Germany and the assembly undertaken in France.

To give an idea of the complexity of the task

involved, psychologists can be involved in determining
the layout of cockpit design in order to
advise on human–machine interactions.
Mechanical engineers can choose to limit their
activity to items they perceive to be inherently
mechanical, such as gearboxes, clutches and internal
combustion engines. If this is the case then some
form of deception has invariably occurred, as it is
next to impossible to isolate a mechanism or
component entirely and thereby decouple it from
its relationship to other factors and influences.
Devices of a mechanical nature can be considered
to be those involving relative motion, stressed
components and prime movers amongst many
others.This limitation,however, is too constraining
for today’s products where added value is a key
consideration as exemplified by the variety in
white goods, such as vacuum cleaners and dishwashers
available in any electrical hardware store.
Instead the mechanical engineer needs to be a
master of his own discipline and also have skills and
awareness of many related disciplines.This need is
reflected in the demands of accrediting bodies for
first degrees such as the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers.A typical requirement is for an interdisciplinary
education followed up by continuing professional
development where the engineer covers
the fundamentals of his primary profession in
depth and breadth accompanied by courses that
widen the perspective, such as studies in materials,
electronics, software, management, etc.
The foundations of mechanical engineering
can be considered to be the sciences of thermodynamics
and mechanics. Thermodynamics is the
study of energy transformation and mechanics is
concerned with the motion and equilibrium of
bodies. Design is the integrating activity that marries
thermodynamics and mechanics together to
enable the production of useful products.The skill
set required by the mechanical engineer is not
however wholly fulfilled by thermodynamics and
mechanics. In addition, skills in languages and
communication, mathematics, physics, chemistry