FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING
The faculty is responsible for training and education in a variety of manufacturing and engineering areas. These are listed below under seven distinct industry divisions:
1. Food & Pharmaceutical
- food &
beverage manufacture; wine production
- food
laboratory techniques
- food technology;
canning operations
- pharmaceutical
processes
2. Process Industries
-
industrial & fine chemical production
- oil/petroleum/gas
processing; paint production
- plastics, rubber,
steel manufacture
- glass, ceramics, clay,
cement industries
3. Electrical & Electronics Control and Communication
-
electronics, communications, computer
technology, electrical supply
- renewable/sustainable
energy
- lifts, refrigeration,
air conditioning
4. Electrical & Electronics – Installation and Servicing
-
electrical, telecommunications data cabling
- hazardous electrical
environments
- appliances,
instrumentation, security system
5. Manufacturing & Design
- manufacturing processes for the metal industries
- design/drafting for
mechanical/electrical areas
- machining
services
6. Mechanical & Materials
- assembly,
installation and servicing of marine and mechanical engineering equipment
- fluid
power servicing materials
- lock smithing,
watchmaking
7. Metal Fabrication & Associated Programs
-
fabrication of sheet, plate & structural sections
- metallurgy; foundry
processes; heat treatment
- welding;
blacksmithing; pattern making
- reclamation of
materials
The Institute conducts various courses in these areas at its conveniently located colleges. Information on some of these disciplines follows
Industry Information
Manufacturers and Industrial Engineers produce and refine the products that Mechanical Engineers and other Engineers design and develop. It used to be said, perhaps not fairly, that Industrial Engineers’ make products, process and designs work in spite of Mechanical Engineers’ designs.
The manufacturing industry has evolved from simple hand tool production to a modern, highly mechanised and automated workplace with unlimited potential. The industry exploits the latest technology and is an integral part of today’s world. Transport, housing, communications, computers, structures, machines… almost everything we use has been engineered and subsequently manufactured.
The manufacturing and engineering industry is vital to the future of Australia. It offers a variety of challenging and flexible career paths with exciting rewards for their 1.1 million employees from nearly 160 different cultures. Our faculty is well positioned to handle all the training needs of this essential industry now and in the future. Our experienced staff approaches the job of training and educating the nations future tradespeople, technicians and engineers in a professional and quality manner.
Fabrication Technology
Fabrication technology is utilised in the forming of many products. Metals, plastics and composites are shaped using manual, automated or computer controlled machinery and used to create components for aircraft, steel structures, ships and boats, automobiles and intricate items such as electronic equipment and jewellery.
An apprenticeship can kick-start your career in fabrication and lead to opportunities in boat building, boilermaking, patternmaking, welding, moulding, wet and dry coating, electroplating, blast cleaning, or in the structural steel and sheetmetal trades. You will become highly skilled in precision welding, machining, surface finishing and composites, and be involved in the manufacture, modification and repair of fabricated structures and assemblies.
Electrical and Electronics
Electrical and electronics engineering applies technology in the fascinating world of micro-electronics. With the explosion in computer use, communications, space technology, fibre optics and robotics, the electrical and electronics industry is an exciting growth sector. Electrical and electronics engineering opportunities are many and varied.
An apprenticeship will get you started as an electrical fitter, scientific instrument maker, electrician special class, toolmaker, electro technician, or in the refrigeration and electronics trade. Working with digital and electronic devices, microprocessors, surface mount technology and circuit boards, you will be building, maintaining, repairing and servicing electrical and electronic equipment and motors, becoming skilled in the diagnostics and analysis of components and integrated circuits.
Mechanical Systems
Mechanical systems convert potential energy into power and motion through machines. Mechanical engineers work with components that form moving motorised systems and machines that generate power, make products, move things and underpin all forms of construction.
An apprenticeship can prepare you for a great start as a toolmaker, fitter and machinist, plant mechanic, locksmith or for exciting jobs in aircraft maintenance, instrumentation and diagnostics. You will soon become multi skilled in mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems and electrical interfaces and be involved with the maintenance, repair, modification, testing and installation of mechanical systems. Automation and control engineering together with Mechatronics are other skills you can learn.
Manufacturing Systems
Manufacturing systems convert design engineer’s designs into a working and usable product or process. Industrial and Manufacturing engineers analyse the processes of production and design the methods for making them more efficient. An analysis of production processes might include the selection of tools and materials and the design of the sequence of production operations.
Having served an apprenticeship in a relevant manufacturing and engineering trade you can move on into the world of industrial engineering, the design of plant facilities, establish work standards through time and motion studies, develop wage scales based on an analysis of required job skill levels and determine quality assurance and quality control procedures.
Manufacturing and industrial engineers also manager materials, people and energy; workers are integrated into an overall manufacturing system. They also carry out production planning and control, schedule jobs and people (resources management), project management, systems engineering, robotics, manufacturing automation, integrated manufacturing, costing, operations management and engineering management. Engineers in this field can be summed up as people and productivity improvement specialists.
