Mechanical Engineering

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.

Mechanical engineers design everything from new batteries, athletic equipment to medical devices and from personal computers, air conditioners, automobile engines to electric power plants. These engineers also design machines that produce these innovations.

The scope of mechanical engineering in India and abroad is huge for every aspect of our lives are touched by mechanical engineering in one way of the other. Spanning multiple industries, the career opportunities for students pursuing the programme is huge.

 

Mechanical Engineering: Courses and Syllabus

Semester 1	Semester 2
Chemistry	Modern Biology
Electrical Sciences	Introduction to Computing
Mathematics - I	Mathematics - II
Physics - I	Engineering Mechanics
Chemistry Laboratory	Physics - II
Workshop /Physics Laboratory	Computing Laboratory
Engineering Drawing	Basic Electronics Laboratory
Physical Training - I	Physics Laboratory/Workshop
[NCC/NSO/NSS]	Physical Training - II
	[NCC/NSO/NSS]
Semester 3	Semester 4
Mathematics-III	Fluid Mechanics - I
Thermodynamics	Manufacturing Technology - I
Solid Mechanics - I	Solid Mechanics - II
Engineering Materials	Kinematics of Machinery
HSS Elective - I	HSS Elective  - II
Machine Drawing	Workshop  - II
Physical Training - III	Mechanical Lab - I
NCC/NSO/NSS	Physical Training - IV
	NCC/NSO/NSS
Semester 5	Semester 6
Fluid Mechanics - II	Applied Thermodynamics - I
Manufacturing Technology - II	Machine Design
Dynamics of Machinery	Mechanical Measurements
Design of Machine Elements	Heat and Mass Transfer
Electrical Machines	Control Systems
HSS Elective - III	Mechanical Lab - III
Mechanical Lab -  II
Semester 7	Semester 8
Summer Training (PP/NP)	Industrial Engineering and Operation Research
Applied Thermodynamics - II	Dept Elective -  III
Dept Elective - I	Dept Elective - IV
Dept Elective - II	HSS Elective - IV
Open Elective - I	Project- II
Mechanical Lab IV
Project- I

Note: The syllabus given above will vary from institute to institute.

Important FAQs regarding Mechanical Engineering

Q. Am I eligible for a career in mechanical engineering?

A. If you like to find practical solutions to problems and have the zeal to turn your ideas into reality, a career in mechanical engineering is for you.

Q. Can a Mechanical Engineer be absorbed in defence forces?

A. Yes, every armed force in India has a separate unit for taking care of its various mechanical equipment and automobiles. There is a huge demand for skilled mechanical engineers in forces, so a person with a specialization in mechanical engineering can easily be absorbed in the armed forces.

Q. How is smart manufacturing benefiting the students?

A. Students pursuing mechanical engineering will be trained in manufacturing processes, manufacturing systems, systems engineering, IT, Networks and basic shop floor communications. The training will help the student to gain hands-on experience in many spheres of technology related to smart manufacturing.

Q. What are the different software used by the students of Mechanical Engineering?

A. Mechanical engineers use different types of software to design and check the performance of the equipment. Following is the list of such software:

·         CATIA

·         Creo Elements

·         Auto Cad

·         Math Lab

·         Solidworks

·         ANSYS/Abaqus/Nastran and others

 

Q. What are various sectors /types of industries in which mechanical engineers can be absorbed?

Mechanical engineers can find employment virtually anywhere where innovation takes place, and are sought out by employers within a variety of industries, such as: aerospace, automotive, chemical, construction, defence, electronics, consumer goods, marine, materials and metals, pharmaceuticals, rail, and utilities.

 

Mechanical engineers can also work in non-engineering types of jobs, both within and outside of the engineering industry. These can be in areas such as: finance, management, law, the military, government, medicine, research, technical sales, technical consulting, technical publishing/science journalism, and teaching. From developing a prosthetic leg to a new child's toy, a degree in mechanical engineering gives you a diverse choice of industries and projects you can be a part of.

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, the largest employers of mechanical engineers are as follows:

 

Architectural, engineering, and related services - 22%

Machinery manufacturing - 13%

Transportation equipment manufacturing - 12%

Scientific research and development services - 7%

Computer and electronic product manufacturing - 7%

Q. What are some of the top companies that hire mechanical engineers?

A. Following are some of the top companies for candidates looking a career in mechanical engineering:

·         National Aeronautics and Space Administration

·         Google

·         Boeing

·         Nobody knows everything

·         Apple

·         Lockheed Martin

·         Microsoft

·         GE Aviation

·         U.S. Department of Energy

·         Ford Motor

·         NVIDIA

• Other small scale industries

Q. What are the opportunities for students passing out with specialization?

A. As the world is at the forefront of Industry Revolution 4.0. IoT enabled technologies will give manufacturers the chance to have full visibility of operations and allow them to be responsive towards minute details related o manufacturing processes. For this, industries will require skilled employees leading to an increased number of jobs for a particular stream.

Required Skillset for Mechanical Engineering

The right set of skills is vital to becoming a good mechanical engineer. You would need the following skillset to make it big in the field.

Excellent technical skills/knowledge	Budgeting skills
Creativity	Ability to work under pressure
Commercial awareness	Interpersonal skills
Project management	Excellent communication skills