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MERC Online Manufacturing Classifications
Manufacturing Engineering and Technology covers a broad range of processes, applications, and knowledge. We have defined classifications to highlight the variety of areas within this field. The resources in MERC Online's searchable database are listed according to these classifications. Click here to view our suggested searches.
Manufacturing Processes: This group includes a wide variety of discrete and continuous processes used to transform materials in a production environment into forms that meet product specifications. The materials used can be metallic or nonmetallic including plastics, composites, ceramics, glass, food products, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biological substances, nanomaterials, wood, and others. Examples of manufacturing processes include, but are not limited to, material removal, forming, fabricating, joining, plastics manufacturing processes, tooling for manufacturing, rapid technologies, additive processes, finishing, assembly, heat treatment, and other thermal processes. Also included is the field of process science that deals with the modeling of the physical relationships in material cutting, forming, casting, plastics processing, welding, soldering, and other processes.
Materials Technology: This group includes the study of the structure and properties of metallic and nonmetallic materials and how those properties relate to product performance and manufacturing. Examples are metallurgy, materials testing, materials classifications and numbering systems, materials selection, manufacturability, polymer chemistry, and properties of a diverse array of materials such as wood, ceramics, paper, abrasives, elastomers, and composites.
Automation Systems: This group includes the study of the technologies and equipment used to create automated manufacturing systems. Included are electrical and electronic controls, fluid power, computer numerical control, robotics, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), data acquisition and analysis, computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), automated material handling and storage, and complete highly automated systems.
Quality Management: This group includes the practices of management of operational practices to ensure that products and services meet customer expectations and achieve customer loyalty. Examples are quality principles, organizational improvement, statistical variation, control charts, system diagrams, process documentation, process control, problem solving methods, continuous process improvement, precision measurement, and calibration.
Design for Manufacturing: This group includes the principles of design and the product realization process as it impacts the manufacturing technician or the manufacturing engineer. Examples include drawing and sketching, computer aided design, conceptual design, concurrent engineering, DFX protocols, packaging, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), product development and testing, statics, strength of materials, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
Production and Inventory Control: This group includes practices of teams that plan, design, analyze, and control production of products from the acquisition of raw materials through the production of products and distribution to customers. Examples are manufacturing systems engineering, production engineering, process engineering, design of production systems, production control, inventory control, manufacturing resource planning, lean manufacturing, just-in-time manufacturing, process flow, lead time reduction, consistent build methods, build to demand, kanban, pull systems, equipment selection, work cell design, facility design, and material handling. Also included are mapping, modeling, and simulation of production flow, throughput, inventory levels, and the integration of the human worker into the production system.
Manufacturing of Electronic Products: This group includes the special manufacturing processes that are used to produce electrical or electronic products. Examples are printed circuit board production, soldering, microelectronics manufacturing, assembly of electronic products, vapor deposition systems, audio systems manufacturing, video systems manufacturing, troubleshooting of electronic products and systems, sensors, and electronic packaging.
Manufacturing Enterprise Management: This group includes those functions that are often considered the business management of a manufacturing industry. Examples are supply chain management, purchasing, vendor relations, customer satisfaction, financial management, cost estimating, cost justification, activity based costing, distribution, legal issues, community relations, quantitative manufacturing management, international trade, global manufacturing, human resources management, training, production supervision, sales, service management, maintenance management, distribution, and performance measures.
Manufacturing Information Systems: This group includes the methods of effective manufacturing information systems that provide accurate, timely, and properly formatted information to support the management functions of a manufacturing enterprise. Examples are data management systems for production operations, product quality data, inventory tracking, manufacturing cost data, maintenance data, data storage and retrieval, data security, reporting, and telecommunications systems among functional units and physical facilities of the enterprise.
Technical Mathematics: This group includes educational materials in mathematics that are related to general technology or manufacturing. Examples include statistics, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, geometry, precision, accuracy, and tolerances.
Technical Science: This group includes educational materials in science that are related to general technology or manufacturing. Examples include chemistry, mechanics of solids, mechanics of fluids, motion, heat, light, sound, nuclear physics, electronics, electrical phenomena, surface protection, corrosion, plating, and others.
Plant Engineering and Facilities Management: This group includes the knowledge and skills needed to plan, execute, and maintain the facilities that house production operations in a manufacturing enterprise. Examples include site planning for new facilities, overall arrangement of the facility, shipping and receiving areas, roadways, rail service, utilities (electric power, natural gas, water, etc.), lighting, compressed air, heating, ventilation, air conditioning. Also included are repair, maintenance, and operation of these facilities.
Safety, Industrial Hygiene, and Environmental Management: This group includes the activities that ensure that the operation of a manufacturing enterprise conforms to environmental regulations and provides workplace safety for all employees and visitors. Examples include the safe management of materials used in manufacturing operations, ergonomics, adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, implementation of “green manufacturing” concepts, and control of solid, liquid, and gaseous emissions in conformance to regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Manufacturing Curriculum, Instructional Design, and Novel Pedagogies: This group includes novel and effective curriculum structures, pedagogies and methods for delivering manufacturing education. Aspects of manufacturing curriculum design include industry needs assessment, specification of competencies, manufacturing program design and organization, course design, module design and development, laboratory development, student advising and tracking, and the arrangement of instructional experiences. Examples of instructional design and novel pedagogies include instructional modules, activity-based learning, case studies, capstone experiences, collaborative design projects, teamwork, independent study, reusable learning objects, distance learning, Internet and web-based delivery of instruction, hybrid delivery methods, mentoring, guided design, classroom assessment techniques, integration of the humanities and social sciences into the curriculum, communication skills, assessment rubrics, and the use of instructional technology in manufacturing education.
Professional Skills in Manufacturing: This group includes skills and training that will develop professionalism in the employee. Examples include preparation of memoranda and reports, teamwork, interpersonal communication, computer applications in the office and in manufacturing, time management, goal setting, job readiness, overviews of manufacturing, and career exploration.
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