Student Success Stories
"I registered for the AET program because of my fond interest in automobiles at a young age. I thought I was going to learn so much, and one day work for a leading automobile manufacturer. Maybe I would design the body of the next biggest sports car, or the rotating assembly of the next generation Duramax engine. None of these scenarios have played out, but anything was and still is possible! After 2.5 years in the AET program, I shifted gears and changed my major to MET.
I secured an internship during the end of my Junior year. The summer prior to my Senior year I was higher on full time as a Manufacturing Engineer. I ended up graduating Fall of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology with a minor in Automotive Engineering Technology. I learned so many valuable things that pertain to my career; the list is far too long to itemize. The most important of all, is the mindset you create as you go through the courses.
One of the greatest skills that I learned was how to properly collaborate with my peers/coworkers. As a manufacturing engineer, you need to be able to collaborate with all departments of a business, regardless if they are a top down or bottom up business model, collaboration is key. From upper management, to receiving and those on the production floor, you need to become very aware of everyone’s abilities, and ways of doing their job. Understanding how the business operates is the only way you will succeed and make things progress. With collaboration, you need to have a certain level of trust with your coworkers. Trusting that they are feeding you valuable information, but at the same time you need to always question everything. (“Five Why’s”) — Very important
The experience that any student has while going to college is greatly impacted by the professors that they were taught by. The Automotive and Manufacturing professors are all extremely knowledgeable, always willing to help and answer questions (but they will make you work for that answer, it’s not a handout), they are easy going, keeping the classroom fun and entertaining, and they genuinely care for their students’ success.
With the skills that are learned throughout the courses, the mindset that is created from the classroom setting, the variety of instructors, and the overall vibe that MSU gives off, I really have nothing negative to say about my higher education experience."
Bryce Noeldner, 2019
"I switched over to the AMET program in the 2009-2010 year which I look back at as one of the best moves I made for my professional career. I have had access to many diverse working environments focused around power generation, food processing and agricultural farm equipment. I am currently a Principal Manufacturing Engineer with McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing focused on high priority business initiative projects. I am currently the Process Lead on a business transformation project that will implement a state of the are manufacturing facility producing high quality refuse collection units. The AMET program and its courses are all encompassing and will aid in the many hats you may wear as a professional engineer. This general and core knowledge has allowed me to excel in many industries producing vastly different products. The great faculty and learning curriculum create the foundation of knowledge you can stand on as you begin mastering specific skills entering the workforce."
Kirby Sorensen, 2012
"I graduated from Minnesota State in December of 2015 with a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering and Technology. My time in the program taught me how to put the customer and quality of the products I am producing first. The faculty helped me achieve the goals I had set out for myself. I became a member of SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and I had a job lined up before graduation. I accepted a Manufacturing Engineering position at AGCO. The education I received at Minnesota State University gave me the tools need to thrive in this position. Since then I have gone on to become a Manufacturing Engineer at Columbia Gear Inc. as well. Employers have recognized the education I received in the AMET program and it has made me a top candidate when applying for positions. Thanks to Minnesota State, the AMET program, and its faculty I continue to have a successful career in Manufacturing Engineering."
Jared Fiedler, 2015
