Equipment engineer

Equipment engineers design and maintain the machinery and equipment in manufacturing facilities. They design machinery that adjusts to the manufacturing requirements and processes. Moreover, they envision the maintenance of the machines and equipment for uninterrupted functioning.

The following job titles also refer to equipment engineer:

equipment technology engineering specialist
equipment engineering expert
equipment technology engineering consultant
equipment technology engineering adviser
equipment engineering specialist
equipment technology engineer
equipment engineering consultant
equipment engineering adviser
equipment technology engineering expert
equipment engineers

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as equipment engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Equipment engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to equipment engineer.

component engineer
precision engineer
process engineer
automotive engineer
rolling stock engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of equipment engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of equipment engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of equipment engineer.

Production processes: Materials and techniques required in the production and distribution processes.
Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.

These skills are necessary for the role of equipment engineer.

Execute analytical mathematical calculations: Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Manage engineering project: Manage engineering project resources, budget, deadlines, and human resources, and plan schedules as well as any technical activities pertinent to the project.
Interpret technical requirements: Analyse, understand and apply the information provided regarding technical conditions.
Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
Define technical requirements: Specify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied according to customer requirements.
Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of equipment engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
Design principles: The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
Robotic components: The components that can be found in robotic systems, such as microprocessors, electronics, sensors, circuit boards, encoders, servomotors, controllers, pneumatics or hydraulics.
Computer engineering: Engineering discipline that combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering occupies itself with electronics, software design, and the integration of hardware and software.
Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
Product data management: The use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.
Robotics: The branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and overlaps with mechatronics and automation engineering.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of equipment engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Apply advanced manufacturing: Improve production rates, efficiencies, yields, costs, and changeovers of products and processes by using relevant advanced, innovative, and cutting edge technology.
Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
Inspect industrial equipment: Inspect equipment used during industrial activities such as manufacturing or construction equipment in order to ensure that the equipment complies with health, safety, and environmental legislation.
Use cad software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
Manage product testing: Oversee the testing procedures to ensure that the end-product complies with the quality and safety requirements.
Design prototypes: Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
Estimate duration of work: Produce accurate calculations on time necessary to fulfil future technical tasks based on past and present information and observations or plan the estimated duration of individual tasks in a given project.
Analyse production processes for improvement: Analyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.
Control production: Plan, coordinate, and direct all production activities to insure the goods are made on time, in correct order, of adequate quality and composition, starting from intake goods up to shipping.

2144 – Mechanical engineers

 

 

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References

1. Equipment engineer – ESCO