What is a Manufacturing Technician?

Manufacturing Engineering Technician Summary Description

A manufacturing engineering technician works as an integral member of the manufacturing operations team responsible for the manufacture of products, as well as systems within the overall structure of a manufacturing enterprise. The primary tasks of such a team involve production planning and control, production operations management, quality management, manufacturing systems planning and management, and maintenance management. The manufacturing engineering technician supports and assists the professional members of the team. In some companies, an experienced manufacturing engineering technician might be given responsibility for some aspects of manufacturing operations.

In working with the manufacturing operations team, the manufacturing engineering technician will interface with the other professionals who have primary responsibility for product and system design, purchasing of materials, marketing, sales, and distribution.

Manufacturing Engineering Technician Responsibilities

Product Realization Process

As part of the product realization team, a manufacturing engineering technician participates in the process of analyzing customer needs, volume demands, and market requirements, and in the conceptualization and design of products and services to meet customer demands and requirements. A manufacturing engineering technician is integral in designing the processes, tooling, and fixtures to produce and distribute the product or service in the most productive and least costly manner possible to launch the production.

Manufacturing Processes and Materials

A manufacturing engineering technician understands the structure and properties of metallic and nonmetallic materials and assists in the process to plan, organize, implement, and manage the processing of materials from raw stock through the distribution of a finished product. In addition, the manufacturing engineering technician applies the principles of manufacturing processes to proper setup and efficient operation of production systems.

Production Operations Management and Inventory Control

A manufacturing engineering technician assists and supports the manufacturing operations team responsible for planning, analyzing, and controlling production from the acquisition of raw materials through the production and distribution of the products to customers. A manufacturing engineering technician works on facilities planning, production implementation, inventory management, and implementation of lean, world-class manufacturing concepts.

Automation, Controls, and Manufacturing Systems

A manufacturing engineering technician supports the team responsible for the planning, design, implementation, use, and maintenance of a variety of systems and controls to monitor production quantities, costs, and quality. The manufacturing engineering technician implements automated production by applying and troubleshooting various sensors, input/output devices, actuators, robots, material handling systems, and controls. The spectrum of automation spans from mechanization of a single operation through highly automated production systems for major subassemblies or entire products. The manufacturing engineering technician supports integration of manufacturing operations with enterprise management systems.

Quality Management

A manufacturing engineering technician applies quality principles to all activities within an enterprise through which customer loyalty is achieved, regardless of where those activities are performed. Particular emphasis is on statistical process control applied to production operations and the continuous improvement of those operations.

Enterprise Integration

A manufacturing engineering technician supports the team responsible for integrating manufacturing operations within the entire enterprise by acquiring and analyzing data and information from production operations, product designers, vendors, customers, salespersons, marketing staff, and company managers in order to evaluate and direct the production operation.

Interpersonal and Team-Building Skills

A manufacturing engineering technician can assist and support teams comprised of people with many different qualifications and with many different levels of education by applying an awareness of and appreciation for the wide variety of cultures and economic systems present in the global economy.

Lifelong Learning

While the functions of a manufacturing engineering technician can be accomplished by a graduate of the associate degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, the manufacturing engineering technician is expected to maintain a personal program of self development in order to stay current in the technology and best practices of manufacturing. With a strong background in the fundamentals of mathematics, science, communications, and humanities, the manufacturing engineering technician has a foundation for on-the-job training and continuing education, including pursuit of a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Typical Manufacturing Jobs by Education Level

A graduate of a Manufacturing Engineering Technology associate degree program is prepared to join a manufacturing enterprise as a manufacturing engineering technician (as described above) having the high-level skills and qualifications required of the manufacturing workforce of the 21st century.

To illustrate the place of the manufacturing engineering technician within the spectrum of career positions in manufacturing industries, the following sections describe the level of skills and typical job categories of high school graduates, associate degree graduates, bachelor’s degree graduates, and those with graduate degrees.

High School Graduate

High school graduates should have basic skills in the fundamentals of mathematics, science, communications, and team building in order to work in positions requiring technical skills and teamwork. They should be able to apply their knowledge and abilities to specific production operations without needing remedial assistance in fundamental skills. Implementation of standards developed by a variety of professional sources such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science Education Standards (NSES) coordinated by the National Research Council (NRC) should improve the skills of high school students who wish to enter the workforce directly after high school graduation.

Manufacturing positions for a high school graduate include:

• Production Associate working with highly technical equipment and processes; tasks require use of computers and automation systems and continuous improvement activities; must be able to work effectively on teams

• Production Control Assistant working with manufacturing technicians and professionals in acquiring and processing data and information from the manufacturing processes such as production quantities, inventories, production problems, tooling, and supplies; tasks require computer skills

• Warehousing and Distribution Specialist working with receiving and shipping operations, including computer-based information management

• Quality Control Assistant working with measurements of product quality and routine statistical analyses of measurement data; tasks require computer skills

• Apprentice working in a program in which more skills are acquired in such fields as electronic controls maintenance, machining, and equipment repair

Associate Degree Graduate

The primary position for which the Manufacturing Engineering Technology associate degree graduate is prepared is the manufacturing engineering technician as described in the first section of this paper.

Compared with a high school graduate, the associate degree graduate would possess higher levels of knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, humanities, communications, computer use, and the technologies of manufacturing. With experience, the associate degree graduate can take more responsibility for the planning and implementation of continuous improvements to operations.

A manufacturing engineering technician works as a key person supporting the team responsible the manufacture of products, as well as the systems within the overall structure of a manufacturing enterprise. Primary tasks involve assisting in production planning and control, production operations management, quality management, manufacturing systems planning, and maintenance management. In addition, a manufacturing engineering technician can perform first level supervision of production operations.

The manufacturing engineering technician could become a maintenance specialist with skills required to maintain production equipment, controls, and plant facilities; on the job training for particular equipment may be necessary.

Bachelor’s Degree Graduate

Bachelor’s degree programs in Manufacturing Engineering Technology or Manufacturing Engineering prepare graduates to be professionals in such positions as:

• Manufacturing engineer
• Quality assurance engineer
• Production engineer
• Project engineer
• Facilities engineer
• Technical sales and services

The additional depth and breadth of education as compared with an associate degree opens significantly more opportunities for advancement in management of manufacturing engineering, production operations, or technical sales. Graduates with a bachelor of science in engineering technology (BSET) are holding positions with titles such as:

• Plant Manager
• General Manager
• Superintendent of Manufacturing
• Vice President for Manufacturing
• President

The career advancement potential for BSET graduates in manufacturing is based on an individual’s leadership abilities and diligence in staying current in modern manufacturing processes and systems.

In addition, BSET graduates with relevant job experience can be entrepreneurs, or can find jobs with management consulting firms who counsel companies on effective means of improving manufacturing systems. With relevant job experience, BSET graduates can also find careers in education (at the secondary level, certification or licensure must be obtained).

Master’s Degree Graduate

Another option for BSET graduates is a master’s degree program. A variety of master’s degrees can be appropriate for advancement in a manufacturing enterprise:

• Business Administration
• Industrial Administration
• Management Science
• Technology Management
• Engineering Technology
• Computer Science

By earning an advanced degree, promotion to upper levels of management and technical responsibility can be accelerated.