What is Mechanical Engineering: A Complete Guide

Introduction – What is Mechanical Engineering All About?

Mechanical Engineering is considered to be one of the most diverse and versatile engineering fields. This discipline studies the systems and objects in motion. Mechanical Engineering is prevalent in all aspects of modern life as well as the complex human body.

Mechanical Engineering is important in our day to day lives; because it touches our everyday life is some way. There is a very high probability that we use at least a few items that have been mechanically engineered.

The common appliances and gadgets that we use everyday like generators, elevators, engines, and air conditioning are all mechanically engineered.

Mechanical Engineering plays a very vital role in manufactured technologies, be it a refrigerator, a car, or even a plane. This is a very important division of engineering since it makes our daily life easy through the technology that it uses.

In this blog, we will be taking you through the versatile landscape of Mechanical Engineering. We will discuss the roles and responsibilities of Mechanical engineers, the career options and jobs available, the expected salary, the qualifications required to pursue a course in Mechanical Engineering, and the degrees available.

We will also touch upon career advancement opportunities; we will discuss Automotive Engineering and whether it is a good field to opt for. Details about Mechanical Engineering that cover the admission process, the course fee, syllabus, and so on will also be discussed.

We endeavour to add immense value by giving you an important piece of information in the conclusion. This will be our guidance on the best college available for pursuing this course, and we will enumerate why we say so.

What does a Mechanical engineer do?

A Mechanical Engineering takes a product from its inception and idea stage to the marketplace. His primary responsibility is to ensure the functionality and effective working of the product, ensuring that there is no room for failure.

This can be done after determining the best manufacturing strategy. The Mechanical Engineer should have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the parts of the product, and its subsystems and the forces and thermal environment that it will encounter.

He is required to use his knowledge to look into the aesthetics, durability, and functionality of the products and keep them in good order. Close monitoring of the parts of a product and its sub-systems will ensure smooth operations and impeccable functionality.

Mechanical Engineers work across diverse industries that include aerospace, biotechnology, electronics, computers, automotive, microelectromechanical systems, robotics, automation, manufacturing, energy conversion amongst others.

Highlighting about the design of new products, offering solutions to manufacturing

Mechanical Engineers use their knowledge of engineering and design and various other engineering disciplines to create products that are functional and can be marketed. Those Mechanical Engineers who work in product design can be designated product engineer or product designer.

Mechanical Engineers can design, build, develop and test all sorts of tools, mechanical devices, tools, machines, and engines. The design of new products can range from small products to large machine tools, from miniature connectors to drill presses.

Mechanical Engineers help solve particular problems through a process of analysis. They analyse mechanical and thermal devices and see how they might come handy in solving problems.

They are also responsible for designing and re designing the devices and sub systems through the use of CAD (computer aided design.) Faulty operations once diagnosed will be looked into and remedial solutions will be offered.

A Mechanical Engineer executes the development of the entire life cycle. They analyse data, interpret results and conduct experiments.

 Job profiles:

The main responsibility is to ensure the smooth functioning, performance and efficiency of engines, mechanical devices and components.

They look into and evaluate project requirements.

They have to give their consent to the managers and clients on budgets, timescales and specifications.

Ensure the safety of equipment by modelling remodelling and maintaining it.

Have a good knowledge of computer aided design for application as and when needed.

What is the scope in Mechanical engineering?

There is a vast scope for Mechanical Engineering. The areas that have a vast scope for Mechanical Engineers are automobile, aerospace,  railway coach factory, oil exploration, chemical manufacturing plants, research and development, defence, thermal plants, steel plants, robotics. They have job opportunities both in the government and private sectors.

Career Opportunities in Mechanical Engineering:

After securing the required educational qualifications for a mechanical engineer, there are a number of profiles that you can take up. There are various jobs that are covered under the umbrella of mechanical engineering, and according to your aptitude and interest the selection can be made.  Mechanical engineering is a broad field, and comes with numerous job options.

Aerospace Engineer:  This profile as is evident by its title is responsible for maintaining and manufacturing aircrafts. They are also in charge of the airports and look after the technical details.

Maintenance Engineer: The job of a maintenance engineer is to maintain and check the functioning of the machines and equipment. They have to monitor the continuous running of the equipment without any glitches.

Automotive Engineer:  The focus of his role is on design, development, production and research.  The Automotive Engineer designs and develops mechanical components and machines that are associated with automobiles.

Control and Instrumentation Engineer:  They are also called C&I Engineers. They are responsible for the development, design, development, management, installation, and maintenance of equipment that is used in the engineering field. They monitor and control systems and machines.

Contracting Civil Engineer:  They are consultants in the field of construction and design of projects. The projects include highway construction, dams, canals, buildings and others. They have to work in close coordination with consulting engineers and are responsible for any ongoing construction on the site.

Nuclear Engineer: These engineers can either be a process engineer, reactor operator, project manager, quality engineer, instrumentation and control engineer. They are consulted for technical support.

Their role is to build, run, design, or dismantle the machinery that is installed in the nuclear power station.

Mechanical Engineer: This is the mainstream job. They are in charge of crafting, developing, maintaining, and looking after the different machines and equipment. There is a wide range of job profiles within this broad category comprising: production analysis, testing and installation, structural engineering. maintenance and analysis.

The industry & job roles:

The various industries that offer employment are: The Automotive Industry, The Aerospace Industry, The Ministry of Defence, Manufacturing Industry, Construction and Building Industry, Energy utilities, Engineering Consultancies, Biomedical Industry and Government agencies.

The common job roles would be Automotive Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Contracting Civil Engineer, Control and Instrumentation Engineer, Mechanical Engineer and many more.

What is the salary of Mechanical engineer?

The average salary of a Mechanical Engineer is:

₹350,424 / year Avg. Base Salary (INR)

According to experience, less than a year’s experience at entry level (tips, bonus and overtime pay included) will attract an average total compensation of ₹280,143.

1 – 4 years experience will attract an average total compensation of ₹300,351.

5 – 9 years experience will attract an average total compensation of ₹545,871.

10 -19 years experience will attract an average total compensation of ₹872,514

20 years and higher will attract an average total compensation of ₹996,290

What is the required qualification for Mechanical engineering?

A minimum of 50% to 60 % are required for admission to this course. For diploma and post graduate programmes 50 % marks are required to apply for a diploma course in mechanical engineering. For B.Tech, BE Mechanical it is 60 % marks.

The Eligibility criteria encompasses : A minimum of 50% marks for the diploma course as well as passing the diploma course entrance exams of the university or state where they are applying.

For undergraduate programmes the aspirants have to score a minimum of 60% in Std. 12 or their Board exams. The 3 subjects of mathematics, physics, and chemistry should be compulsory subjects in their 12th class curriculum. Engineering Entrance test scores are also counted.

For the postgraduate programmes  a minimum of 50 % is required and GATE Scores and Personal interviews are considered for admission.

For Doctoral programmes 60 % is required in BE or B.Tech and 60 % in ME and M.Tech.

ICMR, UGC NET, CSIR, ICAR and DST INSPIRE fellowship are considered.

Source: www.collegedekho.com

Degrees and Specialties:

Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s Degree, Doctoral degree, Online Mechanical Engineering Degree

Specialities include the following 5 sub divisions: Machine Design and Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Automation and Control, Materials Engineering and Processing, or Thermal Engineering.

Career Advancement Opportunities:

After working in the field of Mechanical Engineering, the candidates may decide to grow in their career. The specialized areas that they could consider could be:

Mechatronics:

Mechatronics is a combination of various aspects of electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering to build intelligent and complex machines. These machines have a wide use which can range across different industries from medicine to robotics.

Materials Scientist:

In this field, engineers, scientists, chemists and physicists work together to make new discoveries. Fabrics, metals and ceramics are designed customized for focused industrial usage.

Petroleum Engineers:

They work on extracting oil and gas to meet our needs and demands. The tasks are divided, with some focusing on the best drilling methods and locating the best drilling places, while others monitor production and oil reservoirs.

Is Automotive Engineering Right for You? (Why you should choose?)

Just like any other career choice, a student’s aptitude and interest should be the key deciding factor while taking up a career. We must take care to ensure that we do not fall prey to family and peer pressure, but choose a career only if we want to pursue it.

Many successful careers have emerged after converting a passion and hobby into a full time career. If you are interested in cars and all that goes into it, Automobile Engineering may be an apt career for you.

This career prospect although it has existed since a long time, has developed and shaped into a complex field, mainly due to the advancement in technology and the option and use of alternative fuels.

The modern day study of Automotive Engineering includes various fields such as Safety Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. They must also be well versed with electronics and the different types of software.

A few key qualities and skills needed for a career in Automotive Engineering are:

  • Technical knowledge and experience in the quality and design of various systems. The passion to undertake a lot of responsibility since the designing, manufacturing and operation of the car will have to be entirely monitored by the Automotive Engineer.
  • A thirst for knowledge and learning. Keeping abreast of all the latest developments in the auto industry and technology.
  • Receptive and open to imbibing new ideas if needed to improve the quality and efficiency of the product.
  • Innovative – come up with new ideas and products to engage and attract the client base.
  • A keen eye and attention to details. This is a very responsible job hence; minute details must be looked into so that the safety and efficiency of the automobiles is not compromised.
  • Deriving optimal solutions for the benefit of the client as well as the company. Accommodating, not rigid in their approach. Working with a spirit of cooperation for the common good.
  • Thorough testing of parts and validating and certifying the same before it is launched.

How to select the top Mechanical Engineering Course & College in India

This is a very crucial decision and must be taken carefully. While there are a few general parameters that can aid your decision, the final choice rests ultimately with the individuals.

The few general criteria for selection are:

  • The degree it offers and the specialisation you want to opt for along with the quality of teaching imparted there.
  • The accreditation and ranking of the college
  • The Infrastructure and campus facilities
  • The experience and qualification of the faculty
  • The placement and internship track record
  • Quality/ reputation of classes, faculty and students

Your personal choice will be influenced by

  • The location and connectivity for commuting
  • Residential accommodation available/provided
  • Government or Private Institute/College
  • Rural or Urban location
  • Fee structure
  • Scholarships or financial aids available
  • Class size as an indicator of personal attention and teaching
  • Student Body ( whether it is a healthy mix of students )
  • Social life as impacts your personality and growth and is essential for holistic and overall development.

Mechanical Engineering Curriculum & Syllabus

Semester 1Semester 2
ChemistryModern Biology
Electrical SciencesIntroduction to Computing
Mathematics – IMathematics – II
Physics – IEngineering Mechanics
Chemistry LaboratoryPhysics – II
Workshop /Physics LaboratoryComputing Laboratory
Engineering DrawingBasic Electronics Laboratory
Physical Training – IPhysics Laboratory/Workshop
[NCC/NSO/NSS]Physical Training – II
[NCC/NSO/NSS]
Semester 3Semester 4
Mathematics-IIIFluid Mechanics – I
ThermodynamicsManufacturing Technology – I
Solid Mechanics – ISolid Mechanics – II
Engineering MaterialsKinematics of Machinery
HSS Elective – IHSS Elective  – II
Machine DrawingWorkshop  – II
Physical Training – IIIMechanical Lab – I
NCC/NSO/NSSPhysical Training – IV
NCC/NSO/NSS
Semester 5Semester 6
Fluid Mechanics – IIApplied Thermodynamics – I
Manufacturing Technology – IIMachine Design
Dynamics of MachineryMechanical Measurements
Design of Machine ElementsHeat and Mass Transfer
Electrical MachinesControl Systems
HSS Elective – IIIMechanical Lab – III
Mechanical Lab –  II
Semester 7Semester 8
Summer Training (PP/NP)Industrial Engineering and Operation Research
Applied Thermodynamics – IIDept Elective –  III
Dept Elective – IDept Elective – IV
Dept Elective – IIHSS Elective – IV
Open Elective – IProject- II
Mechanical Lab IV
Project- I
Note: The syllabus given above may  differ between institutes

Source: https://www.shiksha.com/engineering/mechanical-engineering-chp

Admission process for Mechanical Engineering:

The admission process consists of two categories. The first one is

  • Direct admission process – under this category the colleges/institutes offer admissions based on the scores of the qualifying exams taken by the candidate.

Under the Management quota scheme of certain colleges, the students who qualify for the same can secure direct admission.

  • Entrance-based admission process – is when institutes accept National level or state level scores. The entrance exams that allocate scores are – JEE Main, UPSEE, WBJEE. After this, the student has to go through a counseling process. A few institutes have their individual entrance exams for example SRMJEE, BITSAT. These two are followed by counseling rounds.

Fee structure for Mechanical Engineering:

The fee structure can vary from college to college and can be influenced by a lot of factors. The ranking and reputation of the college, the specialization you choose, the location, whether it is in rural or urban surroundings, whether it is a Government or Private college, and many more factors.

The Average course fee ranges from INR 20,000-2 lakh per annum.

MIT-ADT University – your ideal choice for a fruitful career in Mechanical Engineering

With numerous colleges mushrooming on the educational landscape, how do you select the wheat from the chaff?  Your discerning eye and the college credentials will go a long way in helping you make a wise choice. 

MIT – ADT has an impeccable track record of creating a deep imprint of success in engineering education.

It scores high with:

  • Best Campus Recognitions & Accreditations
  • Academic Excellence
  • Harbinger of Peace
  • Links with the Industry Student Exchange Opportunity
  • Global Employability
  • International impact
  • Campus Transformation
  • Start-up & Entrepreneurship
  • Participation in Global Events
  • Compulsory University Core Credits.

MITSOE or the MIT School of Engineering, houses high standards of infrastructure, faculty expertise and a range of specializations to choose from.

An Engineering course at MIT- ADT will fuel your passion and add a wealth of knowledge and learning to propel you on the path of educational excellence!

If you are keen to explore the power-packed offering of the Mechanical Engineering course at MIT –ADT University take a firm step in the right direction, by filling in the form here: https://www.mituniversity.edu.in/old_mit/

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