Is CMM Engineer job is a Graduate Level Job?

[Guru Gill]

Hello all,

Last month I applied for Highly skilled Migrant status in UK. It is point based immigration scheme in which you have to score 65 points to get the approval and visa to get into UK and work there. I am an Mechanical Engineer (Graduate) (My degree is equivalent to British Bechelors Degree with Honours according to UK NARIC). I am already in UK but in different visa category and still allowed to work. I am working as CMM Engineer with an American Company based in UK.

When I applied to Work Permits UK, for Highly Skilled Migrant status they refused my application saying that the job you are working on is not a graduate level job.

I am so frustrated that my mind is not working in a correct manner since last weekend. Can anybody help me in , what I should write to them to make them understand that this is a post which require a graduate degree/experience to work on.

Please help, I have only 50 days left for my present visa.

Thanks & Regards
Gurpreet Gill

[Thomas Stewart]

Hi there Gill. The first question I have is; considering you need to have exceeded the "65 points" in order to access your visa, was that done?

Second of all, what is a CMM engineer? If you're referring to a CMM programmer, then a graduates degree may be preferred in some cases, overall it's not required OR preferred.

If it were, OMG I can't imagine the chaos as a result. As you may have gathered while reading a few threads, we generally have little regard for engineers and all of their infinate (self glorifying) wisdom. If it required a degree to program CMMS, the common sense and logic that is evident in many of the seniors here, and helpful as a programmer, would be tossed out the window... So if you can, please clarify what it is a CMM engineer does...

[jmgreen]

Hey Gill,
I'm a degreed ME also. As far as I know, there is no specific degree for CMM. Like most of the people here I sort of backed into it. It does require a level of experience and knowledge that you can't obtain thru a degreed program. I have yet to meet anyone who just walked out of training and is an expert at programming. There are just too many variables to understand and it requires time to gain the knowledge/experience needed. There are a lot of people that go into training for the CMM with no previous experience, but it takes them a while to become proficient.
I would try to take the approach that the job is highly skilled in the same sense that a machinist job is highly skilled. I would also think that the Company you work for would provide some kind of help.

[bw_bob]

[
If it were, OMG I can't imagine the chaos as a result. As you may have gathered while reading a few threads, we generally have little regard for engineers and all of their infinate (self glorifying) wisdom. If it required a degree to program CMMS, the common sense and logic that is evident in many of the seniors here, and helpful as a programmer, would be tossed out the window... So if you can, please clarify what it is a CMM engineer does...[/QUOTE]



Ouch.......no degree here

[Paul Barriage]

I always say, "If I must have a degree, send me a test."

I don't assume all engineers are self absorbed, the ones that are usually show themselves. I hope you engineers aren't like that. Then again, if you can run Dmis and still have hair voluntarily, you have already proven you aren't.

Anyhow, if there is a degree, where is the test? CMM still falls under many other jobs as "inspection". Maybe look at refering it to QE status?? One of our QE's related it this way, "CMM programmers could definately be QEs, but not necessarily the other way around."

[Gregl]

It would be up to your employer to state that you need the Degree.

Because a degree is only a peice of paper, real life experance can be much more useful to employers, and the employers that know that. can be real good to work for.

[Ravenmaniac]

Owwwwww! I haven't heard of a specific degree program for CMM qualification or acceptance in the programming field but I must say, some of the needle sharp barbs towards some of us "engineer types" are rather venomous today. Speaking out with the chorus of some of us that are degreed I can only say that having that knowledge is both insightfull and enlightening on the approach to various problems that arise. Seeing the wisdom that some of the many QA techs and inspectors that have presented to this forum is priceless. From me personally, never think that any attempt, suggestion, or input to the forum from anyone is not weighed, analyzed and regardless of helpful or not.........appreciated.

[#2#]

Well, now I feel compelled to weigh in.

I will assume that by "cmm engineer" you mean cmm programmer.

My answer is that it depends on the company and position. Is "cmm engineer" your official title at your employer?

Yes - A senior programmer that uses cad on a regular basis and programs for complicated parts with tight tolerances that may be safety critical. Also, the programmer may have others that work under his/her supervision. If the position requires that the programmer fully understand the function of these parts and the implications of different dimensions being out of specification.

No - A programmer that writes relatively simple programs using mostly "learned" features and on simple parts which are not safety critical. If the programmer is not required to do anything more than program, run, and report the values.

Now, for disclosure, I fall somewhere between the two but probably closer to "No" than "Yes". I do have a bachelors degree but it was not a requirement for the position.

I agree that it really will depend on what your employer is willing to report. What also may help is if you research the number of programmer positions available in the UK. Could you display a shortage of workers with your skills?

[george frick]

chief cook & bottle washer

I am a friend of the octupus-the whale: He is my brother.

[JBCIII]

Engineer/Professional

Not too long ago my boss said "write me a description of what you do around here." So being to lazy/busy to write one I went on the net to see if someone had already done it for me and I came across this document which sounds pretty close to what you're looking for as a "CMM Engineer", though they call it a "CMM Professional".
Canadian Cert.pdf

JBCIII
Leitz PMMC
PC-Dmis
Quindos
Calypso

[LOBBS]

Yes - A senior programmer that uses cad on a regular basis and programs for complicated parts with tight tolerances that may be safety critical. Also, the programmer may have others that work under his/her supervision. If the position requires that the programmer fully understand the function of these parts and the implications of different dimensions being out of specification.

No - A programmer that writes relatively simple programs using mostly "learned" features and on simple parts which are not safety critical. If the programmer is not required to do anything more than program, run, and report the values.

Ah dang, I'm in trouble then. After my freshmen year of college I took a "summer" job doing QC work for a local plastics company. That was 12 years, a wife and four kids ago. Now I'm a CMM programmer for an aerospace/medical supplier and almost all our new work is complicated, CAD based, tight tolerance and/or safety critical. My position is definitely more "Yes" than "No". I'll probably have to come in tomorrow and demand a demotion so they can hire some one qualified to make the machine go "beepy-beepy" while I finish up the ME I've been putting off.

[BeckyK]

My experience is that CMM programmers are considered "skilled trade" like tool & die, maintenance and electricians. Similarly, I had a 4 year apprenticeship. During my training class with Hexagon, there were 2 men (tool & die journeymen) from an automotive plant that were retiring to CMM layout work until their retirement. So, they could take it easy that last few years. Very common according to them. No degree needed.

[dph51]

Get in touch with your companies HR or legal department for help. If your present job doesn't enable you to stay in the UK., perhaps you can get another job in the company that will meet the requirements.
Good luck

[ruidoso]

Get in touch with your companies HR or legal department for help. If your present job doesn't enable you to stay in the UK., perhaps you can get another job in the company that will meet the requirements.
Good luck

nice!! the initial post is like 4 yrs old

[CGoode]

nice!! the initial post is like 4 yrs old

ROFL!.. wonder if they deported him?