Specialized sub-disciplines in mechanical engineering

SPECIALIZED SUB-DISCIPLINES IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The major specialized sub-disciplines in mechanical engineering include the following:

1. Engineering Design

Engineering design involves product development from an idea. The engineering design process is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem. Many times the solution involves designing a product (like a machine, engine, etc.) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task.

2. Production Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing is the backbone of any industrialized nation. It involves making products from raw material by using various processes and by making use of hand tools, machinery or computers. Manufacturing involves fabrication and joining processes.

3. Thermal Engineering

Thermal Engineering deals exclusively with heat energy and its transfer between different mediums and also into various useful forms of energy such as chemical, mechanical or electrical energy depending on the task. It involves design, development and analysis of any thermal or fluid flow systems.

4. Automobile Engineering

Automobile engineering deals with the various types of automobiles, methods of propulsion, their mechanism of transmission and safety.

5. Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is the field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.

6. Energy Engineering

Energy is defined as the ability to cause changes. Energy engineering combines knowledge from the fields of physics, mathematics and chemistry with economic and environmental engineering practices. Energy engineers apply their skills to increase efficiency and further develop renewable sources of energy. Also, Energy engineers audit the use of energy in processes and suggest ways to improve the performance of systems.

7. CAD/CAM/CIM

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer software to facilitate the generation, modification, and optimization of a part or a compilation of parts. CAD software helps users design ideas, visualize concepts, and simulate how designs will perform in the real world. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is an application technology that uses computer software and machinery to facilitate and automate manufacturing processes.

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) integrates design, manufacturing and associated business functions of a factory or a manufacturing facility. CIM reduces the human component of manufacturing and thereby relieves the process of its slow, expensive and errorprone component.

8. Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering focuses on so many essential aspects that are necessary for an industry to run smoothly. It helps in improving the quality, productivity, efficiency, safety, health and working environment of industry.