Introduction of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest stream of engineering. It is also considered the ‘mother’ stream of engineering. Another appealing advantage of mechanical engineering is that the application base of this sector of study is extremely broad and diverse. Almost all inventions at the time of ancient period and a vast majority in the modern era are direct donation of one or another application of mechanics.
Traditionally, mechanical engineers have to deal with ideas such as mechanics, robotics, thermodynamics, kinematics, fluid mechanics, structural analysis and many others. These ideas are applied in the process of planning state-of-the-art manufacturing units, various types of motor vehicles, aerospace parts and aircraft and a vast association of industrial machinery. Mechanical engineers also donate in the development of various engines, heating and cooling systems, power plant equipment and other simple and complex machinery. Mechanical engineers not only make new mechanical systems, but they are also liable for maintaining, testing and manufacturing them.
The aforesaid are the conventional roles and liable of mechanical engineers. Howsoever, times have changed. Nowadays the opportunity of mechanical engineering is advancing beyond its traditional bounds. Mechanical engineers are specialised their attention towards new place of research such as development of composite materials, nanotechnology, environmental conservation, biomedical applications, etc.
The ever raising scope of this particular employment profile now requires professionals to enter into financial and marketing aspects of product enhancement and even into the people and resource management. All in all mechanical engineering provide a wide bouquet of job choices to students who are searching for a stable and bracing career.
Various Roles, various Names
Mechanical engineering is referred to as the ‘mother’ of all stream of engineering. In this situation the roles and liable held by a mechanical engineer are different and based upon their area of specialization and the field they are working for.
In broad terms, the work profile of mechanical engineers can be divided into the following functional segments:
• Research and Development (R&D): Engineers whose duty is to do research and then design for new machines and their component parts.
• Design: Professionals whose liable is to draft technical drawings, manually or with the help of computers.
• Production: Engineers who manage the manufacturing of mechanical machines and components.
• Analysis and testing: Engineers who examine and test various types of machines and their parts to determine that they function flawlessly.
• Installation: Professionals who install mechanical parts and machines at the client location.
• Maintenance: Engineers whose beginning role is to determine that machinery is working as per specifications.
Market Watch
The employment market for mechanical engineers is perennially. Even the vagaries of the global economic edge could not fall out the demand for these professionals in the Indian employment market. Although some stream of mechanical engineering went out of specialize during the meltdown time, the overall situation was better as compared with other careers. On the brighter aspects, things are obtaining back to normal and this evergreen career path is again receiving coin amongst career aspirants as it did at the time of pre-meltdown years.
In fact, this is a period of revival for mechanical engineers. They not only have limitless options in the industrial stream, but they can also make attack into new realms of technology and even enter into management and technical consultancy.
Based on a survey,most of the mechanical engineering are look after branches of engineering preferred by candidate seeking admission to different technical institutes across India in the latest years.
International Focus
Highly eligible professionals from this field, such as post-graduates from different IITs, often seek suitable job in foreign countries. It is not that only highly eligible mechanical engineers get scope to work abroad. If you are worked in a multinational firm, you may also get the scope to work on offshore projects.
Positives/Negatives
+ives
• There are several job openings and you you will not never unemployed
• Constant involvement in the enhancement of new gadgets, components and machines
• Innovative donation to the new frontiers of science like biomedical engineering, nanotechnology and environmental sciences
-ives
• Working conditions can be contrary at times
• Deadlines and work stress can exact a heavy toll on the mind and body
• Physically cavalier and not for the weak
Step-by-Step
clearing 10+2 with PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) is the beginning step you take mechanical engineer as a professional. To be qualified for a graduate program (BE/BTech) in a college, you must have scored minimum 50% marks and 60% for being qualified for IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) in 10+2 with PCM as subjects. After this, you can appear for different entrance examinations like:
• The Joint Entrance Examination for IITs (IITJEE) for admission to different IITs
• All-India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) for admission to different National Institutes of Technology or regional engineering institutes
Apart from these, there are 100 of engineering institutes across the length and breadth of the country where you can enter into a graduate program in mechanical engineering. Some of these institutes conduct their own entrance exams whereas some receive AIEEE scores.
You can also choose for a diploma in engineering from a polytechnic. For earning a diploma, the basic qualification is completion of Class ten with 50% marks. The time period of these diploma courses is 3-years for regular and 4-years for part-time study.
You can also be gone for an associate membership eligibility from the collage of Mechanical Engineers, which consider at par with the diploma got from a state run a university degree or a polytechnic. Another choice is to earn a similar eligibility offered by the Institution of Engineering (India). Diploma candidates can also get direct entry into the 2nd year of a graduate program (lateral entry).
After successful finishing of the graduate program, you can go for the 2-year masters program in mechanical engineering or ME/MTech. If you are interested in following a post-graduate program in mechanical engineering from any of the IITs, then you should appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE).
These days several engineering colleges are providing a dual (BE/BTech and ME/MTech) programs. Some other institutions are providing a mixing of an engineering degree along with a management program.
In case you are liked in further studies, you can go for to do a PhD or even choose for a management degree from a famous business school.
Start Early
To create mechanical engineering your chooses career path, you should have affinity for the way various machines function. This trait can be examined from early childhood when children try to retouch around with various machinery in their immediate purlieus. Such children often tend to take apart clocks, mechanical toys, bicycles, and then they try to combine them back again.
These kids are so innovative that they may even try to create new things. Here, parents have a variety role to play. They should understand that the children possesses an inquisitive mind that is liked in gaining knowledge about machinery and not in destroying or breaking things. Parents should encourage the child’s delight to know more about various gadgets and machines in and around the home.
At the time of schooling, the quest to play around with machinery raise all the more. This delight often culminates with the kid opting for science with the PCM subject association.
Is it the Right Career ?
Same as other career paths, the entry into this specific branch of engineering also want you to possess certain cardinal traits. First and foremost, you should have a penchant for mechanical factors and machinery and how these machines are work. Then you should be good at chemistry, physics and mathematics. You should also have talents such as an analytical bent of mind,problem-solving and logical reasoning.
Further, you should have immense patience, physical strength, capacity to work for long hours and an inventive spirit that are basic ingredients for becoming a victorious mechanical engineer.
Pay Packet
Mechanical engineering provide a wide variety of career scopes to job aspirants. The average monthly salary package of mechanical engineers who are new to this profession is almost in the range between Rs.10,000 and Rs.25,000. Wonderful campus placements can get even better packages for deserving candidates. Mechanical engineers who get a post-graduate degree from a famous academic institute tend to earn better offers than diploma and degree holders.
From here on the annual pay package depends on a lot of factors such as the skill set possessed, expertise, experience, the employer, responsibilities and nature of roles, etc. Highly talented mechanical engineers can easily demand pay packets as high as Rs 40-45 lacs per annual.
What would it Cost ?
A graduate program from a private engineering collage will cost you anywhere in the range between Rs.50,000 to Rs.2,00,000 annually. However, in a famous government run establishment like Indian institute of Technology (IIT) or any regional engineering institute, you will have to give an annual fees in the range of anywhere in between Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000.
Funding/Scholarship
Educational institutes providing programs in mechanical engineering usually extend scholarships to candidates from socially and economically downward classes. For example, IITs waive off the full tuition fees for candidates belonging to the socially downward communities. Scholarships, stipends, freeships, and financial assistance are also offered to candidates on the basis of merit and other eligible criteria.
Job Prospect
Since mechanical engineering is the broadest of all engineering stream, the job prospects on offer for talents mechanical engineers are numerous and unending. Mechanical engineers are needed to design, test, install, manufacture, operate and maintain a vast array of machines and mechanical systems that are used in limitless industries. These professionals can find job both in the government and private stream undertakings.
Major industries that work mechanical engineers contain space research, automobiles, aeronautical, air conditioning, energy and utilities, bio-mechanical industry. Other major workers include air conditioning, giant manufacturing plants, and refrigeration industry, oil and gas exploration, turbine manufacturing plants, and refining industries and the agricultural stream.
In the government stream, mechanical engineers can given their knowledge to different government run projects in the role of technical proficient and consultants. They can also employ in private engineering firms that provide technical consultancy to both in government and corporate company.
These engineers can also hold large managerial positions in both government and private sector organizations according to their stream of expertise and educational eligibility.
Demand and Supply
There is huge demand for talented mechanical engineers in various segments of the industry. Their expertise is needed in traditional producing industries such as aviation, automobiles, shipping, power plants, aerospace and machinery producing. In recent times, the services of well-skilled mechanical engineers have even been sought in stream such as nanotechnology, energy conservation, biomedical engineering, and environmental engineering.
There is also large requirement for mechanical engineer consultants who have management talents along with technical proficiency. The beginning role of such professionals is to handle both technology and people and company that provide engineering consultancy needed them.
Different engineering colleges and polytechnics across the country are doing their super to meet the burgeoning demand of talented mechanical engineering professionals.
Tips for Getting Hired
- It is advisable to get a post-graduate degree in this stream
- Computer proficiency is compulsory these days
- You must have wonderful communication and interpersonal talents
- A management degree further brights your career prospects.
Top Companies
| Steel plants | Various Government sector undertakings |
| Aerospace industry | Shipping industry |
| Air conditioning and refrigeration industry | Automobile and auto part manufacturers |
| Aviation companies | Armed forces |
| Engineering consultancies | Thermal plants and gas turbine manufacturers |
