Industry 4.0 has led to an increase in demand for mechanical engineers. This is because IR4.0 heavily depends on mechanical engineers for its pursuit to connect the physical and digital towards higher efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing sectors. In its truest sense, IR4.0 can be regarded as a manufacturing revolution which greatly hinges on the skills and knowledge of mechanical engineers.
The demand has become more prominent in industries such as automotive, and oil and gas to say the least. A mechanical engineer's expertise, skills, flexibility and knowledge are vital in seamlessly integrating technology into the various work processes required of these industries.
Changing the world with mechanical engineering
In this day and age, mechanical engineers must not only be able to use computer software such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to analyse and produce their designs but also other computer-aided engineering tools to further optimise their design.
The acquired skills of using the software help engineers to monitor the quality of products produced as well as complete complex analyses within seconds compared to days or weeks required from manual calculation methods.
As the third largest automotive market among ASEAN members and contributing 4% of Malaysia’s GDP in 2021, Malaysia’s automotive industry has transitioned from being a car assembler to a manufacturer.
In addition, the growing focus on electrical vehicles (EV) means there are ample opportunities for mechanical engineers to find their footing in the industry. Their expertise will be required in the development of new chassis, frames, bodies, seating, airbags and more that are suitable and safe. They may also have to design cooling systems that are used within an EV to increase its reliability and integrity.
The available jobs include product development engineer, vehicle performance engineer, production engineer and other roles pertinent to the automotive industry. The skills for intensive research and the ability to apply direct mathematical and computer/simulation models are essential, especially for fresh graduates.
As for the oil and gas industry in Malaysia, there is a need for new and improved equipment with higher system availability. This can be achieved through proper asset management planning including pipelines, valves, turbines and other mechanical parts which are heavily involved with mechanical engineers' skills and knowledge.
Nowadays, mechanical engineers need to be familiar with the relevant software and tools used in the oil and gas industry as it helps them evaluate the viability of resource extraction and production as well as improve decision-making during discussion.
The increased need for skilled mechanical engineers in this industry has opened more jobs such as pipeline engineers, procurement engineers, and layout and piping engineers.
Being able to evaluate the sustainability and impact of potential industry solutions proves to be a complex engineering problem that can only be dealt with by skilled mechanical engineers.
Positioning yourself at the frontline
A Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours from Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) would expose you to subjects such as thermodynamics, computer-aided engineering, solid mechanics, data analytics and other more in-depth subjects that would increase your knowledge and skills in the mechanical engineering domain.
Mechanical engineering covers various industries that you can get into upon graduation. Thus, having the necessary skills can be beneficial to adapt to your chosen field.
Throughout the four years of your undergraduate degree, you would gain valuable knowledge on how to:
- Select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools, such as prediction and modelling. As well as solve complex engineering problems with an understanding of the limitations involved.
- Evaluate sustainability and the impact of professional engineering solutions to complex engineering problems in the context of society and the environment.
- Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities, and norms of engineering practice.
- Function effectively as an individual, a member or a leader in diverse teams and multi-disciplinary settings.
At the end of your course, you would have the option to specialise in five different areas that best suit your interest which are:
- Energy systems
- Advanced manufacturing
- Asset integrity and reliability.
- Robotics and System Automation
- Renewable Energy
A degree from UTP would prepare you to be a competent engineer and have the potential to become a leader. It would also instil in you the importance of being an engineer that is committed to the sustainable development of the industries for the betterment of society.
