Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MFT)
Bachelor of Science
If you enjoy working with your hands and your head to make things and to make things better, Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MFT) may be for you. Manufacturing engineering technologists implement the designs for products by bringing together people, raw materials and processes, and capital to solve manufacturing problems and create efficient production systems.
Manufacturing Engineering Technology combines the study of math and basic sciences with materials and manufacturing processes, productivity techniques, computer applications and robotics, and product design. You will also practice communicating your ideas orally and in writing. A degree in this field will enable you to work in manufacturing planning and operations, tooling and systems design, process and product development, quality assurance, technical training, and supervision.
On the job you may research new types of robot grippers in a laboratory setting, evaluate a product for production possibilities, introduce closed-loop control into the assembly of plastic components, improve machine tools, supervise an automobile production line, bring automation to a foundry, train technicians to apply a computer-aided design system, or diagnose and correct malfunctions in laser welding equipment.
The skills of our recent graduates contribute to the success of organizations such as:
- American Axle
- Johnson Controls International (JCI)
- ADAC
- Delphi
- General Motors
- Daimler Chrysler
- Visteon
In the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, you will use the facilities at the state-of-the-industry Parkview Campus, newly designed to promote the future success of our students.
Consider This
Once you set foot in one of our classrooms or laboratories, you will quickly realize that the Parkview Campus is one of the most professional learning environments in North America , built to help your transition from college to business or industry. Also, if class size concerns you, manufacturing engineering technology students usually attend classes of only 16 to 20 students, which helps you take advantage of our faculty's expertise, experience, and connections to local business.
At WMU our goal is to produce job-ready graduates, and our MFT students exemplify this.
Program Minors
Minors are encouraged as a way of differentiating yourself from others applying for the same position or as a way to build expertise that will enhance your job performance is a given discipline. The IME Department offers five minors that would help students meet this goal.
- Automotive Systems Minor
- Cast Metals Minor
- Integrated Supply Management Minor
- Manufacturing Technology Minor
- Plastics Processing Minor
Here's what a recent graduate of the program has to say: The hands-on types of labs really let students experience things they may use in the work world, giving them a better understanding of how real world processes work. The instructors are great. Most are there well past their scheduled hours and are always willing to help a student in need. The faculty work just as hard as their students to help them excel not only in school but also in their entire college experience and career.
-Jason Karbowski, BS-Manufacturing Engineering Technology, 2004
Manufacturing Engineering Technology Objectives
PEOs define the skill-set that graduates of a program should be able to use throughout the early portion of their career (2-5 years post graduation). It is expected that Manufacturing Engineering Technology alumni will be able to:
- Plan, design, analyze, implement, and improve cost-effective manufacturing methods.
- Synthesize and use technical tools to monitor and control manufacturing processes to solve production problems effectively.
- Manage projects, people, and resources effectively.
- Communicate effectively in verbal, written, visual, and graphical forms.
- Pursue professional growth and interact effectively in work environments.
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Student Outcomes
Student outcomes are those abilities and understandings that students gains from classes and activities during their academic career. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduating seniors should possess the following:
- An appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of their disciplines.
- An ability to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
- An ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments, and apply experimental results to improve processes.
- An ability to apply creativity in the design of systems, components, or processes appropriate to program educational objectives.
- An ability to function effectively on teams.
- An ability to identify, analyze and solve technical problems.
- An ability to communicate effectively.
- A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning.
- An ability to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities.
- A respect for diversity and a knowledge of contemporary professional, societal and global issues.
- A commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement.
Curriculum 2013-2014
Semester I - Fall (15 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 1020 Technical Communication (Prof. 1) | 3 | |
| IME 1420 Engineering Graphics | 3 | |
| IME 1500 Introduction to Manufacturing (Area VII) | 3 | |
| MATH 1180 Precalculus Mathematics (Prof. 3) | 4 | |
| Area VIII* Health and Well-Being | 2 | |
| 15 | ||
Semester II - Spring (16 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| CHEM 1100 General Chemistry I (Area VI) | 3 | |
| CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I Lab (Area VI) | 1 | |
| MATH 1220 Calculus I (or MATH 1700) (Prof. 4) | 4 | |
| IME 1220 Automobile in Society (Area VII) | 3 | |
| PHYS 1130 General Physics I (Area VI) | 4 | |
| PHYS 1140 General Physics I Lab (Area VI) | 1 | |
| 16 | ||
Semester III - Fall (17 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 2460 Introduction to Computer-Aided Design | 3 | |
| IME 2610 Engineering Statistics | 3 | |
| PHYS 1150 General Physics II | 4 | |
| PHYS 1160 General Physics II Lab | 1 | |
| CS 1021 Introduction to Engineering Computing I: Spreadsheets | 1 | |
| IME 2540 Machining Processes | 3 | |
| IME 2830 Thermodynamics | 2 | |
| 17 | ||
Semester IV - Spring (16 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 2001 Applied Electricity/Electronics | 3 | |
| IME 2500 Plastics Properties and Processing | 3 | |
| IME 2810 Statics and Strength of Materials | 4 | |
| IME 3020 Engineering Teams: Theory and Practice (Area V) | 3 | |
| ME 2500 Materials Science | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Semester V - Fall (18 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 3480 Designing for Production | 3 | |
| IME 3520 Metal Casting | 3 | |
| IME 3540 Metrology | 3 | |
| IME 3840 Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics | 3 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Area IV* Other Cultures and Civilizations | 3 | |
| 18 | ||
Semester VI - Spring (15 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 3260 Operations Planning and Control | 3 | |
| IME 3280 Quality Assurance and Control | 3 | |
| IME 3580 Computer-Aided Manufacturing | 3 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Area II* Humanities | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
Semester VII - Fall (17 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 3200 Engineering Cost Analysis | 3 | |
| IME 4540 Fabrication, Assembly, Finishing | 3 | |
| IME 4580 Manufacturing Systems Integration | 3 | |
| IME 4910 Multidisciplinary Senior Proposal (Prof. 2) | 2 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Area I* Fine Arts | 3 | |
| 17 | ||
Semester VIII - Spring (14 Credits) |
||
| Course | Credits | |
| IME 4020 Supervision of Industrial Operations | 3 | |
| IME 4570 Manufacturing for Sustainability | 2 | |
| IME 4920 Multidisciplinary Senior Project (Prof. 2) | 2 | |
| IME 4930 Multidisciplinary Senior Project Consultation | 1 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Area III* United States: Culture and Issues | 3 | |
| 14 | ||
Total Credits = 128 |
* At least one of these courses must be at the 3000-4000 level.
NOTE: A grade of "C" or better in gate courses (indicated in italicized type) is required for enrollment in upper division courses offered by the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. See the MFT academic advisor for approved technical electives.
Preparation
To enter the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, you should have completed in high school at least three and a half years of college preparatory mathematics, including trigonometry, and two years of basic science such as physics and chemistry.
Admission
To apply to WMU, write to:
Office of Admissions,
Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo , MI 49008-5211
Call 269-387-2000, or go to http://www.wmich.edu/admissions
Advising
The academic advisor, Mr. Joseph Petro, will work with you to ensure that you take the right sequence of courses and get maximum benefit from your studies at WMU.
To make an appointment with an advisor, call 269-276-3270
or stop by The Advising Office in E-102, Parkview Campus
Financial Aid
Information about financial assistance such as scholarships, employment opportunities, loans, and grants is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Write to Student Financial Aid,
Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo , MI 49008-5337
Call 269-387-6000, or go to http://www.wmich.edu/finaid
Career Placement
Career services helps WMU students and alumni in job search planning.
Call 269-387-2745, or go to http://www.wmich.edu/career
For More Information
For more information about Manufacturing Engineering Technology, write
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Western Michigan University
Parkview Campus
Kalamazoo , MI 49008-5336
Call 269-276-3350, or Email ime-info@wmich.edu
For information about other engineering programs at Western Michigan University, visit the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences' web page at: http://www.wmich.edu/engineer
Our Manufacturing Engineering Technology program is fully accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET www.abet.org.