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Manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Jimmy Bricker Ph.D.,
Dr. Peter Livingston Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for manufacturing/mechanical engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.4% of manufacturing/mechanical engineer resumes contained lean manufacturing as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a manufacturing/mechanical engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use lean manufacturing:
  • Managed comprehensive projects, implemented lean manufacturing process, justified acquisition and installation of capital equipment.
  • Help with implementation of and continued adherence to Lean manufacturing and 5S initiatives (Sort/Straighten/Shine/Standardize/Sustain).

2. Solidworks

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use solidworks:
  • Designed manufacturing equipment and/or fixture utilizing SolidWorks.
  • Provided mechanical engineering services using SolidWorks 2014-2016, Sourced, setup, maintained, & serviced in-house machine shop.

3. Mechanical Systems

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use mechanical systems:
  • Lead the field service support on mechanical systems for domestic and international locations.
  • Engineered and calculated complete mechanical systems with drives, speeds, bearing loads, structures, etc.

4. Corrective Action

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use corrective action:
  • Analyzed component failures and generated corrective action reports of production materials to recommend design changes.
  • Complete understanding and implementation of Root Cause/Systems Analysis and Project process corrective actions.

5. Hand Tools

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use hand tools:
  • Reduced OSHA recordables by implementing ergonomic pneumatic tools, torque reaction arms, and by redesigning hand tools.
  • Install electrical and electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools.

6. Process Control

Process control is a method pertaining to continuous production processes that uses the aid of ICS (Industrial Control Systems) for production. This method enables production to be done with a level of consistency and safety in an economically friendly manner that is impossible to achieve solely through manual control.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use process control:
  • Determine process capability, performance trends and metrics using SPC (Statistical Process Control) tools.
  • Designed and updated work instructions on Process Control Systems and Operational Method Sheets (PCS/OMS).

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7. PLC

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use plc:
  • Design included all mechanical, electrical, and PLC and stepper system programming.
  • Designed Programmable Ladder Logic Control using Siemens PLC Software.

8. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use technical support:
  • Provided technical support and troubleshooting to manufacturing techs.
  • Provided excellent technical support to the facility, and HSE teams on safety, environmental, and maintenance programs.

9. Product Quality

Product quality is the basic element of a business. It means to add features in a product or service in such a way that it meets the needs and wants of the customers. Enhancing the product quality also means improve the goods from any existing defects to ensure customer satisfaction.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use product quality:
  • Installed processes to utilize maximum production and equipment output and maintain superior product quality.
  • Managed high-level technical challenges for product quality and process improvement.

10. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use troubleshoot:
  • Developed financial reports for management team to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and determine make vs. buy issues.
  • Design, install, troubleshoot and train employees on use of manufacturing and test equipment.

11. GD

GD refers to Grade Delay and is often mentioned on report cards or academic records when the instructor of a particular subject decides to hold the grade of a student. This is usually done if the instructor wants the student to improve their grade by retaking the exam or doing something for extra credit that will ultimately enhance their overall grade. Eventually, when the grade is assigned, the GD is then replaced with the original grade.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use gd:
  • Captured customer requirements for implementation into GD design documentation.
  • Trained in GD & T workbook and in various other industry standards.

12. Project Management

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use project management:
  • Provided project management and engineering support for the site medical x-ray imaging line relocation.
  • Performed tool upgrades and project management coordinated with Production supervision.

13. Production Lines

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use production lines:
  • Support production lines by finding solutions to assembly and component related failures.
  • Assisted in training new employees for production lines.

14. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use sigma:
  • Developed quality (inspection) plans with suppliers maintaining 6 sigma acceptance levels.
  • Received Six Sigma blue belt training and completed a scrap reduction project.

15. Product Design

Product design can be described as a process of imagining, creating, and iterating products that solve user's problems and talk about the specific needs of users in the market. Product design is an engineering disciple and it is the basic design and idea that goes before the mass production of the product.

Here's how manufacturing/mechanical engineers use product design:
  • Reviewed new product design drawings and developed working instruction procedures.
  • Interpret customer's performance requirements and developed functional product design.
top-skills

What skills help Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on manufacturing/mechanical engineer resumes?

Jimmy Bricker Ph.D.Jimmy Bricker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Instructor, Cameron University

Using technology to the extent that the student has had the exposure is an eye catcher. The technology attached to drones covers most all of the agriculture fields from crops to livestock. Obviously, using data on a computer and applying it to a management decision demonstrates applied knowledge. Showing that you have some investigative experience by asking how it is that we are doing this, how are we using this, and how can it be done better indicates critical thinking. Whatever experience you are able to participate in at school, try to think about how it can be described in a resume to fit a skill. Students do a lot of neat things during their university years that are surely just part of the university experience, but they can also be resume bullets if thought of from a learning standpoint.

What hard/technical skills are most important for manufacturing/mechanical engineers?

Dr. Peter Livingston Ph.D.

Department Head, California Polytechnic State University

-Irrigation and canal system design and management skills

-Machinery design and fabrication
i. Solid works
ii. Machine shop and welding
iii. Servo hydraulic power and control systems (Danfoss Plus 1 programing)

What soft skills should all manufacturing/mechanical engineers possess?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Engineers are constantly working with a variety of people on a project. These people could be other engineers in the same department or other departments, managers, stakeholders, and customers. The ability to communicate both on a technical and non-technical level with these people is likely the most important soft skill for a design engineer.

What manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Marcus DuckMarcus Duck LinkedIn profile

Academic Specialist, Michigan State University

Any horticultural skills they can develop are, of course, ideal. Some other things that would be helpful to get under their belts include:
-Industry association meetings, conferences, networking, and certifications
-State pesticide applicator certification(s)
-Any enhancements to their driver's license, such as a commercial driver's license designation
-Experience with as much equipment operation as possible

What type of skills will young manufacturing/mechanical engineers need?

Andy Gerrick

Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott

Most important is the ability to pull together the problem-solving skills learned in the different engineering courses to solve real-world, multidisciplinary, engineering problems. This requires a clear understanding of the problem and the requirements, and it requires a thorough understanding of engineering concepts. Memorizing problem solutions is of no value because no one will pay you to solve a problem that has already been solved. An engineer's ability to communicate is also extremely important. Engineering is a collaborative endeavor, so if you are not able to communicate your ideas, you are not contributing.

What technical skills for a manufacturing/mechanical engineer stand out to employers?

Martin Pietrucha Ph.D.Martin Pietrucha Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Program Coordinator and Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Given this trend, employers will be looking for the usual superior engineering knowledge and skill sets, but they will also be interested in those who can prove that they are excellent self-starters and time managers. Being able to demonstrate one's "flexibility" and an ability to think on one's feet will also be highly desirable.

List of manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills to add to your resume

Manufacturing/mechanical engineer skills

The most important skills for a manufacturing/mechanical engineer resume and required skills for a manufacturing/mechanical engineer to have include:

  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Solidworks
  • Mechanical Systems
  • Corrective Action
  • Hand Tools
  • Process Control
  • PLC
  • Technical Support
  • Product Quality
  • Troubleshoot
  • GD
  • Project Management
  • Production Lines
  • Sigma
  • Product Design
  • Process Improvement
  • CNC
  • Production Equipment
  • MRP
  • Gearboxes
  • Production Processes
  • Brazing
  • Manufacturing Support
  • Design Changes
  • Jigs
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Machine Shop
  • OSHA
  • Mechanical Design
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Shop Floor
  • Engineering Support
  • BOM
  • R
  • MFG
  • Product Development
  • ISO
  • DOE
  • Failure Analysis
  • Grinders
  • OEM
  • Calipers
  • Continuous Improvement
  • HVAC
  • MRB
  • FDA
  • DFM
  • Test Procedures

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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