Table 1Transition record

production engineering techniciantomechanical engineering technician

A production engineering technician already meets 67% of what the mechanical engineering technician role asks for. The move turns on 4 required skills not yet in the profile.

From production engineering technician

67%

Overlap1

To mechanical engineering technician

25 Skills carried over

4 Required, not held

35 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 35

This move: 35 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the mechanical engineering technician role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the production engineering technician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 25 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A mechanical engineering technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a production engineering technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held define part requirements information skills
already held assess operating cost information skills
already held blueprints engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held use computer-aided engineering systems working with computers
already held perform maintenance on installed equipment constructing
already held create technical plans management skills

All 25 carried skills, including the 10 the mechanical engineering technician role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 14 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required

optional, not held fluid mechanics optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held nuclear energy optional
optional, not held technical drawings optional

02 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required

required, not held design engineering components required
required, not held liaise with engineers required

03 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held technical terminology optional

04 constructing 1 supplementary

optional, not held monitor nuclear power plant systems optional

05 information skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held interpret technical requirements optional

06 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held ensure equipment availability optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a mechanical engineering technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 25 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held CAE software knowledge
already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held analyse test data skill
already held define part requirements skill
already held engineering principles knowledge
already held engineering processes knowledge
already held mathematics knowledge
already held mechanics knowledge
already held read engineering drawings skill
already held troubleshoot skill
already held CAD software knowledge
already held analyse production processes for improvement skill
already held assess operating cost skill
already held blueprints knowledge
already held create technical plans skill
already held manage supplies skill
already held order supplies skill
already held oversee quality control skill
already held perform maintenance on installed equipment skill
already held perform test run skill
already held read standard blueprints skill
already held record test data skill
already held use CAD software skill
already held use computer-aided engineering systems skill
already held use testing equipment skill

The 2 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 services 1 supplementary

optional, not held health and safety in the workplace optional

08 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary

optional, not held maintain power plants optional

10 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held interpret technical requirements optional
optional, not held maintain power plants optional
optional, not held ensure equipment availability optional
optional, not held fluid mechanics optional
optional, not held health and safety in the workplace optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held monitor nuclear power plant systems optional
optional, not held nuclear energy optional
optional, not held technical drawings optional
optional, not held technical terminology optional

13 held skills the mechanical engineering technician role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role advise on manufacturing problems skill
not needed by the target role collaborate with engineers skill
not needed by the target role communicate production plan skill
not needed by the target role conduct routine machinery checks skill
not needed by the target role create solutions to problems skill
not needed by the target role operate soldering equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate welding equipment skill
not needed by the target role plan manufacturing processes skill
not needed by the target role production processes knowledge
not needed by the target role resolve equipment malfunctions skill
not needed by the target role secure working area skill
not needed by the target role solve technical problems skill
not needed by the target role verify product specifications skill

8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required
optional, not held fluid mechanics optional
optional, not held health and safety in the workplace optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held nuclear energy optional
optional, not held technical drawings optional
optional, not held technical terminology optional

Index

Other moves recorded from production engineering technician

Full index of moves from production engineering technician

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.