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Studies & Degrees in Manufacturing Process

Manufacturing process studies deal with how products are made: which processes shape and join materials, how machines and production lines are set up, and how output, quality and cost are kept under control. Boston University describes manufacturing engineering as a field that integrates design, robotics, microelectromechanical systems, manufacturing systems and control, and green manufacturing. When a new product is needed, the manufacturing engineer works in the team that designs and produces it efficiently, economically, safely and in an environmentally benign manner.

Courses combine engineering with production management. The University of Strathclyde, for example, blends mechanics, manufacturing, electronics, mathematics and programming with production and management principles such as operational improvement and quality management. Students also work with manufacturing processes, design, CAD and rapid prototyping.

Qualifications and levels

  • Certificates and two-year programmes. Community and technical colleges in the United States train technicians. The Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Lansing Community College, in Michigan, offers training in advanced manufacturing with stackable credentials in a year or less, as well as two-year programmes in areas such as manufacturing engineering technology, computer aided design, robotics and automation, and welding.
  • Bachelor's degree. The University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, teaches a BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering with Management that includes a summer placement in industry and is accredited by three professional institutions, among them the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. At Boston University, manufacturing engineering is a concentration that students of any engineering bachelor's degree can add; it consists of 12 units of coursework and an experiential component.
  • Master's degree. Chalmers tekniska högskola, in Gothenburg, offers an MSc in Production Engineering of 120 credits. It takes 2 years, is taught in English and has three specialisations: Digitalised Production Systems, Manufacturing Processes, and Quality and Production Management.
  • Vocational training in Spain. The Spanish vocational training (FP) system has a professional family called Fabricación Mecánica. Its qualifications include the Técnico en Mecanizado (grado medio), the Técnico Superior en Programación de la Producción en Fabricación Mecánica (grado superior) and a specialisation course in additive manufacturing for holders of a grado superior.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 27 active schools for this subject. The United States has 17 and the United Kingdom 2. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, India, Mexico, Canada, China and Slovenia have one each.

The US schools range from community colleges, such as Lansing Community College and Augusta Technical College, to universities such as Boston University and Ferris State University. In Europe the list includes the University of Strathclyde and Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, Chalmers tekniska högskola in Sweden, Aarhus University in Denmark and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is the listed school in Mexico.

Admission depends on the level. For first-year entry to its BEng, the University of Strathclyde asks for A Levels at ABB-BBB. Chalmers requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical, mechatronics or industrial engineering, with prerequisites that include mathematics, manufacturing processes and materials engineering, and proof of English proficiency. For this master's, the application period shown on the programme page runs from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027.

Careers

Graduates work as manufacturing, process or production engineers, in quality and operations management, and in maintenance. Chalmers names roles in production and process development, quality and operations management, maintenance, and strategy or consulting. Boston University notes that many graduates move on to careers in management and consulting.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not publish a separate figure for manufacturing engineers. The closest occupations are:

  • Industrial engineers, who devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information and energy to make a product or provide a service. They held 365,100 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 12% from 2025 to 2035. The largest employer was transportation equipment manufacturing (15%). They typically need a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field.
  • Industrial engineering technologists and technicians, who help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production. They held 76,700 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 3%, and typically need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Is manufacturing engineering the same as industrial engineering?

They overlap. Manufacturing engineering concentrates on the processes, machines and systems that make a product; industrial engineering looks more widely at the efficiency of systems of people, machines, materials and information.

Can I work in manufacturing without a university degree?

Yes, as a technician. According to the BLS, industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate. In Spain, FP qualifications of the Fabricación Mecánica family lead to similar jobs.

How long does a master's in production engineering take?

The MSc in Production Engineering at Chalmers has 120 credits and takes 2 years. Durations differ in other countries, so check each programme.

In which language are the programmes taught?

Mostly in English in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the Chalmers master's is also taught in English. Ask schools in other countries which language they use.