speaker – Mr TRC Raja

• What is Mechanical Engineering?

• Fundamental Subjects of Mechanical Engineering.

• Sub-disciplines of Mechanical Engineering.

• Frontiers of Research in ME.

• The Work that Mechanical Engineers Do.

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Higfhlights

• Where Mechanical Engineers Work.• Education and Other Qualifications.• Professional Bodies in Mechanical

Engineering.• Professional Registration• Outlook for the Future.• Additional Sources of Information.• Q & A

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About the Speaker – Mr TRC Raja

• MSc(Engineering)(NUS),PGDSA(NUS),BE(First Class),MSc(prod-FirstClass)

• PGDM(UK),GDPM(SIM),Dip.T&D(UK)

• ChFC, D Wealth Mgt,Spe D in Risk Mgt(RMI/NUS)

• Adv Cert WHS, WSQ ACTA

• SeniorFinancial Consultant (NTUC Income)

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What is Mechanical Engineering?

• Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems.

• It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools. 

• It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines.

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What is Mechanical Engineering?

• The engineering field requires an understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics,thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity.

• Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, and others.

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What is Mechanical Engineering?

• Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the industrial revolution in Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. Mechanical engineering science emerged in the 19th century as a result of developments in the field of physics.

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What is Mechanical Engineering?

• The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements in technology, and mechanical engineers today are pursuing developments in such fields as composites, mechatronics, andnanotechnology. Mechanical engineering overlaps with aerospace engineering, building services engineering, metallurgical engineering, marine engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, petroleum engineering, manufacturing engineering, and chemical engineering to varying amounts.

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Fundamental Subjects of Mechanical Engineering

• Statics and dynamics• Strength of materials and 

solid mechanics• Instrumentation and measurement• Electrotechnology• Electronics• Thermodynamics, heat transfer, 

energy conversion, and HVAC• Combustion, automotive engines, 

fuels• Fluid mechanics and 

fluid dynamics• Mechanism design (including 

kinematics and dynamics)

• Manufacturing engineering, technology, or processes

• Hydraulics and pneumatics• Mathematics - in particular, 

calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra.

• Engineering design• Product design• Mechatronics and control theory• Material Engineering and 

Control engineering• Design engineering, Drafting, 

computer-aided design (CAD) (including solid modeling), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

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Sub-disciplines of Mechanical Engineering

• 1 Mechanics

• 2 Mechatronics and robotics

• 3 Structural analysis

• 4 Thermodynamics and thermo-science

• 5 Design and drafting

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Training FMS with learning robotSCORBOT-ER 4u, workbench CNC Mill and CNC Lathe

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A CAD model of a mechanical double seal

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Frontiers of Research in ME.

• 1 Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)• 2 Friction stir welding (FSW)• 3 Composites• 4 Mechatronics• 5 Nanotechnology• 6 Finite element analysis• 7 Biomechanics• 8 Computational fluid dynamics

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Composite cloth consisting of woven carbon fiber

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The Work that Mechanical Engineers Do.

• Mechanical engineering is organized into three general areas : – energy, – manufacturing, and – engineering design mechanics.

• ASME has forty-one technical divisions, reflecting the seven diverse disciplines, technologies, and industries.

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The Spectrum of Mechanical Engineering Functions

• 1. Research• 2. Development• 3. Design• 4. Testing• 5. Manufacturing• 6. Operation and Maintenance• 7. Marketing and Sales• 8. Administration and Management

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Where Mechanical Engineers Work

• Traditional industries for mechanical engineers are the – automobile, – industrial machinery, – utilities, – chemical, – computer, – manufacturing, – mining, and – petroleum industries.

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Where Mechanical Engineers Work

• Other industries : publishing and printing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper and wood products, rubber and glass; aerospace.

• They also work at government/statutory boards and for consulting engineering firms.

• In addition, mechanical engineers do research and teach at colleges and universities.

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Source: ST – 6 Feb 2013

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Source : ST – 9 Feb 2013

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Source: ST- 9 Feb 2013

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Education and Other Qualifications

• Degrees in mechanical engineering are offered at universities worldwide.

• Mechanical engineering programs typically take four to five years of study and result in a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Bachelor of Science Engineering (B.ScEng), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), or Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc) degree, in or with emphasis in mechanical engineering.

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Education and Other Qualifications - Australia

• In Australia, mechanical engineering degrees are awarded as Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or similar nomenclature although there are an increasing number of specialisations. The degree takes four years of full-time study to achieve. To ensure quality in engineering degrees, Engineers Australia accredits engineering degrees awarded by Australian universities in accordance with the global Washington Accord.

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Education and Other Qualifications - USA

• In the United States, most undergraduate mechanical engineering programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards among universities. The ABET web site lists 276 accredited mechanical engineering programs as of June 19, 2006.

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Education and Other Qualifications - Singapore

• Universities (NUS/NTU) : – BEng in Mechanical Engineering– 4 years

Full-Time Professional Engineer (PE).

• Polytechnics : – SP/NP: Diploma in Mechanical Engineering –

3 years Full-Time Engineering Technologist.

– SP : Advanced Diploma in Building Automation & Services– 2 years Part-Time.

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Education and Other Qualifications - Singapore

• ITEs : – ITE Higher Nitec in Mechanical Engineering–

2 years Full-time Engineering Technician; – Technical Engineer Diploma (Automotive

Engineering; Machine Technology) – 2 years of full-time institutional training and 1.5 years of work experience Technical Engineer.

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Education and Other Qualifications

• Some mechanical engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Science, Master of Engineering Management (MEng.Mgt or MEM), a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering (EngD, PhD) or an engineer's degree.

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Professional Bodies in Mechanical Engineering

• The first British professional society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847 :  Institution of Mechanical Engineers, thirty years after the civil engineers formed the first such professional society Institution of Civil Engineers.

• In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1880, becoming the third such professional engineering society, after the American Society of Civil Engineers (1852) and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1871).

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The Institution of Mechanical Engineers - London 

George Stephenson [First IMechE’s President : 1847]

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American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

• ASME is one of the oldest standards-developing organizations in the world.

• It produces approximately 600 codes and standards, covering many technical areas, such as boiler components, elevators, measurement of fluid flow in closed conduits, cranes, hand tools, fasteners, and machine tools.

• Some ASME standards have been translated into other languages other than English, such Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

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American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) – Core Values

• Embrace integrity and ethical conduct• Embrace diversity and respect the dignity and culture of

all people• Nurture and treasure the environment and our natural

and man-made resources• Facilitate the development, dissemination and

application of engineering knowledge• Promote the benefits of continuing education and of

engineering education• Respect and document engineering history while

continually embracing change• Promote the technical and societal contribution of

engineers

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The Eiffel Tower (completed 1889) is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. The tower stands 320 metres (1,050 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building.

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Professional Registration - USA

• In the U.S., to become a licensed Professional Engineer, an engineer must pass the comprehensive FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam, work a given number of years as an Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT), and finally pass the "Principles and Practice" or PE (Practicing Engineer or Professional Engineer) exams.

• In the United States, the requirements and steps of this process are set forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), a composed of engineering and land surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states and territories.

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Professional Registration - UK

• In the UK, current graduates require a BEng plus an appropriate masters degree or an integrated MEng degree, a minimum of 4 years post graduate on the job competency development, and a peer reviewed project report in the candidates specialty area in order to become chartered through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

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Professional Registration - Singapore

• Under the Professional Engineers Act, an applicant applying for registration with the Board must satisfy several requirements to be entitled to registration. The requirements are:- – a) Appropriate qualifications – Section 15(1); – b) Appropriate experience – Section 15(2)(a); – c) Sat and passed prescribed examinations – Section 15(2)(b) – d) Good character and reputation – Section 15(4)(a); and – e) Able to carry out the duties of a professional engineer

effectively – Section 15(4)(b).

• Website: http://app.peb.gov.sg/Downloads/RegistrationasPE.pdf

.

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Outlook for the Future

• The demand for improved machinery, machine tools, and complex manufacturing processes is creating a growing demand for mechanical engineers.

• In addition, new areas such as nanotechnology, microelectromechanical systems, and bioengineering are creating opportunities for mechanical engineers.

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Outlook for the Future

• Other opportunities are expected to be in the engineering services area (engineering consulting firms) as manufacturing companies contract out design, development, and testing work to solve engineering problems.

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Source: ST – 18 Jan 2013

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Additional Sources of Information

• UK : Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Website: www.imeche.org

• USA : American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Website: www.asme.org

• Singapore:– 1. Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES). Website:

www.ies.org.sg – 2. Singapore Institute of Engineering Technologists

(SIET). Website: www.siet.org.sg

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Questions & Answers

First drafted on 15 February 2013/Sam MK