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CMfgE vs. Bachelors degree in Engineering.

LHanks24

Plastic
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Location
TN, USA
Hey guys, I have been looking into the SME Certifications and they have the Certified Manufacturing Engineer. I was wondering what kind of weight that carries with it. You have to have somewhere around 8 years of experience to get the certification, so experience wise you'd have plenty. How well does it match up against someone else who has a bachelors degree in Engineering? If a job position was open seeking a Engineer, would the CMfgE be considered for the job or overlooked for someone with a bachelors? Thanks.
 
A bachelors degree from an ABET accredited school is going to open a lot more doors than any sort of certificate. I'd rather see 8 years of experience on a resume than some hokey certificate.
 
They're not even close -- a BSME with good grades from a good school is by far the better accreditation.

To me, the best use of the SME certification might be for someone with undergraduate training in another field (say, history, business, education . . . ) who wanted to demonstrate a keen interest and some knowledge in manufacturing.
 
Engineering no question. It's universally accepted degree. ABET certified of course.
 
Universally accepted, I agree. But wonder why? Is it because it has always been this way? If you had two prospects show up for your hands on job opening....one with 8 years of experience and one with a freshly minted degree in ME, but has never seen the inside of a manufacturing plant (just throwing a dart at the wall), I wonder which one we'd consider? While my degree is not in engineering, I think it's also universally accepted that your education starts the day that you graduate. On that note, I would consider 8 years of experience to have a serious jump.
 
Universally accepted, I agree. But wonder why? Is it because it has always been this way? If you had two prospects show up for your hands on job opening....one with 8 years of experience and one with a freshly minted degree in ME, but has never seen the inside of a manufacturing plant (just throwing a dart at the wall), I wonder which one we'd consider? While my degree is not in engineering, I think it's also universally accepted that your education starts the day that you graduate. On that note, I would consider 8 years of experience to have a serious jump.

In general, HR departments operate on a serious CYA basis..... Especially at bigger companies, and that doesn't mean very large, necessarily.

What that means is that given the choice of a person with a "real" degree (i.e. "qualified"), vs a person with some sort of "certification", they usually almost HAVE TO choose the degree, "because nobody can argue about that, the applicant was qualified" if the person doesn't work out. Hire an "unqualified" person, and you maybe answering some not very nice questions from an upper executive, later. There is even a liability aspect to this in certain cases.

Experience also varies.... there is 8 years experience, and one year experience, repeated 8 times. It can be hard to tell the difference in an interview. The "qualified" individual is safer.

Then also, if teh EEOC comes in, you may find that you cannot put an experienced person without the education, in some salaried positions, because of the exempt rules on non-overtime eligible..... At the old company, we had to switch to paying some people hourly, because they were not educated up to their job level... (we had the EEOC in due to firing the "employee from hell", who called everybody down to the local dogcatcher as revenge for being fired)

There's more, but that is a start.
 
So would it even be worth getting the CMfgE? Do ya'll think it would even open many doors for me? I appreciate all the responses!
 
I have a BS in Mech Eng and work for a Fortune 100 manufacturer.

Company came out a couple of years ago and suggested everyone get their C Mfg E certificate. I looked around on it and I don't know how many 100s of hours of online classes it was going to take or who was going to pay to take the test (not the company). I asked them if this was going to gaurantee me a raise next time. They said they would consider it. I said " then I'll just consider getting the certificate ".

I wouldn't compare the two. The degree is hands down better to have. But the C Mfg E would be icing on the cake.
 
A BSME is really a bit of an umbrella degree that, when done right, can open doors in a wide variety of jobs. In my school, a small one, the BSME students typically divided along the following specialties;
- Machine Design. Typically what most people would thing an ME would do.
- HVAC. Very large complex heating and a/c systems for large buildings or even ships.
- Control Systems. Blending software, hardware, & electrical design to create systems that go where you want when you want and correct themselves when things go pear shaped. (Robotics, CNC devices, UAV's, etc)
- Stress Analysts. Analyzing broken parts / machines then designing stronger parts. Like CSI for grease monkeys. This is fun, got to do it for a few years.
- Other. I know some people who used the ME as a supplement to another career; Patent Attorney, Software Programmer, Nuclear Engineer (very common to double major on this one), etc.

The Certified manufacturing engineer may be fine and good, but it may be like comparing apples and oranges to compare it to a BSME. I'll have to check out the SME site and look into what they say about the certification.
 
To me, the best use of the SME certification might be for someone with undergraduate training in another field (say, history, business, education . . . ) who wanted to demonstrate a keen interest and some knowledge in manufacturing.

This is what I ended up doing this year but with the lower level certification of Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT). I have a B.S. in Physics combined with six years as an engineering/manufacturing tech. The CMfgT made it possible for a promotion and a pay bump.

MO
 
The days of retiring in the career you initially train for are long gone. You can be certain your working carreer will change paths at least once and probably more in today's world. Specialist training is a poor investment. You should concentrate on general training and the more the better. Engineering will never make you wealthy, it is more like a life's passion. Engineers are born engineers. They go to school to fill their toolbag. The engineering field requires a huge depth of knowledge in physics, chemistry and the material sciences, but most of all to really be successful, you have to have the passion and the correct thought processes for problem solving and the latter can never be taught in a school. There are many careers that pay more for much less. Make sure you have the disease, before making the huge investment that real success in this field requires.

In one of the other replies to this thread, it was stated that your training really starts when you graduate and that is the truth. Experience really counts and with it comes a reputation. The best engineering jobs are rarely advertised. They go by word of mouth to those that others know perform.
 
I've got both an engineering degree(s) and certification. I took both the technology and the engineering exam on the same day.

1. The certification is a plus when you're looking for a job. 2 equal candidates and one is certified... You get the picture.

2. Unless physics, math, chemistry and strength of materials are your hobbies, most people can not pass the technology certification test without a brush up session or 2. You pass the CMfTE before the CMfgE.
JR
 
I've got both an engineering degree(s) and certification. I took both the technology and the engineering exam on the same day.

1. The certification is a plus when you're looking for a job. 2 equal candidates and one is certified... You get the picture.

2. Unless physics, math, chemistry and strength of materials are your hobbies, most people can not pass the technology certification test without a brush up session or 2. You pass the CMfTE before the CMfgE.
JR

Like JR, I have both and agree with him. I got the CMfTE & CMfge on my own nickle (about 15 years ago) and did it for my own satisfaction.
At my current job, it has no influence on my salary. Like JR said, it may help when you are looking for a job.

Bruce
 
Yeah, i knew about the Manufacturing Technician, but my main goal would be to get the Manufacturing Engineer Cert. That's why I referred to it. So from what everyone has said I'll probably hold off on those certifications then.
 
There seems to be some generalizations here that are incorrect, There is more to getting the Cert , the nmany here understand.
First, I have a CMfgE certificate from SME. You can be certified in several different areas of specialilty. Mine is in Machining and Assembly.
There are other areas of manufacturing such as surface treatment (painting/plating),QC etc, etc
When I took my test, there were 70 + engineers in the room, including a guy that was a Doctor of Mechanical Engineering.
Only 1/3 rd passed and the doc was not one of them.
I passed on my first trial, but found that half of the group had failed the test previousely
ou don't walk in and take the test. It occurs in two stages with a 6 month minimum time ( as I recall) between them, with first the technician, and then the full certification .
About half of this group had previously taken the full certification and failed.

It takes lots of study, and I equate it to the bar exam that lawyers take
If you haven't worked in the area you want to be certified in, you may be in trouble, especially machining.

The reason for the 8 years ( and that is the minimum ) is to foster a rounded background in manufacturing !
I believe the average experience was 15 years in my group.

As far as which is better, I admit that to me, it depends on the job objectives

The certification shows that the achiever is working on improvement far after leaving a university . If the company is focused on wall paper, as many are, the ME degree is what they want. If the company wants to know what you will add to their shop, they cannot ignore the CMfgE Cert.
You notice here from some that they did not get the company to pay for the books and travel required and the hours of study.
This shows the "self achievement" that the holder of the Cert has.
My opinion if you want to further your career is to get anything you can to show you want to achive your work goals

Rich
 
False. No one can take away an achievement certificate after you receive it

Rich, You must get 36 hours of continuing education every 3 years to maintain the certification.

It occurs in two stages with a 6 month minimum time ( as I recall) between them, with first the technician, and then the full certification.

There are 2 seperate exams. Exams are only given 2 times per year. You can take both tests at the same time if you meet the criteria. That's what I did in 1986. Passed both exams on first try. Like you said, there are plenty of those that don't make it. Our chapter offers a "pre-exam workshop" we hold over 4 Saturdays. About 70% of the people that come to the workshop, pass the technology exam.

BTW, I didn't specialize, I took the "General" exam.
JR
 
Rich, You must get 36 hours of continuing education every 3 years to maintain the certification.

There are 2 seperate exams. Exams are only given 2 times per year. You can take both tests at the same time if you meet the criteria. That's what I did in 1986. Passed both exams on first try. Like you said, there are it. Our chapter offers a "pre-exam workshop" we hold over 4 Saturdays. About 70% of the people that come to the workshop, pass the technology exam.

BTW, I didn't specialize, I took the "General" exam.
JR

Congratulations JR !
Our Chapter did not allow consecutive testing as I recall as I went to Detroit to take the Final test in 1992
My Certification card after my ID number says:
"EXPIRES LIFE "

So I don't know what you may have, but I have a life certificate, Education never ends .
I took 4 classes this summer at a local tech college and am enrolling again this fall.
As I recall, attending Chapter meetings qualified for the hour committment as well as some presentations.
I am no longer active in my local chapter since I am in my 70's.

In essence, the hour requirement is to keep you sharp in your trade.
Even having a BSME is worthless if you let technology get in front of you
This goes for every endevor except for buggy whip manufacturing.

Rich
 








 
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