Management and Production Engineering at GUT: Career in Tricity Industry

Engineering studies (first cycle) last 7 semesters and end with obtaining the professional title of engineer. The program for the academic years 2026/2027 has a strong emphasis on industrial transformation referred to as Industry 4.0 and product lifecycle management (PLM).

The main subject blocks include:

• Technical subjects: engineering graphics and construction recording (CAD/CAM), basics of machine construction, materials engineering, automation and robotization of production processes.
• Managerial subjects: production and service management, logistics and supply chain management, operational research, production economics, quality management (Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S methodologies).
• IT subjects: ERP systems (SAP, IFS Applications), databases and simulations of production processes (FlexSim, Arena).

Design and laboratory classes require work on real case studies provided by the university’s industrial partners, which facilitates later implementation in corporate structures.

Where do the classes take place? Gdańsk Tech Campus and Infrastructure

The heart of the field are the buildings of the Faculty of Economics and Engineering at 11/12 Narutowicza Street in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz. Students spend their time mainly in the historic Main Building, the building of the former Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (a characteristic building with a technological hall) and in modern Hydromechanics laboratories.

Getting to campus is simple. The “Politechnika” tram stop serves lines 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12, and it takes less than 10 minutes to walk from the SKM Gdańsk Politechnika station along Siedlicka Street.

What does the studies look like from the student’s perspective? Reality and survival

ZiIP is not one of the most difficult fields of study at Gdańsk University of Technology in terms of pure mathematical and physical theory (compared to, for example, Mechatronics or Civil Engineering), but it requires excellent time management. The biggest challenge is the semester projects, which accumulate at the end of each semester.

What to watch out for during your studies?

• Technical and CAD drawing: In the first year, the key is to master software such as Inventor or AutoCAD. For people who have graduated from general secondary schools, this can be a barrier to entry. It is worth using free student licenses and practicing design on your own at home.
• Metallurgical and machining laboratories: They take place in the technological halls of Gdańsk Tech. They require absolute observance of health and safety and preparation for the so-called “passes” (short colloquia before being allowed to exercise).
• Quality Management: Learn Statistical Process Control (SPC). These tools are the foundation for later recruitment for quality engineer positions in Tri-City companies.

The place where ZiIP students integrate is the iconic Kwadratowa student club at Siedlicka Street, and quick meals and project discussions are most often moved to nearby catering outlets in the Gdańsk Garrison (a dozen or so minutes’ walk from the campus) or to the gastronomic zone in Galeria Bałtycka.

Tri-City job market for ZiIP graduates

The Tri-City and the surrounding municipalities (the so-called Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area) are experiencing intensive industrial development. This region has moved away from the stereotype based solely on tourism. The main branches of the economy generating the demand for production engineers are divided into several key sectors.

1. Shipbuilding and offshore sector – a classic in Gdańsk-Gdynia

The shipbuilding industry and the production of steel structures for wind energy (wind farms in the Baltic Sea) are looking for engineers to plan large-scale production.

• Main employers: Remontowa Shipbuilding (Gdańsk, Swojska Street), Crist S.A. (Gdynia, Czechosłowacka Street), Baltic Operator (Gdańsk, Ostrów Island), Damen Engineering Gdańsk.
• Specifics of the work: Planning of welding processes, assembly of sections, management of metallurgical material delivery schedules, quality control of steel structures (NDT).

2. Electromobility and advanced electronics

It is the fastest growing sector in the region, offering a modern working environment in line with global standards (often clean production rooms – cleanrooms, high automation).

• Main employers: Northvolt Dwa (Gdańsk, Nowatorów Street – production of battery systems in the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone), Flex (Tczew – a huge hub for contract electronics production, convenient access for SKM/Regio from Gdańsk Główny), Assa Abloy (Gdynia), Radmor (Gdynia).
• Specifics of the work: Implement automatic assembly lines (SMT), optimize cycle times (Takt Time), implement Kaizen methodologies and reduce waste (Scrap).

3. Logistics, FMCG and distribution

A production engineer is perfectly versed in the design of warehouse layouts and the optimization of material flow (internal logistics).

• Main employers: LPP S.A. (Distribution Centre in Pruszcz Gdański), Baltic Hub (former DCT Gdańsk – the largest container terminal in the Baltic Sea), Dr. Oetker (Gdynia/Łebcz).
• Specifics of the work: Supply chain management, warehouse process optimization (WMS), transport fleet management and internal logistics in production plants.

Jobs and salaries in the Tri-City

The salaries of production engineers in the Gdańsk agglomeration depend on the industry (the highest rates are offered by the offshore and automotive/high-tech sectors) and the level of knowledge of foreign languages (English is the absolute minimum due to the international nature of the Tri-City business).

The table below presents the average gross salary data for ZiIP graduates in the Tri-City region:

Why Aim for Quality Engineering?

Quality management (QA/QC) in the Tri-City offers a fast track to financial promotion. Companies operating for the aerospace, medical or automotive industries (where the strict IATF 16949 standard applies) are able to pay very high rates to engineers with knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA tools and English or German.

Internships, internships and scientific clubs: How to gain an advantage in the labor market?

Simply graduating with an engineering degree does not guarantee an attractive job from the first day after the defense. The key is extracurricular activity during studies at Gdańsk Tech.

Student Internships

The ZiIP study program assumes compulsory professional practice (usually after the sixth semester). Instead of choosing random craft workshops, it is worth applying to internship programs organized by strategic partners of the Gdańsk University of Technology.

The Faculty of Military and Physical Education regularly organizes Engineering Job Fairs (usually in the courtyards of the Gdańsk Tech Main Building). This is a great opportunity to talk directly with recruiters from companies such as:

• Intel Technology Poland (the Gdańsk branch is one of the largest R&D centers of the concern in the world, located at Słowackiego Street near the airport in Rębiechowo),
• Federal-Mogul Gorzyce S.A. (branch in Gdańsk),
• LPP
• Northvolt

[Inżynierskie Targi Pracy na PG] ➔ Direct contact with the recruiter ➔ Application for summer internship ➔ Full-time job in the final year of studies ➔ Permanent employment after the engineer’s defense

Scientific clubs at Gdańsk Tech related to production engineering

Involvement in science club projects is the best point on the resume for an aspiring engineer. Employers value the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams that implement real technical projects.

You may want to consider joining:

• KN “Management and Production Engineering” – focuses directly on the optimization of production processes, Lean Management and study visits to leading industrial plants in Pomerania.
• PGEar (Gdańsk University of Technology Eco Car) – a club dealing with the design and construction of energy-efficient vehicles. An ideal place for future production engineers oriented towards the automotive industry.
• SimLE – an interdisciplinary scientific circle implementing advanced space and engineering projects (m.in. stratospheric balloon missions, flight simulators). It teaches project management from the system and technical side.

Recruitment for the 2026/2027 academic year: Thresholds and requirements

The recruitment process for the Gdańsk University of Technology is based on a competition of secondary school leaving certificates. The point conversion rate rewards science subjects.

Subjects included in the recruitment algorithm:

• Mathematics (basic and advanced level) – the key subject that generates the most points.
• A modern foreign language (usually English).
• An additional elective subject: physics, chemistry, computer science or geography (at the advanced level).

In recent years, the point thresholds for the ZiIP field of study at WIMiO have oscillated between 100–125 points (on a scale of up to 150 recruitment points). This means that a well-passed matriculation exam in mathematics at the basic level and at least an average result in the extension in mathematics or physics give a high probability of qualification for full-time studies.

Studies in the field of Management and Production Engineering at the Gdańsk University of Technology are a pragmatic choice for people who want to acquire a specific technical profession, but do not want to limit themselves only to computer design (CAD) or strictly scientific work.

The Tri-City industry – from the shipyard on the Gdańsk island of Ostrów, through electronics factories in Tczew, to modern battery plants in Kokoszki – is constantly looking for specialists who can organize the work of others, calculate costs and implement the principles of Lean Manufacturing. The dynamic development of the region guarantees stable employment and competitive salaries from the first years after graduation in Wrzeszcz.

Conflict between faculties: WIMiO vs. WZiE – which version of the ZiIP is more important for the industry?

Few people are aware before the recruitment process that at the Gdańsk University of Technology , the field of Management and Production Engineering has historically been linked to two different faculties: the Faculty of Management and Economics (WZiE) and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding (WIMiO). Although the name of the field of study is the same, the profile of education and the perception of graduates by Tri-City recruiters differ significantly.

Management and Production Engineering at Gdańsk Tech

WZiE (Faculty of Management)

• Profile: Managerial and economic
• Focus: Finance, HR, Management
• Opinion: “Soft” engineer

WIMiO (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering)

• Profile: Hard Engineering
• Focus: Design, Technology, CAD
• Opinion: Full-fledged Production Engineer

Profile differences in practice:

• ZiIP at WZiE focuses more on organizational structures, corporate finance, marketing and human resources management. The technical component here is limited to basic issues. Graduates often go to procurement, mid-term planning or HR departments in manufacturing companies.
• ZiIP at WIMiO is a “hard” mechanical engineering wrapped in managerial modules. Students learn welding, machining, foundry, material strength, and advanced CAD/CAM design here.

Industrial perspective: Tri-City production plants (shipyards, offshore companies, automotive) value the WIMiO diploma much higher. This is due to a simple principle: it is easier to teach a mechanical engineer the basics of economics and team management than it is to teach a graduate of the management department to read complex technical drawings, welding technology and mechanics of structural materials. If your goal is to work directly on the implementation of new processes (NPI – New Product Introduction) or optimization of technological lines, choosing WIMiO is a much more pragmatic decision.

Niche certificates and standards: What will they not teach you in class, and what does the Tri-City require?

When browsing through the job vacancies for process or quality engineers in Gdansk and Gdynia, you will rarely see the general requirement “knowledge of quality systems”. Local companies operate under very specific, strict normative regimes. To stand out in the job market, you should focus your knowledge on a specific industry at the stage of writing your engineering thesis.

Offshore and Shipbuilding: NORSOK Standards and Classifiers

Working in Remontowa Shipbuilding, Crist or in the production of steel structures for offshore wind farms (Baltic Operator) requires knowledge of the regulations of classification societies:

• DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and LR (Lloyd’s Register).
• NORSOK standards (especially NORSOK M-501 for paint coatings and corrosion protection).
• ISO 3834 (quality requirements for welding metal materials) and EN 1090 (execution of steel and aluminum structures) standards.

Automotive sector: IATF 16949 standard

If you are aiming for a job in companies such as Eaton in Tczew or Federal-Mogul in Gdańsk, the IATF 16949 standard (special requirements for ISO 9001 for the automotive industry) must become your bible. You need to master the so-called Core Tools:

• APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) – advanced product quality planning.
• PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) – the process of approving production parts for serial production.
• FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) – analysis of the causes and effects of defects (in the VDA/AIAG version).

Medical and Biotechnology Sector: ISO 13485

Pomerania is developing strongly in the area of production of medical and laboratory devices (e.g. Polpharma Biologics, Becton Dickinson). Working there requires knowledge of ISO 13485. It’s niche knowledge, but quality engineers with this profile are paid the best on the market, due to the stringent sterility and validation requirements of production processes.

Software You Need to Master: Go Beyond the Basics of AutoCAD

At university, you will go through basic CAD labs. However, in order to be competitive on the Tri-City labor market, you need to get to know the tools that actually work in production halls and in production preparation departments.

Process simulations and layout modeling: FlexSim and Arena

Modern factories do not switch machines blindly. Changes to the layout (hall layout) and optimization of the flow of materials are first simulated in a digital environment.

• FlexSim: This is an absolute standard in companies such as Flex in Tczew or LPP in Pruszcz Gdański. It enables the construction of Digital Twins of factories and warehouses, the testing of bottlenecks and the optimization of forklifts and personnel. Knowledge of FlexSima at an intermediate level allows you to bypass junior positions when recruiting for industrial engineering departments.

ERP Systems: IFS Applications vs. SAP

In the Tri-City, there is an interesting polarization in the issue of enterprise resource management (ERP) software:

• IFS Applications: Due to its flexibility in unit and project production (Project-Based Manufacturing), IFS is the dominant system in Tri-City shipyards (m.in. Remontowa) and steel structure production plants.
• SAP (S/4HANA): It dominates large serial and automotive corporations (Eaton, Northvolt).

When studying at Gdańsk Tech, try to choose electives or science clubs that give access to practical clicking in these systems, instead of learning about them only from PDF presentations.

Geography of Pomeranian production: Logistics of daily commuting

One of the biggest disappointments for ZiIP graduates is the fact that modern production halls are rarely located in the centers of the Tri-City (in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, Oliwa or Śródmieście Gdynia). Production requires space, land with industrial capacity and direct access to road junctions (S6, S7, A1).

You need to plan the logistics of commuting, because the location of your place of residence in the Tri-City will determine the comfort of everyday functioning.

Main industrial zones of Pomerania

Gdańsk-Kokoszki / Bysewo

• Companies: Northvolt, Pekabex
• Access: PKM (Kiełpinek/Karczemki)

Tczew (Zone)

• Companies: Flex, Eaton
• Access: Rail (Regio/IC)

Pruszcz Gdański

• Companies: LPP, Crown
• Access: SKM, St. Adalbert’s Route

1. Gdańsk-Kokoszki, Bysewo and Banino (Direction West)

This is where Gdańsk’s light, construction and high-tech industries (m.in. Northvolt, Pekabex, Mercor) are concentrated.

• Communication: Getting there by car from Wrzeszcz or Śródmieście during rush hour via Słowackiego Street or Kartuska Street is associated with standing in large traffic jams.
• Note: The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (PKM) is key here. It is best to look for apartments near PKM stops (Wrzeszcz, Strzyża, Jasień). Getting off at the Gdańsk Karczemki or Gdańsk Kiełpinek stations, you are able to reach many plants by bike or commuter bus in a dozen or so minutes.

2. Tczew Economic Zone (south)

Tczew (about 30 km from Gdańsk) is one of the most important production centers in the region, dominated by giants Flex and Eaton.

• Communication: Many students and graduates living in Gdańsk believe that getting to Tczew is cumbersome. This is a mistake. A railway connection (Polregio or Intercity long-distance trains) from Gdańsk Główny to Tczew takes only 20-25 minutes. The station in Tczew is well connected with the local industrial zone with the help of dedicated employee buses. Often getting to the factory in Tczew by train is faster and less stressful than getting from Wrzeszcz to Kokoszki by car.

3. Pruszcz Gdański and Kowale (Gdańsk-Południe Interchange)

The area is dominated by distribution centers, logistics and the production of packaging and structures (LPP, Crown Packaging).

• Communication: The main access artery from Gdańsk is the St. Adalbert Route (national road 91), which is completely paralyzed between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. An alternative is to take the SKM to the Pruszcz Gdański station or travel along the Tri-City Bypass (S6), provided that you live close to the entrance junctions.

How to avoid the “caliper trap” at the first station?

A very common phenomenon among newly graduated production engineers is entering the so-called caliper trap. It consists in being employed as a Junior Quality Engineer or Quality Controller, where daily duties are limited to routine, repetitive measurements of finished products at the end of the production line, completing simple Excel spreadsheets and isolating defective pieces (the so-called blocking of non-conforming products).

This work has little development potential and becomes monotonous after a few months. It also does not allow you to make real use of the production engineering tools that you learned at Gdańsk Tech.

How to shape your path to avoid this?

• Apply to NPI (New Product Introduction) departments: This is where the most creative work takes place – designing new production lines, implementing new products for serial production, cooperating with the R&D department and setting machine parameters.
• Choose the Process Engineer path instead of the classic QA: As a process engineer, you are responsible for how the product is manufactured. You design production cells, analyze operation times (MTM) and eliminate losses (Muda). This is a direct path to managerial roles (e.g. Lean Manager / Head of Department).
• Make Green Belt Certification Before Defending: You don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for commercial training. At Gdańsk Tech, as part of scientific circles or EU projects carried out by faculties, certified, subsidized trainings in the Lean Six Sigma methodology are often organized. Having a “Six Sigma Green Belt” on your resume completed on a specific academic project immediately positions you higher than 90% of your peers and protects you from purely inspection roles.