No Longer Grease Monkeys

Hugo R Leon Benitez

Composition II
Sullivan College of Technology and Design

The demand for engineers is increasing every day as technology advances and as more
people become knowledgeable about different mechanical aspects of the natural environment.
Mechanical engineering, just like any other field of engineering, requires extensive application of
both theoretical and practical knowhow. Engineers are also expected to be innovative and able to
solve mechanical problems as they arise. Nevertheless, the modern field of engineering is
running short of technical and soft skills required to do the job. Students graduating from
colleges and universities are equipped with mechanical engineering theoretical skills but not the
practical skills. This has led a knowledge gap between the aspiring engineers, fresh graduates
and experienced engineers in the workplace. The more experienced mechanical engineers also
have a digital challenge yet the modern technological advancement requires the integration of
mechanical devices with digital systems for efficiency of operation. This paper discusses the
challenges faced by mechanical engineers in their engineering practice.
The knowledge gap between student engineers and engineers in the field is one of the
major challenges facing mechanical engineers. In mechanical engineering programs, students are
required to undergo up to three industrial field trips before graduating from the university
(Dolan, 2013). Nevertheless, they only get introduced to the field during their industrial
attachments while no sufficient practical skills are acquired in college. The practical laboratories
in institutions of learning only help to enhance the theoretical knowledge acquired in class but
not the real world practical application in industries (Tichkiewitch, Tollenaere, Ray, & IDMME
Conference, 2007). This has led to student engineers wasting up to two years after graduation
undergoing on-the-job training. This implies that the field of mechanical engineering has to set
aside funds to finance training of graduate engineers. Even after many concerns pertaining to the
continuity of knowledge in school and in the real world application, institutions of learning have

not yet done much to solve this challenge for mechanical engineers (National Research Council
(U.S.)., United States., National Research Council (U.S.)., & National Research Council (U.S.),
2000).
Another major challenge in this field of engineering is the complex nature of the
knowledge involved. Taking the example of electrical and electronic engineering, students in the
field only need to be knowledgeable on concepts of electricity and electromagnetism, macro and
microcomputers. Similarly, in other fields such as chemical engineering, students mainly deal
with the physical and chemical nature of compounds. This is different from mechanical
engineering in that requires students to acquire knowledge on almost all other fields of
engineering. In order to troubleshoot a mechanical device, one will need to understand the
mechanical properties of the device, the electrical properties, and the digital properties (involving
micro and macro computing (Wickert, & Lewis, 2013). In other words, mechanical engineering
entails a combination of electrical, computer, and sometimes civil engineering. Nevertheless,
mechanical engineers are compensated as equals to other engineers in the job market regardless
of the complexity nature of their theoretical and practical skills.
Mechanical engineers are also faced with the challenge of solving engineering solutions
in ways that will foster sustainability of the natural environment, reduce pollution and foster a
healthier, cleaner world. Presently, industrial pollution has been a major challenge and has been
criticized by environmentalists across the world. This has created a dilemma in the field of
mechanical engineering on how to upgrade the existing mechanical systems in industries to
minimize environmental pollution while increasing sustainability and profitability (Tichkiewitch,
Tollenaere, Ray, & IDMME Conference, 2007). For many new graduates in this field, solving
mechanical problems in the field has become a major challenge. The fresh engineers rely on the

experienced personnel that had been on the job to guide them through the application of
engineering knowledge and making decisions that will not negatively impact on the
environment. At the same time, the more experienced engineers are at a higher demand and may
not be available to help the newbies in the field solve challenges emerging in the course of their
duty execution.
Mechanical engineering is a field that greatly relies on energy for its sustainability.
Traditionally, most of the mechanical devices were formulated to consume diesel as a source of
energy. However, increased exploitation of petroleum to meet the energy needs of mechanical
engineering has led to increased concerns on the possible exhaustion of natural resources
(Tichkiewitch, Tollenaere, Ray, & IDMME Conference, 2007). The latter has led to shift to the
use of electric energy and other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. The
increased energy burden has led to energy overconsumption where most of the megawatts
produced nationally end up in driving mechanical devices (Wickert, & Lewis, 2013).
In the earlier centuries, mechanical engineering did not touch on the field of computer
and computing technology. What this implies is that the mechanical engineers of the 1990s and
the 1980s do not have sufficient knowledge to deal with mechanical engineering digital systems.
This is a major challenge because these are the engineers who are expected to offer guidance to
the newbies in the field. They are unable to interpret the engineering designs of modern
mechanical devices that mainly rely on the integration of mechanical, electrical and
computational aspects (Wickert, & Lewis, 2013). In many cases, experienced mechanical
engineers are forced to undertake refresher courses in the field to enhance their digital skills.
This is a good indication of knowledge gap in the field that has impeded the application of
engineering knowledge in the workplace. Similarly, innovation in the field of mechanical

engineering has mainly been left to graduate engineers and those taking more advanced courses
to have a broader view of the field. Some mechanical engineers are forced to take a full course in
both mechanical and computer engineering in order to become more competent in the field. As
the world of technology advances, the experienced personnel in the field is becoming less
relevant while the fresh graduates do not have enough practical skills that are more specifically
related to a certain site.
As the number of academic programs increase with the increasing advancement in
technology, there is the misconception that mechanical engineering is a difficult field that is only
reserved for the genius. The misconception has negatively impacted on this field by denying big
thinkers who would contribute to more innovation in the field. Over the years, there has been a
consistent decline in the number of experienced and competent mechanical engineers. Many
engineering personnel have preferred majoring in other fields such as electrical and computer
engineering that are less challenging as far as the update of knowledge is concerned (Wickert, &
Lewis, 2013). Despite the increasing demand, the field has less experts. Although many people
have blamed academic institutions for their failure to integrate more relevant technical skills in
their programs, the society is also to blame since many students have developed phobia for this
program.
Mechanical engineering has also been perceived as an unhygienic field since the
technicians interact with diesel oil, lubricants, heavy mechanical devices, among other things.
Many students want to work in offices and other hygienic environments that do not involve
interaction with dirt. The same factor has raised concerns among mechanical engineers since
most of them believe that the compensation they get is not sufficient compared to the risky
activities they undertake in their work. Many graduate engineers in this field also prefer being in

the control room with a computer controlling the mechanical processes and systems. However,
troubleshooting and other technical works have been left to the junior employees, who may not
even be academically qualified to deal with them. The increasing global environmental
challenges require more advanced and environment-oriented mechanical engineering knowhow.
As primary research instrument, a survey was taken in which the first question was
What should a mechanical Engineer be trained on?, and which had five different checkboxes
to choose from. The respondents, selected Mechanical Power Transmission and Electrical. The
other three options: Networking, Computer Programming, and Automotive were not selected.
Pointing to the fact that most people would not consider that this profession requires knowledge
of all five components in orders to be successful on the field, and one or the other would not
suffice to deal with todays complex issues and machinery.
In this same survey, where the second question was to rate the statement: Mechanical
Engineering is for geniuses only. From the options of: Strongly disagree, disagree, not
necessarily, somewhat, agree, and strongly agree, the predominant choice picked was somewhat.
Although, slightly different than expected, it does show that people are aware not everyone could
possibly do the tasks, but at the same time, that it is not always the case. Meaning that there is
still plenty of individuals who would still get on the field without underestimating themselves
and looking to succeed.
The next question on the survey asked what was thought to be the greatest challenge for
new graduates on the Mechanical Engineering field. As expected, the respondents stated it was
finding employment that did not required previous experience. This issue, while it applies to
most occupations, it becomes a much bigger barrier in this field do the fact that employers look
for individuals which might not only have been working for a considerable amount of time, but

also for individuals who have worked with the specific equipment and manufacturers that is
available in their plant.
Building into the above question, the one that followed was: Do you believe this field
has seen significant changes in the last few decades?. The participants chose yes from the three
possible answers of: Yes, no, and not significant enough. In the past, dealing with gears, belts,
and lubricant was the standard of the day, but it seems that public opinion has changed somewhat
as well, and it appear to recognize that that the same work equipment, while existent, are not the
same or only anymore. Statement which is also reinforced by the results of the survey question
What is the force behind these changes?, which pointed towards advances in the technology
and/or changing technology.
If given the option, the respondents were evenly split between the type of work that made
them more fulfilled from the choices of Manual/Field/Hands-On and Theroretical/Design/Office.
Both of these apply to the jobs related to this field, and while there is none that is necessarily
more persistent than the other, usually both types are required, which allows for more versatility,
or less, depending on if the person that prefers one is willing to work somewhat on the other
type.
The next question on the survey was: How often do you encounter situations in the field
which require you to get new training or develop new skills?. The possible answers were: every
monh, more than once a year, about once a year, and relatively rare or never . Out of these, every
other month was the most chosen. The results, while not what expected, are somewhat distorted
given the fact that the people taking the survey were employed and currently working in similar
fields. However, it does show that engineering is not a subject to take for granted when it comes
to experience and knowledge. It does require individuals to keep up to date on all subjects and

re-evaluate when it comes the current capabilities within reach. Furthermore, it is not a career
that applies to everyone and changes are constantly making it different that what it was originally
thought to be. Evolution, and adaptation as well as versatility are a must if this path is chosen.

In conclusion, just like any other field of engineering, mechanical engineers face
numerous challenges in the course of duty execution. The field is seen as a dirty profession and
although it is one that involves integration of complex knowledge in other engineering fields,
this does not get reflected to the public opinion. The increasing global challenge on
environmental pollution and energy use has also been blamed on mechanical engineers. This has
made mechanical engineering decisions difficult to make based on increased public criticism on
engineering devices. Every mechanical device developed is rated on its capability to enhance
environmental sustainability be reducing pollution. Mechanical engineering also has a huge
knowledge gap among the engineering graduates and the experienced professionals in the field.
The engineering graduates are short of practical skills for real world engineering execution while
the more experienced engineers have a digital challenge since most of the modern mechanical
devices require being interfaced with computer technology.

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