Is a "manufacturing engineer" really an engineer?

Question

How about an industrial engineer?

How about a drafter, or what big companies coin as a "design engineer?

Do they do "real" engineering?

And another thing, why do some people such as big headed civil engineers (not saying that all are big-headed) think that you have to have a PE license to have the official title as an "engineer?"

Answer 1

To answer your last question: because some states say the title "engineer" is a protected title and you can only legally use it if you have a P.E. license. It's the exact same as only allowing doctors with medical licenses to call themselves "doctors" rather than anyone running around saying they are.

Answer 2

Mfg, Industrial, design engineers are indeed engineers, doing real engineering.

Drafters and designers are generally not engineers. Drafters are normally techs that make drawings under the direction of an engineer. Designers are normally techs that have learned some engineering basics, but still work under engineering supervision. Industrial designers are a separate discipline, often with a 4 year degree, that apply more art to design than science.

While most states allow only registered PE's to sell engineering services to the public, restrictions against engineer titles are rare.

Registration is common in Civil engineering, as governments perceive that the public needs protection. Most governments require a PE stamp on project drawings, presumably providing some minimal level of quality assurance.

In most fields, having a PE is not a big deal; I have one because I worked for a firm run by CE's, and have never used it.

My advice is to ignore silly statements from your big headed CE buddy; be big enough to laugh it off.

Answer 3

A manufacturing engineer is probably actually an industrial engineer.  Yes, they are "real" engineers.

Drafters are not necessarily engineers.  I worked as a draftsman years ago while getting my degree in civil engineering.  These days, engineers generally do their own drafting by computer, although some firms may employ drafters to do the work.

A "design engineer" may be an engineer of any discipline that normally does design work such as buildings, plants, etc.  Designing a building would normaaly employ civil engineers to do the structural design, mechanical engineers to design the heating and cooling systems, and electrical engineers to design the power and lighting.  Depending on the complexity of the project, many other specialty engineers may also be involved.

I can't speak for all states, but here in Alabama it is a voilation of state code to have the term "engineer" in your business name or to call yourself an "engineer" without a PE.  That goes for all branches of engineering, not just civil.  

I am a PE, but don't mind someone calling themselves an engineer if they have the degree (does that make me not a big-headed civil engineer??).  What I don't like is going to the local mall and seeing the maintenance workers with coveralls that say "Engineer" on them or hotels referring to their maintenance staff as "engineers".  (Does that make me big-headed??)  Sorry, but I earned a degree over 4 years, passed an 8-hour exam, gained 4 years experience, passed another 8-hour exam, and have to maintain a certain number of continuing education credits every year to be able to call myself a professional engineer, and I don't like the term thrown around loosely by people who don't know what an engineer is.  

By the way, a locomotive operator is also an engineer in my book.