ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK
MATERIALS AND METALS ENGINEERING Covering a broad range of disciplines, engineers in the materials and metals sector have the chance to develop rare alloys or discover brand new materials.
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lmost every engineering and technology industry is dependent on the materials and metals sector, where materials and components are supplied and/or developed for companies and manufacturers. This field covers a broad scope, from the provision of raw materials and research into new compounds, to the manufacturing and sale of completed products. Due to the competitive nature of this industry, it is common for materials suppliers to differentiate themselves through value-added approaches. One such approach is through specialisation – focusing on specialised products such as coated steel, rare metal alloys, or the development of materials for specific purposes.
Career overview Materials and metals companies serve numerous industries, developing new products and services and even solving problems for clients and customers. In both research and manufacturing roles, projects vary from short and quick turnabout projects, such as implementing general efficiency improvements in production, to longer-term strategic projects like expanding a product portfolio into new markets. Working in manufacturing facilities is fast-paced as engineers have to react to the daily challenges of keeping production facilities running. More than that, they also have to apply their technical knowledge and communicate fresh ideas persuasively.
Graduate opportunities in materials and metals in Singapore can be grouped into two broad categories. The first is production roles with companies running local materials production facilities, such as NatSteel. The other category, however, involves operational and sales roles with materials and metals companies running hubs in Singapore, such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
Career highlights
Trends and developments
Not only is the industry fast-paced with a global reach – from mines in one continent to refineries and manufacturers in another – there are also a variety of tasks at every stage of the production cycle. Graduates will be able to choose between back-end responsibilities such as developing new materials, products and processes, to front-end duties like liaising with clients or closing supply deals.
An issue that continues to plague the industry is its harmful effect on the environment. Materials and metals suppliers are thus constantly working on developing efficient production and waste management systems to address problems such as industrial pollution. The high energy and material cost involved in each production cycle is another chief industrial concern, and many firms continuously re-evaluate their product portfolio and inventory to optimise their resources for maximum profit. A few major materials suppliers have even spun off certain items in their materials portfolio under separate subsidiary businesses in order to better focus on their core products. New and more durable commodities are also sill emerging, such as bio- and nano-materials, which may soon determine the growth pathway of the industry. Composites are another material with huge potential growth in this field.
Large-scale production Most engineers working in the materials and metals field enjoy the opportunity to develop new products and compounds, especially considering the large-scale industrial applications of such items. Dynamic and exciting
Skills required in materials and metals engineering
• Analytical skills • Leadership skills • Effective organisational skills • Good interpersonal skills • Commercial awareness • Ability to work in a team
STEM Career Guide 2021
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