Engineering MS: Manufacturing Engineering
MS

A master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering from UWM positions you at the forefront of one of the nation’s most essential and fastest-advancing industries.

In your coursework and research labs, you’ll build expertise in automated manufacturing systems, lean production, facility layout and material handling, quality control and other skills that directly shape the future of smart, efficient production.

Now is an especially powerful time to pursue a manufacturing engineering master’s degree. Whether you’re aiming for research, leadership roles, higher pay or long-term job security, advanced training in manufacturing engineering offers a clear competitive edge—especially as industrial engineering ranks among the most employable careers in the U.S., according to a June 2024 UTS Online report.

At UWM—one of Wisconsin’s two R1 research universities—you’ll learn at the center of one of the country’s largest manufacturing and industrial corridors. You’ll benefit from deep, long-standing partnerships with regional industry leaders who actively collaborate with our faculty, support our research and help guide the transition to an Industry 4.0 economy. These connections translate into hands-on projects, networking opportunities and strong pathways to employment.

Because manufacturing engineering impacts nearly every engineered product and process, our flexible program welcomes students from industrial engineering, related disciplines and other engineering fields.

And for qualified UWM undergraduates, the Accelerated Master’s Program offers an path to earning both your undergraduate and graduate degree in five years.

With advanced skills, industry integration and the research power of an R1 institution, UWM gives you the experience and momentum to lead in the next generation of manufacturing.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

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Boost Your Career in Manufacturing Engineering

An advanced degree in manufacturing engineering can increase your salary, provide job security and open the door to new jobs and management positions.

Job prospects may be best for those with knowledge and experience in the most recent advances in manufacturing technology.

At UWM, you’ll gain hands-on experience at our next-gen factory, a test bed where you can virtually simulate solutions to manufacturing challenges (applying AI to the manufacturing process, fluid flow management, and more) then physically execute them.

Next-gen lab for industrial and manufacturing engineering on UWM's campus
Digital Manufacturing Test Bed Tour: CSI – A Model of Industry 4.0 Production

What to expect

In your manufacturing engineering master’s coursework and in our research labs, you’ll acquire knowledge and skills in automated manufacturing systems, lean production systems, facility layout and material handling, quality control and more.

As you complete your studies, you will have the following options: 

Thesis option; non-thesis option

The thesis option is designed for people planning to pursue research. Students complete an original thesis research project, supervised by a faculty advisor. 

The non-thesis option is designed for working professionals. In lieu of a thesis, students take additional coursework.   

Teaching Assistantship/Research Assistantship

As a master’s student in manufacturing engineering, you can apply to work as a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant, which will help fund your education and build leadership skills. Assistantship decisions are made by the academic departments only after an applicant has been accepted into the program.

More Information

Contact the College of Engineering & Applied Science Graduate Programs Office.

Manufacturing Engineering Research Areas

You’ll have the opportunity work with faculty engaged in leading-edge research in areas such as:

  • Advanced manufacturing and automation 
  • Industrial ergonomics 
  • Lean manufacturing 
  • Logistics 
  • Material handling & distribution 
  • Occupational biomechanics 
  • Predictive analytics 
  • Process and systems optimization 
  • Real-time resource management 
  • Systems design modeling 
a worker in a factory performing manufacturing engineering

Manufacturing Engineering Research Labs

Advanced Manufacturing and Design Laboratory

The research conducted in this lab leads to better design of complex multi-physics systems ranging from CT scanners to EV batteries.

Connected Systems Institute/Next-gen factory

This institute includes an industry test bed and production line, a sandbox for students to learn about modern manufacturing and the sophisticated tools being used by leading industrial suppliers.

Industrial Assessment Center

This U.S. Department of Energy-supported lab helps manufacturers and utilities increase their productivity and competitiveness by reducing energy and water consumption, enhancing cybersecurity, and adopting smart manufacturing technology.

As an R1 research institution, research is integral to our work at UWM and to the experience of students pursuing graduate degrees. Our college has a wide range of faculty-led labs that perform cutting edge research. Please see the Faculty tab to the right for the specific research interests and labs of each civil and environmental engineering faculty member. View a full list of our college’s research labs, centers and institutes.

Industrial & Manufacturing Faculty

Abu-Zahra, Nidal
  • Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Akundi, Satya Aditya
  • Assistant Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Bilen-Green, Canan
  • Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Academic Affairs
  • Professor, Industrial Engineering
Ghose, Rina
  • Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Geospatial Data Science Lab
Jang, Jaejin
  • Associate Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Department Chair, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Niu, Junjie
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship
  • Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Affiliate Professor, School of Freshwater Sciences
Otieno, Wilkistar
  • Associate Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Co-Director (Co-PI), UWM Industrial Assessment Center
  • Director, NSF/S-STEM: Preparing Engineers Computer Scientists
Petering, Matthew
  • Associate Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Peters, Brett
  • Dean, Engineering & Applied Science Office of the Dean
Seifoddini, Hamid
  • Associate Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Advising

Crary, Therese
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Health Informatics
Packard, Robert
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering
Academic Catalog
Take a Virtual Tour of Industrial Engineering
Important Dates
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the U.S. Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Contact
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Contact Info: ceas-ime@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784