Mechanical Engineering is a profession that deals with the design, manufacturing, selection, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of all forms of machinery, equipment, and industrial systems. The profession plays a vital role in the establishment and sustainable operation of a nation's manufacturing industries, transport systems, power generation, construction, and mining indust
ries. The tasks which professional mechanical engineers undertake are too many to list them all. Some of the typical engineering tasks these professionals are expected to deal with are:
Product design, development and manufacturing;
Industrial plant design, equipment selection, plant erection, commissioning, operation and maintenance;
Industrial gas- and water-supply system/component design;
Automotive and construction equipment design and maintenance;
Energy conversion system/component design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance;
Heating, refrigeration, air-conditioning system/components design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance;
Industrial project design and evaluation;
Project management;
Factory and technical service management in the capacity of general manager, technical manager, operation manager, maintenance manager, and sales manager. Due to the very broad nature of the profession of mechanical engineering, the profession has numerous areas specialization at global level. In the current Ethiopian context, one could specialize in any one of the following areas:
Product Design and/or Applied Mechanics
This area of specialization focuses on the design of a product, starting from the need analysis through three dimensional modeling, strength and dynamic analysis up to prototype manufacturing and testing. Engineering Materials
It deals with the study and application of materials used in mechanical engineering. Manufacturing Engineering/ Technology
It deals with the design of manufacturing processes (like casting, forming, machining, joining, assembling, etc.) of an engineering product, starting from its design to planning and management of the manufacturing operations. Thermal and Power Plant Engineering
It deals with the design, selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance and operation of energy conversion, heating, cooling systems and equipment that utilize thermal primary energy resources. Fluid Machinery
It deals with the design, performance analysis, selection, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of rotating machines such as pumps, blowers, compressors and various types of turbines. Maintenance Engineering
It deals with systematic application of reliability theory, condition monitoring and reconditioning techniques, and preventive maintenance programs to increase plant or equipment availability. Automotive Engineering
It deals with the design and maintenance of a motor vehicle and its accessories. Aeronautic Engineering
It deals with design and maintenance of an aircraft and its accessories. Mechatronics and/or Robotics
It deals with control of mechanical systems and interfacing of mechanical system with electronic controllers and computer. Industrial Engineering
It deals with optimal design of manufacturing plant and optimal management of material, human and machine resources in manufacturing operations to minimize production costs and maximize product quality. Railway Engineering
It deals with design, manufacture, operation, management, control and maintenance of all forms of railway and related equipment and industrial systems. The profession plays a vital role in the establishment and sustainable operation of railway transport systems to boost the economy of the country in all aspects. Depending on the engineering tasks one is undertaking or the position one is holding, a professional mechanical engineer working in an industrial facility can have professional titles and/or job specifications like Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Installation Engineer, Utilities Engineer, or management title/job like General Manager, Technical Manager, Operation Manager, Maintenance Manager, Sales Engineer, and rendering consultancy services in the field.
