Those unfamiliar or uncomfortable with technology often misunderstand
nature of the engineering profession. Any definition of
engineering must be broad, since the field encompasses a large
area of endeavor. Perhaps the most concise description is that
provided by the United States' primary accreditation body for engineering programs, ABET, Inc.:
(Engineering is) the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically and with concern for the environment and society, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
The profession of engineering is grouped into specialized disciplines that have developed in response to societal needs. The earliest recognizable engineers were probably employed on military projects building roads and primitive engines and devices of war. When similar civilian projects were undertaken, the persons working in this area were identified as civil engineers. As time progressed, other engineering branches were formed in response to the technological advances of the day. A recognizable mechanical engineering discipline existed by the fifteenth century AD, an electrical engineering discipline by the eighteenth century, and a chemical engineering discipline by the nineteenth century. More specialized disciplines, including aeronautical, industrial, biomedical, computer, and petroleum engineering, developed throughout the twentieth century. Each of these disciplines is supported by professional societies and academic units in universities around the world. While engineering disciplines overlap somewhat, each has its own specific purposes and goals.
Mechanical engineering is considered by many to be the most broadly based of all engineering disciplines. Areas of specialization include:
Along with diverse areas of specialization come a wide range of
career paths. A mechanical engineer may work in the area of classical
machine design conceiving and optimizing devices to perform any number of
functions. He or she may also work as a computer analyst or experimentalist
performing tasks that support the design process. Other functions
may involve product development late in the design process, manufacturing
support, customer field support, or even technical sales. Smaller companies
may require engineers to function as generalists capable of performing a
wide variety of tasks. In such cases the breadth, depth and rigor of their
academic training stands mechanical engineers in good stead.
A significant portion of a mechanical engineering
curriculum involves the study of mathematics, basic mechanics,
thermal science, fluid mechanics fundamentals. This theory and
the associated analysis skills are then put to practical use during
a series of design-oriented classes that emphasize open-ended
problems. In some programs, both theoretical and practical skills
are developed and refined in cooperative internships. Computer use
in mechanical engineering is pervasive, and there
is a significant amount of laboratory experience. While an interest
in "tinkering," or "working with tools" can
be an asset to a mechanical engineering student, skills in mathematics,
science and computer use are better predictors of ultimate success.
From a historical perspective, mechanical engineering is a noble profession, having provided a key component of the nineteenth century industrial revolution and its associated improvements in living standards and life expectancy. Society will look to new generations of mechanical engineers to help solve twenty-first century problems involving environmental protection, security, transportation, and energy supply. Despite much recent hyperbole about the oncoming "service economy," the wealth of nations rests on a bedrock ability to conceive, develop, produce and distribute tangible goods, a requirement that in itself could serve as a fine working definition of mechanical engineering.