I'm pretty sure Michigan had an industrial engineering department, and offered advanced degrees in it.  I also remember that Michigan State had a whole raft of unusual engineering specialties, down to things like packing and containers.

I won't argue as to the status of these degrees vis a vis "real science" and whatnot.  I do know the engineers at UM were a world apart.  They (along with most of the artists, oddly) had their own separate campus.  They were also strongly anti-union, despite the fact that there the engineering departments had a huge number of TA's.  Being snubbed during organizing drives was one of the only contacts I had with students in engineering.

I don't think there is a "manufacturing engineer" speciality but, rather, them that work in manufacturing keep their specialities distinct: mechanical, electrical, industrial, design, control, & etc.  

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

Here's the deal on engineering.

At one time, the finest engineering schools on earth were found at the land-grant universities like Perdue, Michigan State, Nebraska (agronomy).  These schools were responsible for many Fortune 500 companies--I cannot even imagine 3M without the chemical engineering department at the University of Minnesota.  The UM medical school spawned Medtronics, and about 50 other major players in medical equipment biz.  In one of the late Apollo flights, the entire crew was from Michigan.  You want to learn how to drill for oil, go to Texas or Oklahoma.  ETC.

While it is probably no longer possible to get an engineering education like they did in the 30s to 70s, I am certain that there are still schools that will do the job.  The biggest difference is that you better have a fault-tolerant ear for those who learned English in schools.  Just remember, these guys got their jobs because they learned math in countries like India that actually teach math to their children.  They are genuinely baffled by folks who cannot do math.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

The distinction might be between "designer" and "worker".

The latter sometimes does not require the same degree of skill but is the most visible. The low status is associated to the other branches. With more and more efficient production methods, fewer "designers" are needed, and their jobs become increasingly abstract (and well paid.)

Sooner or later you will need someone who can interpret between the two groups.

Sorry, I don't have a conclusion at this time.

I don't think the situation is significantly different in the US. I have a few engineer friends that now work in Germany and the environment is similar. Management ranks in the US have a fair number of engineers in them as well for the same reasons. An engineering degree from MIT or Stanford opens the same doors (maybe even more) than MBA degrees from the same schools. While managers make more money than engineers in the corporate world, MBA degrees are to some extent disrespected by the public, known as "a dime a dozen," and certainly do not guarantee you a management track job.

The UK quip came from myself looking for a job there - the pay was about 50-70% of what it is in the US. Good luck living anywhere near London on that sort of money. Some programmers I know from the internet working for banks in London seem to a lot better, so my view is admittedly anecdotal.

you are the media you consume.

1. I see about 1000 engineers every day. Ok bad joke. TV is all entertainers and journalists (haha, no difference either). It's not a problem with engineering, it's the dumbing down of TV and media, which IMO reached the point of no return during the OJ Simpson car chase back in 94.

2. Engineers ARE less hip than average. Leave the hipsterness to English majors that need to make up for their lack of income when it comes to attracting mates. Also "catch" roughly correlates to income, so engineers are fairly high on the list. Based on most women I've talked to they'd consider doctors even less hip than engineers. 100 hours a week in the hospital doesn't leave much time to work on your cultural stylin', unless a BMW 3 series is hip (5 series once they're 40 years old).

3. I think the problem here is management laying off everyone (ie, the makers and the builders) but themselves, resulting in a less severe form of this scenario. Yes, it IS madness, but the problem has little to do with engineers.

Culture creators (authors, artists, etc) get the most respect in this country, followed by all the white collar occupations (minus lawyers of course). Who actually gets the money is sorted out in a completely different manner. I don't have the energy for a 2000 word essay on the topic at the moment, but it's in my head. Needless to say I sit in the gray area on both points.

you are the media you consume.

You never see an engineer on TV.  Or anywhere else.

 

Except on Star Trek . . .

I'm curious but understand if you care not to respond. Your tag, it is geared more for Anglo-American applications, or Chinese applications (thinking of almost 20 years ago)?

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

Has the change in composition of the ruling class caused any observable differences in policy or politics?

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