B.S. Manufacturing Engineering

As a student in the Manufacturing Engineering program, you must have an aptitude for science and mathematics. We encourage you to take as many upper-level math and science courses in high school as possible, including mathematics through algebra and trigonometry, plus physics and chemistry. Early development of computer skills is also very helpful.

Starting Out

Industry's manufacturing problems are not only technical in nature. They're also social and economic. As a manufacturing engineer, you must therefore have a broad education.

The first two years of your program will include English composition, communication, and other general education offerings, as well as mathematics, physics and engineering fundamentals.

As You Progress

Science and mathematics classes form the foundation for engineering science courses, and their application to analysis, synthesis and creative design.

As you work through the program, the courses will emphasize modern manufacturing techniques such as computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), robotics, and microprocessor control of manufacturing. You'll receive extensive laboratory experience in those and related areas, including computer-controlled manufacturing systems, statistical process control, electronic instrumentation, and materials processing and testing.

Program Educational Objectives 

Within a few years of graduation, graduates of the Manufacturing Engineering program are expected to:

1. Establish themselves as engineers/professionals in their careers effectively and economically integrating technology, people, and processes
2. Participate effectively in multidisciplinary teams in both leadership and fellowship roles, working with and valuing diversity.
3. Engage in advanced study and/or effective life-long learning in topic areas relevant to professional advancement to enhance the quality of personal life in today’s global and social context.
4. Solve complex problems relevant to modern manufacturing with principal emphasis on safety, quality, productivity and cost through continuous improvement and enterprise integration.
5. Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate complex technological advances, issues, and professional details to a variety of audiences.

Student Outcomes

The Manufacturing Engineering program develops graduates who have: 

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
8. Demonstrated proficiency in materials and manufacturing processes.
9. Utilize integrated process design, system design, and improvement in automation applications.

UW-Stout has outstanding laboratory facilities available to students in the manufacturing engineering program. Fifteen individual labs cover more than 35,000 square feet. All of these facilities are used for manufacturing engineering courses. When compared with other engineering programs, UW-Stout has a tremendous amount of manufacturing lab space for undergraduate student use. Program laboratories include: 

• Computer-Aided Manufacturing Lab
• Computer-Aided Design Lab
• Controls & Instrumentation Lab
• Metal-Casting Foundry
• Welding Lab
• Materials Testing Lab
• Metrology, Electronics
• Ceramics
• Plastics & Composite Processing Lab

Almost all lecture areas have state-of-the-art instructional media which include overhead digital projectors, DVD players and wireless internet access for students using their laptop computers.

Entry Positions

Manufacturing engineers have rewarding careers in industry, government, research, service and entrepreneurship. The average starting salary for program graduates in 2015–16 was $60,000 a year. Graduate employment has been more than 92 percent for the past 11 years. Many companies consider manufacturing engineers good candidates for advancement to management positions.

The demand for manufacturing engineers is good in manufacturing centers across the United States. Many American firms also have companies overseas, presenting graduates with international career opportunities.

Employers (Partial Listing)

• 3M
• Ace Precision
• Andersen Window
• Bradley Corporation
• CL&D Graphics
• Classic Manufacturing
• Clopay Building Products
• Concept Engineering
• Cummins Power Generation (Onan)
• Curt Manufacturing
• Dayco
• Donaldson Company Inc.
• Donatelle Plastics Inc.
• Eaton
• Elkay Manufacturing Company
• Emerson Electric
• Fastenal Company
• Federal Mogul
• Five Star Plastics
• Flambeau Plastics
• Flexmedics Corporation
• Frito-Lay., Inc.
• Gilman Engineering
• Goodrich Aerospace
• GPI Corp.
• Greenheck
• Greenheck Fan
• Harley-Davidson
• Hearth & Home Technologies
• Hemerlus
• Honeywell International
• Hormel Foods
• Hurd Millworks
• HUSCO International
• Hutchinson Technology, Inc.
• IBM
• International Paper, Inc.
• John Deere
• KI
• Kohler Company
• Kolbe-Kolbe Millworks
• Kurt Mfg.
• Laser Magic, Inc. 
• LasX Industries
• Lockheed-Martin
• Lynch Machinery
• Marquip Inc.
• May Steel LLC
• Mayo Clinic
• McNeilus Steel Inc.
• McQuay International
• Medallion Cabinetry
• Mercury Marine
• Metallics Inc.
• MRG Tool and Die, Inc.
• Nestle
• OEM Fabricators Inc.
• Oildyne
• Oshkosh Truck
• Owatonna Tool Corp.
• Parker Hannifin
• Pemstar Inc.
• Phillips Plastics Corporation
• Plexus Corp.
• Polaris
• Prent Corp.
• Quality Tool
• Remmele Engineering
• Rockwell Automation
• Schaeffer Engineering
• Scientific Molding Corp.
• Semco Windows and Doors
• SSI Technologies, Inc.
• St. Jude Medical
• Stratasys
• Swiss Technologies
• Tol-O-Matic
• Trane Co.
• Trostel
• TRW Thermo King, Ingersoll-Rand
• BAE Systems (United Defense)
• United Gear & Assembly
• Uponor-Wirsbo
• W.L. Gore
• Waukesha Bearing
• Waupaca Foundry
• Wausau Metals
• Whirlpool Corporation

Advisory Committee Members

• SAE
• SME
• AFS
• SWE
• ASME
• IEEE
• EWB
• SPE