Skills 4 Work

Mechanical Engineering deals mostly with things that move and is concerned with the design, construction and operation of engines and machines.  Mechanical Engineers also work on heat utilisation and machine design including boilers, heat engines, air conditioning, refrigeration as well as machine hardware.  Engineers work in many different industries desgning things such as automobiles, aircraft, heating and cooling systems, household appliances and industrial equipment etc.

This qualification is for apprentices entering or involved in the engineering industry.

The programme covers the common foundation skills of Mechnical Engineering with the option to specialise in one of five strands (below), depending on the field you are employed or interested in.

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General Engineering Strand

Most engineering workshops in New Zealand are involved in general engineering activities and require staff with flexible engineering skills. General engineering involves fitting, machining, welding, maintenance, repair, hydraulics, pneumatics, marine or rail engineering and fabrication. It provides you with a great range of skills and allows you to transfer skills to a variety of tasks and industries globally.

The General Engineering Strand includes:

• Engineering core skills
• Maintenance and diagnostics in mechanical engineering
• Welding

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Machining Strand

Machining is about the precision machining of components, typically using sophisticated CNC (computer numeric control)mills and lathes to machine components to high degrees of tolerance and finish.

The machining strand includes:

• Engineering materials
• Engineering drawing and design
• Engineering machining and toolmaking

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Fitting and Machining Strand

This involves machine building, where both precision fitting and machining skills are required. Machining, assembly and alignment of components to close tolerances, machine installation, and hydraulic or pneumatic control systems and CNC machinery are all utilised.

The Fitting and Machining Strand includes:

• Engineering core skills
• Engineering machining and toolmaking
• Maintenances and diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering
• Mechanical assembly
• Welding

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Toolmaking Strand

Involves making tooling, press tooling, moulds, dies, gauges, jigs and fixtures for industrial processes.  Tools are typically used in sheet metal presses or in injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, and pressure diecasting operations.  The making of these tools requires knowledge of tool operation and CAD/CAM techniques.

The Toolmaking Strand includes:

• Engineering materials
• Engineering drawing and design
• Engineering machining and toolmaking
• Mechanical assembly

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Maintenance Engineering Strand

Involves maintenance work where the emphasis is on maintaining reliable production, sometimes involving computerised maintenance systems.  You can be involved in a variety of machinery in different work locations and will have to adapt your skill to all types of machinery.

• The Maintenance Engineering Strand includes:
• Engineering core skills
• Maintenance and diagnostics in mechanical engineering
• Mechanical assembly
• Welding

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This is an essential qualification for technicians in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. A refrigeration and air conditioning engineer's main role is to diagnose problems with refrigeration and/or air conditioning units.  These can be situated in high rise commercial buildings, industrial plants or domestic premises.
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A Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Engineer designs, makes and installs steel ducting and metal pipes to carry cold or hot air and water around buildings to cool or heat houses or high rise buildings.  The engineer is require to maintain and repair faults within the system.
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