ABSTRACT
Manufacturing engineering is the term widely used in the United States, whereas in Japan and Europe the term production engineering is used. Manufacturing has always been a critical element in warfare; but during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, manufacturing became a critical element in society by providing consumer goods and mechanizing agriculture to reduce the number of people needed to produce the food supply. During the Industrial Revolution of the 20th century, much of the physical labor and dangerous work is being performed by machines rather than by human effort.
