Manufacturing Engineering vs. Mechanical Engineering
If you’re exploring degrees in manufacturing engineering, you may be wondering how the field differs from mechanical engineering, or whether you need to choose between them at all.
Mechanical engineers create the products, machines, and systems that solve real-world problems. Manufacturing engineers focus on how those solutions are produced efficiently, reliably, and at scale.
While the two disciplines have distinct focuses, they are closely connected and often work together throughout the product development process.
At Oregon State, manufacturing-related studies are built directly into the mechanical engineering curriculum through specialized options that allow students to deepen their knowledge in product design, manufacturing processes, materials engineering, and advanced production systems. Read on to explore how these two types of engineering fit together.
What's the difference?
When it comes to comparing between manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering, the answer is a little more nuanced than you might expect.
At Oregon State University, there is no standalone undergraduate degree in manufacturing engineering. Instead, manufacturing-focused topics are embedded within the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering through specialized mechanical engineering degree options that allow students to concentrate on manufacturing, materials, product development, and advanced production systems.
This approach gives students the broad foundation of a mechanical engineering degree while allowing them to develop expertise in manufacturing-related fields that employers increasingly demand.
What do mechanical engineers do?
We wrote an article about this if you want to learn more. For now, we’ll give you the tl;dr version. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most versatile engineering disciplines.
Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that focuses on the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It intersects with various industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, robotics, and manufacturing.
At Oregon State, mechanical engineering students build a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and computer science while developing skills in creative problem-solving and engineering design. Coursework includes topics such as:
- Engineering graphics and 3D modeling
- Electrical fundamentals
- Mechanics of materials
- Fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- Mechanical properties of materials
Mechanical engineers often work in industries such as:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Robotics
- Biotechnology
- Energy systems
- Manufacturing
At Oregon State, mechanical engineering students also get access to hands-on opportunities into the world of manufacturing. For example, six mechanical engineering undergraduate students learned welding, machining, electronics, and other applied manufacturing processes (including computer-aided design and programmable logic controllers) in a practicum conducted by the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center.
In addition to gaining hands-on experience in several keystone trade skills, each practicum participant, under the guidance of OMIC’s expert technical staff, develops and completes an advanced manufacturing project involving subtractive manufacturing, additive manufacturing, or robotics and electronics. Upon finishing, each participant receives a pre-trade certificate for advanced manufacturing, as well as an appropriate OSHA certification.
mechanical engineering student
Blue Primary, Yellow Secondary
What do manufacturing engineers do?
Manufacturing engineers work to develop efficient, reliable, and cost-effective processes for transforming raw materials into finished products. They often combine engineering design, production systems, automation, materials science, quality control, and supply chain considerations to ensure products can be manufactured successfully and at scale.
While mechanical engineers may focus on designing a product, manufacturing engineers focus on how that product can be produced safely, efficiently, and economically.
Because modern manufacturing requires knowledge of materials, automation, robotics, product development, and production systems, many manufacturing engineers begin their careers with a mechanical engineering background.
That's exactly the path Oregon State provides through its manufacturing-focused mechanical engineering options.
Manufacturing is also a major area of research and innovation at Oregon State. Faculty are helping manufacturers adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced production systems.
For example, Oregon State researchers developed AI-powered software that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers generate job quotes more quickly and make better equipment investment decisions. Through work like this, students gain exposure to the technologies that are shaping the future of manufacturing.
Explore the Advanced Manufacturing Research Group
Manufacturing-focused options within mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering students at Oregon State can customize their degree with transcript-visible options that provide specialized manufacturing knowledge while maintaining the versatility of a mechanical engineering degree.
Materials design and manufacturing option
The materials design and manufacturing option is for students who want to create and improve the materials that make modern technology possible. You’ll study how atomic-scale structures shape material properties — and apply that knowledge to design, process, and manufacture high-performance materials and products.
Students learn to combine principles from mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering to develop and manufacture advanced materials systems. The option emphasizes understanding how atomic-to-microscopic-scale influences material properties and how manufacturing processes can be designed and controlled to achieve desired outcomes.
With growing industry demand for engineers who can innovate from the inside out, this transcript-visible option prepares you to develop safer, more efficient, and sustainable materials for a wide range of applications.
Students in this option develop expertise in:
- Materials design
- Materials processing
- Manufacturing systems
- Process control
- Product performance optimization
This pathway is ideal for students who are interested in developing safer, more efficient, and higher-performing products through innovations in materials engineering and manufacturing. It also addresses industry demand for engineers who can manipulate materials properties to improve product performance and manufacturability.
You may enjoy this option if you are interested in:
- Advanced materials
- Metals, polymers, and composites
- Materials processing
- Manufacturing technologies
- Product performance and reliability
Product design and manufacturing option
The product design and manufacturing option focuses on the complete lifecycle of engineered products—from initial concepts to final production.
Students learn how to design innovative products that meet consumer needs while evaluating designs based on performance requirements, safety, manufacturability, energy use, and production costs.
This option develops skills related to:
- Product development
- Engineering design
- Manufacturing processes
- Design evaluation
- Economic production
- Sustainability and resource efficiency
Students graduate with experience considering not only whether a product works, but also whether it can be manufactured effectively and provide value to users and the marketplace.
You may enjoy this option if you are interested in:
- Product design
- Consumer products
- Manufacturing systems
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Bringing new ideas to market
Mechatronics for manufacturing engineering certificate
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary engineering field that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering.
Mechatronics skills are commonly used in:
- Robotics
- Automated manufacturing
- Industrial automation
- Smart manufacturing systems
This 33-credit program is designed for working professionals who want to continue their education, and it’s also ideal if you’re an engineer who needs to learn how to utilize mechatronics in manufacturing systems. The coursework covers topics such as:
- Electronics tools and operation
- Microcontroller systems
- Programming and embedded systems
- Digital control theory
- Digital signal processing
- Intelligent system prototyping
Students develop practical skills used to create and maintain modern automated manufacturing systems and robotic technologies.
Explore the Mechatronics in Manufacturing Engineering Certificate
Manufacturing vs. mechanical: key differences
| Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing Engineering |
|---|---|
| Focuses on designing and analyzing mechanical systems. | Focuses on how products are produced and manufactured. |
| Emphasizes mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, and system design. | Emphasizes manufacturing processes, production systems, quality, and efficiency. |
| Works on machines, products, devices, and systems. | Works on production methods, factories, automation, and manufacturing workflows. |
| Common industries include aerospace, energy, robotics, medical devices, and automotive. | Common industries include advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, consumer products, and production engineering. |
| Often designs products and systems. | Often determines how those products are built and scaled. |
In practice, the two disciplines overlap extensively. Many manufacturing engineers start with a mechanical engineering degree because it provides the broad technical foundation needed to understand both product design and production systems.
Another consideration: industrial engineering
If the manufacturing process is exciting to you because of the systems at work, industrial engineering might be worth a closer look. Industrial Engineers use their technical skills to improve systems for producing, transporting, and delivering products and services. It’s a broader look at manufacturing, and it’s needed in nearly every industry.
Explore Industrial Engineering
Which path is right for you?
Mechanical engineering may be a great fit if you want a broad engineering education that can lead to careers in robotics, aerospace, energy systems, automotive engineering, product development, or manufacturing.
If you're especially excited about manufacturing, Oregon State's Materials Design and Manufacturing or Product Design and Manufacturing options allow you to develop specialized expertise while keeping the flexibility and career opportunities that come with a mechanical engineering degree.
Whether you're interested in advanced materials, product innovation, factory automation, robotics, or the future of smart manufacturing, a mechanical engineering degree with a manufacturing-focused option can help prepare you to shape the products and technologies of tomorrow.