Mechanical Engineering in General - Essay Example

Mechanical Engineering With the current globalization and technological advancement in the world, engineers have embraced the changes and are improving various components that result from their magnificent work. However, it is important to note that engineering is a general categorization and the field consists of various subcategories with mechanical engineering being one of them. Further, mechanical engineering is perceived to be one of the earliest categories in engineering where mankind got interested and involved in order to get solutions that make life easier an attractive. In addition, much advancement made in mechanical engineering are based on existing technology meaning that mechanical engineering converts technological expertise into tangible products. To start with, mechanical engineering can be described broadly by pointing out the activities involved in the subject as well as the products. According to McMaster University, mechanical engineering is a major branch of engineering profession and is involved in innovation, planning, and production of all physical gadgets and systems that originate from technological expertise (2007). McMaster University further states that mechanical engineers are involved designing systems that produce power and operate different kinds of machines. Considering the definition provided by McMaster University, we are able to point out the different activities involved in mechanical engineering and note some products that result from the profession. Further, the Columbia University describes mechanical engineering as a diverse subject because engineers in the field try to design and come up with virtually everything from individual components to large complete systems (2012). The history of mechanical engineering dates back to industrial revolution period where mankind was actively looking for alternatives that could make work easier. The industrial revolution was characterized by introduction of various machines that were used to facilitate production of important products to human beings and also to boost existing agricultural activities. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) states that the history of mechanical engineering began in ancient Greece and china where gadgets such as screws, steam engines, pumps, and different gears were introduced (n.d). The invention of steam engine was a major step in mechanical engineering since it provided energy that was used to develop other forms of machinery. ASME notes that engineering was also revolutionized in the Middle Ages where it was transformed from the trial and error techniques of innovation to the utilization of analytical techniques that involved the use of calculus and principles such as Newton’s Laws of Motion (n.d). Considering the impact of mechanical engineering to the life of human beings, the subject was advanced and began to be taught in various institutions in order to promote further research and empower future generations with the skills. For mechanical engineers to design products that can create impact to the society, they need skills in order to integrate various aspects of technology and the needs of people. According to Columbia University, mechanical engineers require specific skills that can enable them to decipher the environmental conditions in which the products will be utilized as well as the forces that interplay in products in order to design products that are effective in terms of their functionality (2012). In addition, mechanical engineers are tasked by the society to be innovative and come up with products that can facilitate economic development and in the same time conserve the existing resources such as oil used to power different machines. Various institutions offer mechanical engineering course as a major in the engineering department. Among the first institutions to offer mechanical engineering course as a major include “U.S. Military Academy, Norwich Univ., and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute” (ASME n.d). Of much significance is that most universities that offer mechanical engineering degree as a major to students first orient the students to several technical subjects and offer elective units towards the end of the course in order to enable the students to be technically knowledgeable in various areas (University of Rochester n.d). The University of Rochester further states that the technical courses that include topics drawn from mathematics, science and engineering fields must be completed in a predetermined sequence in order to facilitate easy flow of knowledge from the complex interrelated course (n.d). The involvement of other subjects in the engineering course enables the students to understand the impact of engineering to other important sectors such as environmental, political, economic and social areas (University of Michigan n.d). On the other hand, several categories of mechanical engineering are known to exist and are offered in different institution under the umbrella of mechanical engineering degree. To start with, Aerospace Engineering is one of the most captivating categories of mechanical engineering. This category of mechanical engineering is concerned with designing and production of aircrafts. Students in this category are trained on various theories and fundamental subjects such as aeronautics in order to integrate the skills acquired to effectively solve problems in the aviation industry (The Pennsylvania State University 2008). Another important category is the Acoustical Engineering that is mainly concerned with the study of sound and vibration. It is from this category that many important instruments such as those used in medical diagnosis have been developed (University of Southampton 2013). Thermal Engineering is also a category in this field and is involved with development of products that can convert heat energy in to another form of energy. Of more importance is the Manufacturing Engineering category that is involved in planning, organizing, and implementation of manufacturing techniques that lead to production of quality products at cost effective levels. Closely related to Manufacturing Engineering is Production Engineering that is concerned with the production process. Production engineers ensure that products are produced using optimal time and that they match the consumer demands (Open Universities Australia n.d). Lastly, Vehicle engineering that is concerned with systems that control vehicles forms the category that has attracted attention of many people in the world. Different companies can offer job opportunities for mechanical engineers depending on their areas of specialty. Firstly, the Aviation industry offers an opportunity for Aerospace Engineers to apply their skill in various issues relating to aircrafts. In aviation, the Aerospace Engineers play an important role of carrying out research to enable the industry to develop modern aircrafts that meet the changing tastes and preferences of customers. In addition, the research also helps in production of modern aircrafts that incorporate new technologies hence enabling the industry to be up to date with the technological changes. Other opportunities in the aviation industry involve maintenance and repair of existing aircrafts. Automotive industry also provides an opportunity for mechanical engineers. This is one of the most advanced industries in the world and has a wide customer base. Vehicle engineers in motor vehicle industry are concerned with developing new vehicles that incorporate recent technologies and maintenance of already manufactured vehicles. The Construction industry also offers opportunity for mechanical engineers to develop structures and other components such as heating, cooling, and ventilation systems that are important in the industry. It is also important to note that the application of mechanical engineering is vast and mechanical engineers can work in many other industries to support their core activities. For example, mechanical engineers can work in Defense industry to maintain military motor vehicles as well as other important equipments such as communication devices. Other industries that can offer opportunity for mechanical engineers include marine, pharmaceutical, metal, railway and electronics industries. The benefits of mechanical engineering in our lives can be attributed to the different products and services that result from the work of mechanical engineers. To begin with, the different machines made by mechanical engineers have greatly improved life and productivity of human beings. For example, the invention of motor vehicles made people to be able to move from one point to another within a shorter time compared to moving on foot. In addition, motor vehicles have enabled people to transport various goods in large quantities with more ease. As a result, expansive regions in the world are connected easily and people from different regions interacted more often facilitating growth of trade and hence improving world economy. Another important aspect is that mechanical engineering has indirectly contributed to the improvement of healthcare systems in the world through development of important instruments used in hospitals. An instrument such as stethoscope is an acoustic medical device used by doctors to detect malfunctioning of internal organs through use of sound detection mechanisms. Other important hospital machines include those that utilize ultrasound imaging techniques. On another interesting aspect, mechanical engineering has also touched our social lives greatly. The various gadgets produced in the electronic industry such as television and radios are major sources of entertainment in the society. In addition, the construction industry that relies on skills drawn from mechanical engineering provides housing commodities that add value to our lives. The future of mechanical engineering depends on the economic and technological changes as well as other factors such as resource availability and interrelation with other crucial sectors in life. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, mechanical engineering like any other profession is affected by the mixture of socioeconomic and political changes (n.d). Of more concern is that other disciplines in the world are being developed in order to cater for the changing needs of people and solve various emerging problems. Therefore, it is important that the discipline of mechanical engineering is also advanced through research programs in order to match with the changes in other disciplines. Furthermore, interconnectivity of mechanical engineering with other disciplines is also important because it enables mechanical engineers to identify gaps in other disciplines that can be filled through mechanical engineering. In addition, for effective resource utilization, mechanical engineers need to be trained on resource and business management. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers notes that areas concerning energy, environment, nanotechnology, and bioengineering are promising in terms of future expansion and engineers should seek for training on the relevant areas of interest (n.d). In conclusion, from the above discussion it is evident that mechanical engineering is an old discipline that was brought about by the need to improve lifestyle of mankind. The invention of steam engine in the 18th century was major stimuli of advancement in mechanical engineering since the engine provided energy that was essential to drive many other processes. It is also evident that various institutions began training students on mechanical engineering skills because of the importance attached to the products of the subject. In addition, the institutions formulated the course outline to involve other subjects like humanities in order to educate students on connectivity that exists between mechanical engineering and other disciplines that are important to human beings. Further, it is also evident that mechanical engineers have a wide base of job opportunities from different sectors of economy. Therefore, studying mechanical engineering will place a student at a better chance to get an employment opportunity shortly after being a qualified engineer. Lastly, mechanical engineering has generated several benefits in the society that have led to improved quality of life. References American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (n.d). History of Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from https://www.ASME.org/engineering-topics/history-of-mechanical-engineering . Columbia University. (2012). Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from http://me.columbia.edu/what-mechanical-engineering. McMaster University. (2007). Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from http://mech.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate_intro.html. Open Universities Australia. (n.d). Production Engineers. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from http://www.open.edu.au/careers/engineering/production-engineers The Pennsylvania State University. (2008). Department of Aerospace Engineering. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from http://www.aero.psu.edu/ugradstud/Ugrad_Curr_Guide.pdf University of Michigan. (n.d). Bachelors Degree. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 http://me.engin.umich.edu/academics/ugsh/bachelors . University of Rochester. (n.d). Major In Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from http://www.me.rochester.edu/major-minor/major.html . University of Southampton. (2013). Acoustical Engineering Degrees. Retrieved on April 23, 2014 from https://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/undergraduate/courses/acoustical_engineering_list.page Read More