Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSION
A Report in ME 512A
ME Laws, Ethics, Contracts, Codes and Standards
Submitted by:
Tonog, Ma. Noreen S.
Submitted to:
Engr. Khareljoy S Sungcad, MSc
September 2021
ME 3118/521A/521M ME LAWS, ETHICS, CONTRACTS, CODES AND STANDARDS
Opportunities in Industry 4.0
As the world keeps on revolving and changing, new and modern problems arise which
requires modern solution where industry 4.0 comes in. Industry 4.0 basically refers to the fourth
industrial revolution.
In industry 4.0, people, machines, and products communicate with each other via the
internet. This is a historic moment that will enable the mechanical engineering industry to improve
processes and increase efficiency. Modern machines allow companies to improve their production
facilities and unlock new business opportunites. This is the reason why mechanical engineering
industry has to become more aware of the various advantages of digilization.
For engineers, especially for mechanical engineers, industry 4.0 open a lot of opportunites
to them. Mechanical Engineers will play a critical role in industry 4.0 since it attempts to connect
the physical and digital worlds. Accepting these advances will empower them to be more effective
in creating high quality products and will be able to respond rapidly to the steadily changing
consumer needs.
Industry 4.0 brings a lot of advancement and advantages that modernize and makes
everything simple and easier however, it is a challenge for some. One of the most frequently
mentioned threats is the replacement of more and more human labour by robots, which might
lead to growing unemployment primarly in developing countries. Another challenge for industry
4.0 is the limited infrastructure development. Despite their manufacturing potential and promising
trajectories, most countries have remained relatively dearth of factories. This limited industrial
developments represents a missed opportunity for economic transformation and quality
employment generation that alleviates poverty.
Qualities and Skills
For mechanical engineers to be able to work efficiently and to fully understand the ideas
and concept of the fourth industrial revolution, the following are the some qualities and skills that
are needed:
Problem solving – to be able to solve mechanical problems. Mechanical engineers must be
capable of solving problems from their clients or employers.
Creativity – Mechanical engineering includes creating and planning designs and products
which range from bateries to gears to electric generators and to medical devices. Inventing
these products reaquires a lot of creativity.
Clear communication abilities – Mechanical engineers must have a clear communication
abilities to be able to present and elaborate their designs and products well. Also, to
address priorities and issues clearly to avoid delay or repeating instructions.
Critical Thinking – to be able to think critically in every situation and make decisions.
ME 3118/521A/521M ME LAWS, ETHICS, CONTRACTS, CODES AND STANDARDS
Companies that can be considered as advanced players
In today’s current industry, there are many companies around the world already capable of
the technologies and have adapted in the present of industry 4.0. The following are the some
companies that can be considered as advanced players:
• Microsoft
Microsoft is one of the leading technology company. It is an american multinational
technology corporation which produces computer software, consumer electronics,
personal computers and related services. The company is exploring to immersing
artificial intelligience across everything they make in effort to democratize artificial
intelligience and help solve society’s greatest challenges.
• SMCC
SMCC or known as Sumitomo Mitsui Construction is one of the largest
construction company in Japan. It is the result of the merger between Japan’s two
biggest construction companies, Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo
Construction Co., Ltd. The local subsidiary SMCC Philippines, Inc. provides
architectural and civil engineering services that include planning, design, project
implementation and management and other ancillary services related to
construction.
• GE Energy Company
GE Energy Company is an American multinational conglomerate incorporated in
New York State and headquarted in Boston. GE has long have been a leader,
Power, Renewable Energy, Aviation and Healthcare. It also leads in delivering
solutions across Additive Manufacturing, materials science and data analysis.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical
equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The
company provides integrated solutions to several industries ranging from
commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines.
• Siemens AG Company
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered
in Munich and the largest manufacturing company in Europe with branch offices
abroad. The company is involved in several sectors including healthcare. Siemens is
a pioneer in infrastrature and energy solutions, as well as automation and software
for industry.
ME 3118/521A/521M ME LAWS, ETHICS, CONTRACTS, CODES AND STANDARDS
• Boeing
Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation. It is the world’s largest
aerospace company and leading manufacturer that designs, manufactures, and sells
airplaces, rotocraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles
worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support services.
• Tesla
Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in
Califronia, United States. Tesla designs and manufactures electric cars, battery
energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, and related
products and services.
• Seiko Epson
Seiko Epson or commonly known as Epson is a Japanese electronics company and
one of the world’s largest manufacturers of computer, printers and information and
imagining related equipment. Epson may be popular for their printing solutions but
their robotics sector is also prospering. Epson is engaged in the design and
construction of industrial robots for factory automation.
• ABB
ABB is formerly known as ASEA Brown Boveri, is a Swedish-Swiss multinational
corporation, operating mainly in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment and
automation technology areas. It drives the transfornation of society and industry to
a more productive, sustainabe future by connecting software to its portfolio of
electrification, robotics, automation and motion.
• PINC
PINC is the number-one provider of digital yard management solutions to the
world’s leading brands. It provides scalable software, hardware, and services that
enable companies to move inventory throughout the supply chain faster, cost-
effectively, consistenly and more efficiently.
Interview a Mechanical Engineer
Interviewing a professional mechanical engineer that is currently practicing their profession
can help us aspiring mechanical engineers in the future. To know about their opinion and on what
are the most important skills that a mechanical engineering students should possess and develop. I
sent a google form where I typed the guided questions so that it will just be convenient to them to
answer it during their free time to Mr. Eldren Canama and Mr. John Christopher Trinidad who
accepted my request to interview them. The link of the google form is found in the references.
ME 3118/521A/521M ME LAWS, ETHICS, CONTRACTS, CODES AND STANDARDS
The first whom I interviewed is Mr. Eldren M. Canama, who is currently working at San
Miguel Corporation Repairs and Maintenance, Inc. and work as Engineering Head at B-Meg
Mandaue Plant. He’s been with the company for 1.6 years and as a Engineering Head. For Mr.
Canama, the most important skills that indentified that are helpful and needed in his profession
are technical skills, maintenance planning skills, mechanical design skills, decision making skills,
and adaptibility or flexibility skills. In his own opinion, the most important skills that a mechanical
engineering students should possess and develop to be effective professional in their future
workplaces are adaptibility or flexibility skills, decision making skills, designing skills, and
maintenance planning skills. Mr. Canama thinks that the future opportunities for mechanical
engineers in the next 5 – 10 years is being able to upgrade the level of profession from Junior
Mechanical Engineer to Professional Mechanical Engineer and in this level great opportunities
may come not only on level up of position in a company but also you can sign and seal any
mechanical engineering designs.
The second person whom I interviewed is Mr. John Christopher Trinidad, who is also
currently working at San Miguel Corporation Repair and Maintenance, Inc. and he work as
Engineering Planner at B-Meg Mandaue Plant. He’s been with the company for 1.7 years and as a
Engineering planner. The most important skills that he indentified that are helpful and needed in
his profession are critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, analytical skills, and effective
communication skills. In his own opinion, the most important skills that a mechanical engineering
students should possess and develop to be effective professional in their future workplace is to be
able to develop communication skills, problem solving skills, decision making skills, and a sense of
urgency since you are able to encounter reoccuring and new problems from time to time in a
company. For Mr. Trinindad, he thinks that the future opportunites for mechanical engineers in
the next 5 – 10 years will most likely research and development toward clean energy and address
issues relating to environmental changes. He also thinks that 5 – 10 years from now will be leaning
towards development and enhancement to robotics industries.
ME 3118/521A/521M ME LAWS, ETHICS, CONTRACTS, CODES AND STANDARDS
References
[1] Crawford, M. (2018). How Industry 4.0 Impacts Engineering Design. Retrieved from
https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/industry-40-impacts-engineering-design
[2] Rothenberg, B. (2019). 3 Ways Industry 4.0 Will Change Engineering. Retrieved from
https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/article/22027624/3-ways-industry-40-will-
change-engineering
[3] Longden, B. (2021). What to expect for the future of mechanical engineering?. Retrieved
from https://www.redlinegroup.com/news/what-to-expect-for-the-future-of-mechanical-engineering-
16129558364
[4] Miranda et al., (2017). The challenge of integrating Industry 4.0 in the degree of
Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235
19789 17306741
[5] (2021). What is Indutry 4.0 – the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT)?. Retrieved from
https://www.epicor.com/en/resource-center/articles/what-is-industry-4-0/
[6] (2020). Our Company. Retrieved from https://www.boeing.com/company/
[7] (2021). About Us. Retrived from https://www.pinc.com/pinc/
[8] (2021). GE Mission Statement & Values. Retrieved from https://www.ge.com/about-us
[9] Novicio, T. (2021). 15 Biggest Robotics Companies in the World. Retrieved from
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-biggest-robotics-companies-world-181701991.html
[10] (2021). Careers. Retrieved from https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en
[11] Dutta, S. (2020). 14 Largest Engineering Companies In the World. Retrieved from
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/14-largest-engineering-companies-world-
212730095.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guc
e_referrer_sig=AQAAAJlKQOmYP60omZjfiiI7d4EOph0T-
nSOzMJV55gGCWprgg6gJYgb5DjGN3dTkpTJNNRyfQwJsTOrEh8biIabokQdi4qBEBaYllrQv
QPsaqbnUYQ6uwsmQHDKNO3o9_hylVnaEwEr_ROVybl6NVGZ0Yo7eLAGlzm-
rWbyuuEDbRBL
[12] (2015). About Us. Retrieved from https://smcc.com.ph/our-company/about-us/
[13] Top Skills Needed to be a Mechanical Engineer. Retrieved from
https://nescoresource.com/blogs/details/top-skills-needed-to-be-a-mechanical-engineer/184/
[14] Goel, A. (2018). Basic Mechanical Skills. Retrieved from
https://engineering.eckovation.com/basic-mechanical-skills/
[15] Interview a Mechanical Engineer. Retrieved from
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDObG928Td_73_aILz_IH5dQ6bOzqGnFOMRIC
Y32xJDUeTkQ/viewform
