Occupational profile

Since 2003 Germany has been the 'world champion exporter'. No other country in the world sells more products abroad. This top position is largely accounted for by the 'model industries', with mechanical engineering companies exporting over 60% of output and the automotive industry around 70%.

In very few other industries is the lead as great as in mechanical engineering. About a quarter of all global mechanical engineering patents and almost 20% of all machines on the world market come from Germany. Of the mechanical engineering companies with more than 500 employees, about one third consider themselves to be the global market leader in their product category.

The areas of activity of mechanical engineers range from the development and construction, across planning, calculation and material selection, right through to the production of technical facilities, machines, vehicles and plants.. In industry and engineering offices he or she is involved in areas like energy, drive, vehicle and production technologies. In the areas of service provision and administration, too, technology is gaining ever greater importance.
 
Professional advancement follows the path of

• Case manager,
• Project Manager,
• Department Head through to
• Plant Manager,
• Area Manager or
• Board member.

At this point, management tasks and leadership functions form the central part of his or her activities.

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