Program Overview

Introduction to the Manufacturing Concentration

The Manufacturing Concentration is a program designed to address the urgent need for a workforce skilled in next-generation manufacturing techniques. As traditional manufacturing undergoes transformation, this growing industry sector requires professionals who can design, implement, and maintain new systems.

Program Overview

Students studying this concentration will learn about new systems, such as additive manufacturing, automation, and robotics, preparing them for life after graduation. The program focuses on providing hands-on experience and equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the manufacturing industry.

Featured Courses

• AET 260 – Manufacturing Equipment Laboratory: This course covers processes and equipment, including additive manufacturing, machining, and measuring instruments, with an emphasis on digital manufacturing.
• AET 310 – Metrology: This course explores the concepts of measurements, including accuracy, traceability, consistency, and uncertainty of different measurement systems relevant to manufacturing precision parts.
• AET 423 – Design of Manufacturing Processes: This course covers the design of manufacturing processes and how to produce components, assemblies, and systems.
• AET 432 – Control in Manufacturing: In this class, students study algorithms, sensors, and equipment implementations that relate to manufacturing equipment using closed-loop control to increase performance.

Resources

Hands-on experience is essential for students majoring in applied engineering. To gain the knowledge and skills needed to go into manufacturing, students can utilize the resources of several facilities on campus, including:

• TN-MADE (Advanced Manufacturing and Design Enterprise)
• Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
• Kao Innovation and Collaboration Studio

Career Outlook

With manufacturing as a cornerstone of Tennessee’s economy, the need for highly skilled manufacturing engineers continues to grow. Established companies in sectors like automotive, machine production, computer and electronic equipment production, food processing, chemical manufacturing, and metal production are already operating facilities in Tennessee, including:

• Nissan
• Volkswagen
• General Motors As the manufacturing sector continues to grow in the state and nationwide, the list of companies looking for engineers will only continue to grow.