Manufacturing Engineering at Downing

Manufacturing Engineering Tripos is a 2 year course, which you can apply for during the second year, when you are choosing your options for part 2 (3 rd and 4 th year) Engineering. You will therefore have completed 2 year of the Engineering Tripos before starting MET. The course is intended to a give wide experience and knowledge of manufacturing systems and organisation – providing an understanding of how industry, and indeed any business, works while building on the technical skills of Part 1 (1 st and 2 nd year) Engineering.

The first year of MET is taught by lectures, coursework, site visits and the major project. There are around 8 day or half day site visits to a wide variety of manufacturing systems – from steel works to wall socket assembly manufacturing. For the major project, you will work in a team of around 4 people to compile a full business proposal for setting up a company to manufacture a novel product to meet a specific need. The groups choose their own project – some recent products have included a noise cancelling industrial phone handset, a swivelling child car seat and full suspension sports bra!

The second year is taught by lectures, industrial projects and an international study tour. The projects are carried out in small groups in manufacturing companies. They consist of investigating and solving a manufacturing problem identified by the host company. In the majority of cases the recommendations are taking on by the companies. The study tour is entirely organised by the students, and consists of a 2 week tour investigating a topic of the students' choice. Part of the challenge is to raise sponsorship to fund the tour. Recent destinations have included Baltic States, China , USA , Northern Europe and Eastern Europe .

MET is highly valued by employers in manufacturing, consultancy, finance and many other fields. The website gives more information on career opportunities.

For more info feel free to email me, John Persaud (MET1 2003-4, MET2 2004-5) jmdp3@cam.ac.uk , or else look at the MET website (there some shiny brochures and presentations to download), http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/met/ . You can also email Mary Wilby for information direct from the department, met-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk .

Page last updated 12 Sep 2004 (twh23)