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Introduction
The life of a mechanical engineer is full of excitement. Every day brings new challenges and
obstacles to overcome.
Very few people know what mechanical engineers do. Some say they design, while others say
they invent. While these are both true, mechanical engineers do much more. In the mining
industry, mechanical engineers play a very important role. This report will refer to mining, while
also talking about mechanical engineering in general. I hope to show college students that are
indecisive about what degree to pursue, the benefits of becoming a mechanical engineer.
Mechanical engineering has been a very important part of our growing society. Without these
engineers, we would not be where we are today. Thanks to them, we now have everything from
space shuttle vehicles, aircrafts of all sizes and shapes, automobiles, turbines, pumps, power
plants, and factories.(What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do?, 2014). To be a part of creating
something new and see the benefits of your creation is a feeling of satisfaction that keeps
engineers doing what they do.
Methodology
I had the opportunity to interview a Control Engineer for Freeport-McMoRan, a world-renown
mining firm. During our interview, we talked about the responsibilities of the mechanical
engineers in the mine. I also found many web-based articles about mechanical engineers and
their roles in the mines. Many of these articles where written by engineers themselves, They
wrote about their experiences and the benefits of having this career. By searching the web and
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Discussion
Work environment
As an engineer in a mine, you will work mostly in two different environments. In the office, you
will usually work with reports and data. You will design and construct machines, equipment
and systems that are specifically for mining. (Mechanical Engineers and their roles in mining
industry, 2014) To do this you use software called CAD (Computer Aided Design). In CAD,
you get to create whole machines piece by piece and run tests to see what type of impacts and
forces the materials can handle. You will also be in charge of the business side of things. You
might take part in the accountabilities of costs and needs of materials, or communicate with
suppliers for the needed equipment. (Mechanical Engineers and their roles in mining industry,
2014) That is where reports and number crunching comes in handy. Engineers are responsible
for the safety of all machine workers. To insure their safety, you will be responsible in
watching over safety standards to ensure all materials, supplies and equipment will pass quality
control. (Mechanical Engineers and their roles in mining industry, 2014) In the field though,
is where you get your hands dirty. You will evaluate installed digging machineries and monitor
mining processes. (Mechanical Engineers and their roles in mining industry, 2014) To
evaluate the machines you will need to work with them. You will be part of the process,
thinking of ways to improve the machines to make them work better, faster, and more cost
efficient.
Safety Issues
As I am sure many know, mining jobs can be rugged and even sometimes dangerous. Depending
on the type of mine, you will be concerned about different safety factors. In a coalmine, you will
work in caves. Caves bring their own safety factors. You need to worry about having possible
cave-ins. In addition, because you are surrounded by black coal, you need to worry about a
disease called black lung disease. Black lung disease is caused by breathing the coal fumes.
However, in open-pit mines you have different safety hazards to worry about. In open pit mines,
you work outside in the sun. You need to worry about UV ray damage to the skin. You might
also need to be cautious of landslides that might occur due to the great depths of the pits. While
Dress Code
Part of staying safe is dressing appropriately. On a day-to-day basis, most engineers will wear
long jeans and steel tip workers boots. They will wear either short sleeve polos or sometimes a
long sleeve shirt to prevent sun damage to their skin. While in the field, you are required to wear
a reflective vest and hardhat at all times. It is more relaxed in the office. There you can take off
the vest and hardhat and sit at your desk to work on the computer. You might have meetings that
require you to dress up a little nicer when dealing with outside contractors. Otherwise, for most
meetings within the mine, your day-to-day clothing is appropriate.
Advancements
There are many positions in the mines that a mechanical engineer can have. Most engineers
starting out will receive the title Engineer Technicians. This is normally the first years after
graduation with a Bachelors Degree. You will mostly be receiving instruction from a
supervisor about what to do and write up reports to present. (Level Guides, Position
Descriptions and Global Grades,) If you show that you are capable of the challenges placed
before you, you can work to become a first level leader. This involves performing more
complicated work, but you are still under the supervision of a supervisor. (Level Guides,
Compensation
Mining companies look for experience when it comes to hiring. It is easier for them to pay a
senior engineer with experience, than to train a new engineer. Nevertheless, if you can get your
Conclusion
In conclusion, mechanical engineering is a good career choice for all open-minded math and
science geeks. Mechanical engineering is hard work, but it also brings many benefits. If this