About Manufacturing Systems Engineer 

A manufacturing systems engineer is in charge of designing, evaluating, and installing systems in manufacturing equipment. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design the systems. They also analyze production processes and oversee the installation, repair, reassembly of equipment. Their ultimate objective is to ensure production processes are efficient and that products are produced at the lowest cost in the shortest time.

Manufacturing systems engineers work closely with other stakeholders such as designers, plant managers, researchers, engineering consultants, and other non-technical staff. They mostly work in factories. A successful manufacturing systems engineer should have strong technical skills, teamwork skills, communication skills, analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and attention to detail.

Manufacturing systems engineers work to integrate the entire manufacturing process. This ranges from production and supply right through to sales. The aim is to allow the maximum volume of high-quality product to be produced at the lowest cost and in the shortest time.

Qualifications

To get into manufacturing systems engineering you'll need to have a degree. Relevant subjects include engineering and physical, mathematical or applied sciences.

The following subjects in particular may be helpful:

• computer aided or computer systems engineering
• electrical or electronic engineering
• mechanical and/or manufacturing engineering
• mechanical design engineering
• production and manufacturing engineering.

learning points

• Design and improve manufacturing processes and systems
• Proper selection of materials and manufacturing processes
• Conduct productivity, quality, timeliness, and cost studies
• Design new facilities or improve existing facilities
• Solve problems and leverage data-based decision making
• Apply economic principles to engineering decisions
• Manage manufacturing processes and systems
• Manage systems from systems design, implementation, and retire systems

Responsibilities

Generally, a manufacturing systems engineer is responsible for a project from start to finish, rather than focusing on one particular part of the process. Tasks vary but typically include:

• designing the layout of the plant using computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software to build 3D models
• designing, developing and installing plant control systems
• liaising with designers, researchers and engineering consultants
• attending production meetings and forecasting production requirements
• calculating production costs that include equipment, time and labour
• overseeing effective use of resources, such as raw materials, equipment and staff
• producing maintenance schedules
• testing systems are working correctly and identifying, investigating and repairing any system faults
• discussing and evaluating systems failures with plant managers and non-technical personnel
• supervising the work of manufacturing engineers, trainee engineers and support staff
• overseeing the installation, repair and re-assembly of equipment
• demonstrating new and existing equipment to systems engineers, support staff and production managers
• investigating environmental hazards as well as conducting safety tests and removing potential hazards
• meeting with managers to discuss methods of improving the productivity of existing systems, taking into consideration the use of the latest technology
• sourcing new suppliers of industrial equipment
• testing, monitoring and evaluating new mechanical equipment
• establishing and implementing a quality culture within the manufacturing environment
• visiting other production sites.