Manufacturing and designing are two different areas that come under engineering. Each one has its course of study. To pursue a manufacturing & design engineering career, you will need study and experience. As they are both technical areas, companies will often look for experience that comes along with certifications.
There is a specified online course that people can take for each area. For example, an aspiring engineer can take a mechanical design course online. Online for the most part. But for the manufacturing course, online courses will be limited as the experience area of the course will not be possible. The types of internships and certifications available are different as well.
For Manufacturing engineering, the subjects you need to know are very specific, and you will need to be aware of this from your high school.
1. The first education qualification you need is a 10+2 education with subjects like maths, chemistry, physics, etc., in your +2 classes.
2. After this, you will have to start preparing for engineering entrance exams. When you have chosen your university, you will need to know the entrance exam they accept. These entrance exams can be NEET, JEE, etc.
3. For your university qualification, you will need to have a Bachelor of Engineering and specialise in Mechanical Engineering. You will need to complete the full 3 or 4 years of the degree.
4. After graduation, you can work as an entry-level manufacturing engineer in any company.
If you wish to pursue your studies, you can do so until the PhD level. At that level, your field experience will also increase if you take up internships and apprenticeships. The more certifications you have, the better it will be for you.
For design engineering, the basic education qualifications are the same, including the 10+2 education. After this, you will need to complete specialised courses to become a design engineer.
1. Your graduate-level degree can be a Bachelor of Engineering or a Bachelor of Industrial Design.
2. While you pursue your studies, you will need internships under experienced and well-certified Design Engineers.
3. After graduating, you can grow your skills and pursue a Masters in Engineering (Mechanical).
4. On the other hand, you can also start your work experience as an entry-level Design engineer. You can also go for internships or apprenticeships to gain more experience and certificates. These will benefit you in the position you acquire in a company.
Conclusion
Manufacturing and Design engineers often pursue the same degree but with different specialisations. Having the same degree is common, and sometimes it can be confusing. But since they both fall under engineering, they cannot be completely split from the field of engineering.
Although you can take separate training courses for each, it is advisable to have a Bachelor's degree at least in engineering. A degree is what companies look for first in a resume. With this degree, they know that you have all the fundamental knowledge to train for other certificates, and your experience will also have a good foundation.
Design Engineer