P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
(OP)
I'm a fresh-out-of-college mechanical engineer that got hired as a manufacturing engineer. I was wondering if a P.E. license is worth the effort for someone like me. From what I've seen of the F.E. and P.E. exams, it's rooted deeply in theory and text books. I'm in a job shop getting my hands dirty every day and learning that sometimes you have to tweak that hard-studied theory in order for it to actually work. I know I may not be in this job shop my whole career, but this type of work is my passion and I plan on staying on the manufacturing path. I know P.E. licensing is very important for mechanical engineers on the design side of things, but what about for the engineers who make sure the designs are feasible and implements them in a shop? I don't know how prevalent P.E.'s are in the manufacturing/industrial industries. To me, it seems better to take some welding and machining classes at a community college and possibly get into lean or 6 sigma certification. But what do I know? I'm so green behind the ears it's not even funny. Thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated. Have a good one!
R. J. Hughes
versafab.com
New Kensington, PA, USA





RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
That lack has excluded me from working for an ASME-coded valve manufacturer, and for a manufacturer of overhead cranes and such. Both opportunities opened and closed 40 years ago. I found other things to do.
HOWEVER...
When you reach age 50 or so, you will all of a sudden become unemployable. If you hang your shingle as a sole practicioner/ consultant, then you will need a PE license to call yourself an engineer in most states of the US.
You might wish to prepare for that eventuality, but I couldn't justify paying decades worth of license fees until you actually need and will use the license.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
The reasons why (from a grumpy old gray-haired cynical skeptical guy who...oh, well, you get the idea):
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
R. J. Hughes
versafab.com
New Kensington, PA, USA
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
If you can get it without too much cost or effort then it's going to have some potential benefit - but possibly not much.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
R. J. Hughes
versafab.com
New Kensington, PA, USA
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
Oh yeah, and have a reference from PE licenced engineers that you have worked with, and can give you a reference.
SO... if you want your PE license, you better be working with, for or around people that hold a PE...
Without their reference, don't even bother studying for the test...
Charlie
www.facsco.com
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
I recommend that any 4 year graduate of an ABET accredited engineering program should work toward obtaining their PE, it does open doors and you don't know what the future will hold for you.
Richard
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
My original experience was as a manufacturing engineer, thought that was all I would ever do. Now I own and run an engineering consulting company. All because one of the guys I initial worked for had his PE and gave me the same speech I just gave you.
ZCP
www.phoenix-engineer.com
RE: P.E. for Manufacturing Engineers...worth it?
But from my own observations, the correlation between competence and having a PE license is not there. The best engineers I know do not have one. Several licensed engineers I know are nincompoops. But I can say the same thing about advanced degrees. The best stress analyst I ever met got a BSME from a small university in Indiana (no - not that one.) The worst had a PhD from a rather large university in Ohio (no - not that one, or the other one.) One had a PE license and other didn't.
Doug