What is Manufacturing Technology?
The manufacturing industry has been at a buzz since Ford implemented its first motor vehicle assembly line back in December 1913. Ever since, the quest for better and more efficient manufacturing technology remains to be a priority to stakeholders, managers and employees. Manufacturing technology, and the position of electronics engineering technologist, sits at the very center which helps it maintain its relevance in the modern industrialized world.
What is Manufacturing Technology All About?
To understand manufacturing technology, you must first understand manufacturing. Manufacturing is all about adding value to merchandise. This could be through the use of labor, machinery, chemicals, formulation, or biological processes to add value to a raw product before selling it. All activities involved in translating raw materials into finished product are part of the manufacturing process.
Any technology that shapes or influences the manufacturing process is part and parcel of manufacturing technology.
This means that you can choose to be
- A biological technologist involved in developing biological manufacturing processes
- A robotics experts who designs and fine tunes automation robots on the production line
- A mechanical expert interested in the manufacturing equipment or the product it self
- Electronics engineer who powers the machines being used
- A chemist in chemical related production lines
Common Manufacturing Technologies
The application of manufacturing technology principles will vary from one niche to another. Nonetheless, there is a couple of technologies that hold their own regardless of the field. These include:
- The use of software to control the production line. This could be in the form of Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create a concept before using Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to bring the design into reality.
- Material removal technologies like drilling, grinding, milling and the use of electrical discharge machines is crucial in fabrication industries. Material removal goes hand in hand with material forming that will bend, stamp and join the material forming the end product
- Material handling technologies that focus on moving partially formed material on the production line. This includes robots, conveyors and other automated systems that make it possible to actualize an efficient production line
The fact that manufacturing technology takes the same principles regardless of what is being produced makes it easy to strike a central ground and work on virtually any manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing Technology: The Common Ground
Electricity and electronic engineering plays a central role in all modern day production lines. The milling machine at the foundry needs some engineering touch to keep working at it’s optimum and so do the industrial grade centrifuges used by a pharmaceutical company to mix ingredients.
Being an electronic engineer widens your options hence giving you a better chance in the job market. If you want to be part of manufacturing technology as an electrical expert, you first have to earn at least a bachelor’s degree and perhaps a couple of certifications to prepare you for the job.
Formal Education is Not Optional
Most of the manufacturing processes are critical and no one will let you near a system without proof of your competence. As such, all employers will be asking for a relevant bachelor’s degree, some hands-on experience and if possible certifications to prove that you are the right person for the job.
Training with a reputable institution is the first step to building a robust career. The college you study at will be your first formal referee. Moreover, you should focus on an institution that emphasizes on hands-on training to increase your understanding of concepts.
Manufacturing technology is highly practical. You can’t be good at it by pouring over notes and listening to a lecturer in class. You will need hours or practical work, both in the school setting and in a realistic market setting.
Externship or Field Attachment Builds Your Experience
You will need to get some experience to build your skill and reputation. Even if you land a job straight out of college, you must be willing to work under some supervision before climbing up the ladder.
Experience always matters. Getting it from the right industries will expand your options. Instead of jumping onto any job or internship you get, consider working in niches you are actually interested in. If you prefer working in the fabrication industry, it makes no sense to be an electrical engineering expert at a food or pharmaceutical company.
Are you interested in manufacturing technology? If you could see you yourself as an Electronic Engineering Technologist, consider ECPI University for your education. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology could be one step in the process for working in this expanding field. For more information, speak to a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Electronics Engineering Technology - Bachelor’s
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