Engineering Cadre: Engineer, Technologist, Technician, Artisan/Craftsman

[DeBangis21]

The Engineering Cadre:
1. Engineer
2. Technologist
3. Technician
4. Artisan/craftsman.

Warm greetings, PF intellectuals. I would like to hear your insights about the ranking.

The last have no qualification.

What is/are the difference(s) between an engineer and a technologist?

And who really builds/manufactures engines and machines? Engr or skilled trader?

 

[berkeman]

What is/are the difference(s) between an engineer and a technologist?

From my (US) perspective, an engineer has a 4+ year degree, and a technician/technologist has a 2-year degree (community/junior college). I don't know much about a distinction between technician and technologist.

Electronics technicians typically help EEs in their lab work, assist with building prototypes, help with testing the prototypes, and help with rework tasks. I have worked with experienced technicians who were basically doing engineering-level work.

And who really builds/manufactures engines and machines? Engr or skilled trader?

MEs would design the production process and help with building the infrastructure to manufacture the machines, but technicians and skilled tradespeople would do the bulk of the work on the production line (along with the robots on the line).

 

[Drakkith]

Warm greetings, PF intellectuals. I would like to hear your insights about the ranking.

Under what criteria would you like them ranked?

 

[DaveE]

who really builds/manufactures engines and machines? Engr or skilled trader?

In the electronics world, engineers DON'T BUILD ANYTHING, except their own prototypes and such. Engineers on the manufacturing floor need adult supervision; we aren't known for respecting, knowing and following all of the rules, even if we were the ones that wrote them. Just getting us to wear safety glasses can be a multi-year challenge. YMMV.

 

[jedishrfu]

I think our two posts have pretty much answered the OPs question and so now is a good time to close the thread.

In closing, I feel compelled to say that these kinds of questions will not lead one to a successful career in any of these fields. My suggestion is to study math, science, engineering and technology and see what career interests you most and then pursue it. The math and science you learn early on can guide you to your interests.

I had a young protege who was a member of our local Computer Explorer Post in the 1980s. He was enamored with programming and had some talent for it. After highschool, he decided to form a small consulting company that would take on small business programming contracts. It was in the hayday of personal computing before IBM got into the picture. He rented office space in a dilapidated building and bought all kinds of office equipment for his business and even got a contract with a supplier of aircraft parts. He showed me the setup he had and wanted me to leave GE to join his venture but it was clear he had no idea how to program this kind of application and indeed a short time later, the business folded.

My take was that he lost sight of the goal and thought that by having all the cool equipment he could make a go of it but had no plan or vision on how to proceed step by step.

If you want to become successful in any of these disciplines you must set a goal and develop a roadmap to get there. Many people in these careers can help you develop a roadmap to get to your goal. Don't be like my protege and lose sight of the goal because you have no plan beyond today.

Jedi