How to get started?
Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the few institutes in India that offers M.Tech in engineering management. It is the first PG (two-year) course that MIT started offering in 1988.
“Most of the students who approach us for this course apply after a few years of experience in the technical field. They are taught subjects like resource optimisation techniques in engineering concerns and production and operations management including modeling and simulation techniques using system dynamics in supply chain management both in production and service sectors. Students take up industry-related projects in their second year. They select a problem in an industry of their choice and present a dissertation on the problem, analysis and solution. [stextbox id=”info”]
“Most of the students who approach us for this course apply after a few years of experience in the technical field.”
— Dr Raj Rodrigues, head of the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Manipal Institute of Technology
[/stextbox]
This involves academic research and interaction with people from the industry,” says Dr Raj Rodrigues, head of the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Manipal Institute of Technology.
Most students prefer the automobile, mechanical or IT industry. “In the second year of the course, students have to intern with a company. GE, Volvo and Ashok Leyland are some of the organisations that welcome our students for internships. Often, internships get converted into placements. Other companies that hire in this field are Cisco, Nokia, Mahindra & Mahindra and Siemens,” adds Prof. Sreekanth Rao, mechanical engineering, associate director (industrial liaison and placement), Manipal Institute of Technology.
The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at IIT Kharagpur, for the last three decades, has been imparting training in the field of industrial engineering and management through its undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, sponsored projects and industrial consultancy work, short-term courses and continuing education programmes. Today, it is known across the nation for its research and consultancy potential and capability in industrial engineering and related areas.
Following are the broad areas covered by industrial engineering and management: Operations research and related decision sciences; work systems design and ergonomics; supply chain management; quality engineering and management; systems engineering; and software engineering and e-business.
[stextbox id=”info”]
“While hiring an engineering manager, recruiters look for stronger analytical skills, innovative
abilities and system thinking, amongst others.”
— Dr R.P. Mohanty, former chairman, Indian
Institution of Industrial Engineering (IIIE)
[/stextbox]
The Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), is one of the oldest management schools in the country. It has a strong research programme leading to M.Sc (Engg) and Ph.D degrees in management for full-time students, to teachers from engineering colleges under Quality Improvement Programme (QIP), and to practicing professionals from the industry on part-time basis through External Registration Programme (ERP) [stextbox id=”info”]
“GE, Volvo and Ashok Leyland are some of the organisations that welcome our students for internships.”
— Prof. Sreekanth Rao, mechanical engineering, associate director (industrial liaison and placement), Manipal Institute of Technology
[/stextbox]
“IISc offers a Masters of Management keeping the technology aspect alive with subjects like technology management and business analytics. There is a need for technical people who are also futuristic and have leadership skills in the industry,” quips Prof. M.H. Bala Subrahmanya, chair- man, Department of Management Studies, IISc.
The degree looks beyond traditional MBAs and exposes students to energy policy, industrial policy, optimisation, sustainability, management of intellectual property, etc.
This is required in technology-intensive organisations. In an attempt to convert the students into technopreneurs, they are exposed to the industry directly with research activities and internship. In their third semester, students have to submit a dissertation which requires a lot of research and analysis. A professor and a senior person from the industry mentor each student. The fourth semester is a seven-month internship in their field of interest. Alternatively, some of them are encouraged to get exposure to business incubation, venture capital funds and successful start-ups. The course fee is about Rs 160,000 for the two-year programme.
Working engineers ready to transition into management positions can also opt for online engineering management degrees, which have become increasingly popular these days. They can easily study part-time without giving up their valuable career experience.
Who’s hiring?
Most jobs are in IT/software services (35 per cent), while 33 per cent are in manufacturing/FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods or consumer packaged goods) and the rest are in consulting and others.
[stextbox id=”info”]
“Competent students of this discipline will have a lot of opportunities in consulting.”
— Biswajit Mahanty, professor and head, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, IIT Kharagpur
[/stextbox]
