Hello, I am a first year manufacturing engineering student in Ontario at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, which has just started this year. I need help distinguishing which engineering field is better: mechanical or manufacturing. Initially, I was told that there was a good chance that second year mechanical engineering would be set up and run in the university's second year of operation, however, I have now found out that it is not. The mechanical engineering program will be up and running next year only in it's first year. I have also been informed by a professor that the first two years of the manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering program are the same.
From reading articles on the Internet and talking to a few professors it seems as though mechanical engineering is a better choice, as mechanical engineers can do a manufacturing engineer's job and more. Furthermore, one professor told me that manufacturing engineering is relatively new to the industry and many companies do not know completely what it is. I have the same impression about it.
One option I have is popping into business either next year or the year after that to do management courses. After I come out of the business, I would then be able to enter mechanical engineering, as it is a year behind. I would then graduate with a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering with Management, and it would take me five years. So here I am stuck in a dilemma. I could finish off manufacturing engineering, but then my career options would be focussed, or I could take a year of business, which I am not really thrilled about, and enter mechanical engineering.
As a sidebar, if I went into mechanical engineering I could possibly do energy engineering or mechatronics or stick with pure mechanical engineering.
It would be much appreciated if anyone could tell me if there is a significant difference between manufacturing and mechanical engineering, and if it is worth taking a whole year of management to make up for this difference? Thank you in advance.