History

History of Faculty of Production Engineering

1826
In Warsaw, at the time of the Polish Kingdom, the Preliminary School was established for the (future) Polytechnic Institute. It was linked organizationally with the Warsaw University of Technology. The project of the School was inaugurated by a Polytechnic Council under the influence of Stanislaw Staszic and Louis Plater. In 1829, the School created four Faculties, including the Mechanical Engineering Faculty with three university chairs: Engineering, Machine Building and Mechanical Technology. The School was closed in 1831 (as a result of repression of the Tsarist authorities for the November Uprising). The Preliminary School to the Polytechnic Institute has initiated the development of the professional intelligence of the country.

1875

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering originated in the Lvov University of Technology. Many graduates of this University, which was renamed in 1894 to Polytechnic School, supported the Warsaw University of Technology, after its establishment in 1915. It congregated many distinguished scientists, such professors as: Ignacy Dąbrowski, Jan Kunstetter, and Stanisław Łukaszewicz, Henryk Mierzejewski, Franciszek Suchowolski and Władysław Majewski.

1895

The Mechanical and Technical Secondary School of the name of M. Mięty emerged. However, in the years 1906-1919, it was called the Mechanical and Technical School of H. Wawelberg and S. Rotwand. In 1919, the School was nationalized and renamed to Mechanical and Electrical State School of the name of H. and S. Rotwand Wawelberg. In 1925, two Faculties were isolated - Mechanical and Electrical ones.  Since 1929, the School was known as the State Higher School of Mechanical Electrical Engineering and was given the name of H. and S. Rotwand Wawelberg. In the years 1930 to 1934, the Faculty of Engineering has been transformed into the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and started developing the Technology Section.

1898

Warsaw Polytechnic Institute was created in 1898 and named after the Tsar Nicholas II. The Institute at that time consisted of three Faculties: Mechanical, Construction -Engineering and Chemistry. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering was located in Mechanics Edifice.

1915
During the war, Warsaw Polytechnic Institute was evacuated to Moscow. In Warsaw on November 2, Warsaw University of Technology was established. It included four Faculties: Building, Agricultural, Architectural and Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Stanisław Patschke was the Dean of the last of these Faculties.  

1921

The Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering was divided into two Faculties – Electrical and Mechanical. Eng. Czesław Wituszyński became the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Outstanding scientists such as: Professor Witold Broniewski – eminent physical metallurgist, a student of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, and Henri de Chatelier'a, Professor Henry Mierzejewski – design engineer of shaping machine, theorist and practitioner in the field of Machining and Plastic Body Mechanics and Professor Stanislaw Płużański – expert in mechanical engineering issues and design industries. The Laboratory of metalworking was established at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It was organized by the Professor Henry Mierzejewski from scratch. It was the first research teaching institution engaging complex issues of mechanical technology. During this time, about 30% of students studied at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology.

1922-1923

Prof. H. Mierzejewski on his own initiative created a Unit at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Later, it became a Department of Technology, with plants – of Metallurgy and Metal Science (Prof. W. Broniewski) and Metal Processing (Prof. H. Mierzejewski). This period can be regarded as the inception of Technological Studies at the Warsaw University of Technology. The Schools of the two professors allowed creating alumni teams which developed teaching and research at the future Faculty of Technology: professors – Tadeusz Pełczynski, Szymanowski and Witold Kornel Wesołowski and associate professors - John Jaślan and Stefan Pokrasen. During this time, the Chair of Labor Policy and Industrial Enterprises were created at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It was led by Professor Charles Adamiecki – precursor of scientific organizations in Poland.

1922-1939

About 200 graduates completed their studies at Technology Department of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It should be emphasized that during this period not many technology departments were fully formed in scientific specializations. Unfortunately, war interrupted and restrained University activities.

Present Technology Old Building in 1934.

1939-1944
During the war, the Mechanics Edifice of Warsaw University of Technology was destroyed. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the name of Rotwand and Wawelberg School was transformed by the occupation authorities into the School of Mechanical Engineering of the II level. Most students participated in underground activities. There was clandestine teaching held in school buildings. In 1942, the State Technical University was launched by the occupation authorities including five Faculties: Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Technology, and Mechanical Engineering. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering included two units – Engineering and Technology. 

1945

After the war, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology resurrected. Its structure has been preserved and divided into two units – Engineering and Technology. Due to the German occupation, only 55 students conspiratorially completed technological studies which were based on pre-war programs at the Mechanical Faculty of Warsaw University of Technology. There were three diploma technological specializations: Metallurgy (Prof. K. Wesołowski), Machine Tools (Prof. W. Szymanowski), Machining (Prof. E. Steakhouse). After the war, it resumed its activities under another name, the School of Engineering of the name of H. Wawelberg and S. Rotwand. It had two units –Mechanical and Electrical one. Ludwig Uzarowicz became the Rector of the School and Jan Kunstetter became the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Since 1946, women began to be accepted in the School (earlier it was only for men).

1947

In 1947, the Engineering School of H. Wawelberg and S. Rotwand obtained the right to confer the title of engineer (and to all graduates since its formation). The construction of the building at 85 Narbutta Street was revived and restarted before the war (now known as the New Technology Building).

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACULTY

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

1951

On September 1^st, 1951, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering School of the name of H. Wawelberg and S. Rotwand emerged. They were based on organizational units of the Warsaw University of Technology. The first Dean and the organizer of the Faculty, during the years 1951-1952, was Professor Witold Szymanowski. In the academic years, 1951/52, the Faculty had nine chairs, four run so far: Processing of Metals, Metal Machining and Production Measurements, Construction Machine, Metallurgy, and five newly created: Production Engineering, Machine Operations, Fundamentals of Metal Forming, Fundamentals of Casting, Welding. Initially, research and teaching staff of the Faculty consisted of 44 people. They were independent researchers of Warsaw University of Technology (5 people) and the School of Engineering (2 people: Professor Ludwig Uzarowicz and Professor Władysław Gwiazdowski) and a team of 19 scientists, support staff of 18 science and technology workers. The Faculty was located in the Old Technology Building (formerly the School of Engineering) 86 Narbutta Street. In the years, 1953-1954, the New Technology Building was partly submitted to the Faculty at 85 Narbutta Street.

1952

The Faculty embarked on an undertaking – to organize and run Master’s degree studies, in addition to the already existing three – year Bachelor’s degree studies.

1953

The Engineering and Economic unit was established. It launched a new and unique at that time in Poland, field of Economic – Engineering study. The Chair of Organization, Economics and Planning in Mechanical Engineering became a part of the unit, created and led by prof. dr Severyn Chajtman. Initially, the Chair conducted only the additional Master's degree studies for engineers. Since 1954, it introduced a uniform full - time Master's degree studies, and since 1955, evening Master’s degree studies for working people. The Division of Fine Mechanics (precision engineering) had threes specializations: Optical Instruments, Measuring – tester, Hardware Mechanisms, and Board Instruments.

1954

The Faculty pursued technical extramural studies with two specializations:  Mechanical Engineering and Heavy (engineering) Machines.

1960
 The number of Mechanical Faculties reduced. It was due to organizational changes that took place in Warsaw University of Technology. The Chair of Mechanical Equipment became a part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (related to the traditions of the Armament Section which was established in the thirties in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering).  It originated from the three Chair specializations of the former Faculty of Mechanical Equipment), and the Chair of Physics.In the same year, the Economic – Engineering Department was established on the basis of the Department of Organization, Economics and Planning in the Machine Building Industry. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering was one of the largest Faculties of the Technology in Poland. It included 14 departments, where 5 full professors, 11 associate professors, 22 associate professors, 13 vice professors, 7 lecturers, 46 lecturers, 100 assistants, 31 assistants, 14 technical assistants and 50 technical and scientific staff, including - 299 employees were employed. 2300 students studied at the Faculty, including 1400 full – time students, about 600 students at the Master’s extramural studies – 300 at extension ones.

1962

The Faculty of Fine Mechanics was created at the Warsaw University of Technology. The department of Fine Mechanics entered the Mechanical Engineering Faculty. After the reorganization, the Faculty included 11 Chairs: Mechanics, Machine Parts "C", Metal Processing, Machine Tools, Production Engineering, Metallurgy, Metal Forming, Casting, Welding, Mechanical Equipment and Organization, Economics and Planning in Mechanical Engineering. In the new structure, which has stabilized in 1970, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering employed approximately 200 employees, including 150 teachers.

1966

Evening and extramural studies were introduced at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering after the incorporation of the Engineering Academy to the Warsaw University of Technology.

1967

There was a non – resident unit opened in Płock which belonged to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It included three specializations: Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Equipment, Machinery and Agricultural Machinery. Successively, the administering role of the unit was played by: Dr. Andrzej Gajewski, Associate Professor Eugeniusz Górski, Associate Professor Richard Smerczyński and Associate Professor Jerzy Jeleńkowski who after converting the unit into the Institute of Mechanics (in 1967), became its first director.

1970-1971

In the year 1970/71, reorganization of the structure of the Warsaw University of Technology took place according to the nation – wide tendencies. It converted itself into the Institute. There were six institutes set up at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical Technology, Chipless Forming, Mechanics, Metallurgy, Mechanical Building Equipment, and Management Organization.The Chair of Aviation and General Mechanical Technology was incorporated into the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering.

1973-1974

There was a reform program of study in that year. The result was to reduce the duration of Master’s degree studies to 4.5 years. A new field of study - Organization and Industrial Management was introduced as well as the changes in conducting the specialties. Two specializations were formed: Engineering Technology (with Machining, Metal Forming, Casting, Welding, Plastics Processing, and Design Processes) and Machine Tools and Technological Equipment.

1975

The new field of study - Materials Engineering was launched at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The former Institute of Metallurgy has been transformed into the Institute of Materials Technology with the rights of Faculty.

1976

The Faculty celebrated its 25^th anniversary, under the direction of the Dean Prof. Stanisław Piwowar. In 25 years, the Faculty promoted more than 4,500 graduates.

1977-1979

Signs of impending socio-economic crisis in the country also influenced the activities of universities. There was a significant decrease in the number of candidates for technological studies. However, in this difficult time Faculty of Mechanical Engineering was the second largest, after the Faculty of Electronics. It had 2200 students.

1981-1982

The academic year started in a new organizational situation - with the Government Management Board, as the representative governing body of the Faculty and the Scientific Council - a body with powers of researchers (doctoral and habilitation). Since December 14^th, with the introduction of the martial law, the activities of the University have been suspended.  Student organizations and trade unions stopped their activities. In 1982, in January 20 classes were renewed.

1982-1983

This academic year started under the terms of the new law on Higher Education System, with the appointed Dean and the Faculty Council, numbering 90 people with 39 professors and associate professors. The first year of study enrolled 112 students. 917 full-time students studied at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, 330 in the evening and 79 - AC studies in collaboration with mechanical firms "Ursus". In November 30, 1982 there was an official meeting of the Faculty Council due to the 30th anniversary of the Faculty, then headed by the Dean Professor Paul Murza-Mucha.

1983-1984

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Student Government was established. In June 1983, at the initiative of the Dean Prof. Paul Murza-Mucha, there was a Consultative Board appointed, which included 20 industrial representatives, research and development units of industry and engineer - graduates of the Faculty. Unfortunately, the activities of the Council did not bring the expected results in the form of support of the Faculty by the industry.

1985

Since August 1985, the amended Act on Higher Education came into force. In March 1986, the Statute of the University was enacted. The elected representative, who was chosen from the group of the professors, entered the Senate, next to the Dean of the Faculty. There was a further decline of interest in studies at the Faculty and the period of study was extended. This year was marked by the repression and redundancies.

1987

December 16, 1987, Prof. Stanislaw Lis took office of the Dean and he was the first to become the Dean of the Faculty elected by the Council.

1988-1989

In the academic year 1988-1989, a new field of study was launched at the Faculty. It was Automation and Robotics with the specialization of Automation of Industrial Processes.

TRANSFORMATION OF FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING INTO
 THE FACULTY OF MECHANICAL AND AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY 

1989

On December 1^st 1989, at the request of the Faculty Council, the Faculty has been renamed to Mechanical Technology and Automation. There were also substantial organizational changes taking place at the Faculty. The Faculty Commission for the Future Affairs has developed a project of changes under the management of the Professor Władysław Włosiński. As a result of these changes, four institutes emerged in the Faculty: Institute of Mechanical Technology, Institute of Chipless Technology, Institute of Mechanics and Construction- created from the merger of institutes Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Equipment Building, and the Institute of Organization of Production Systems. The number of 388 people worked at the Faculty, including 181 academic staff (20 professors and 16 associate professors), 140 engineering and technical staff and 31 administrative staff.

1990

Initiated work has started on the development of strategy of the Faculty. The strategy included, inter - alia, the priority directions of research and long-term forecast of the development of the staff. At the same time, the extensive program and organizational work have been undertaken on the new study conception aiming towards transforming the Faculty into a modern research and teaching unit, integrating the activities of the institutes and representing the Engineering Sciences, Technology and Management Sciences.

1991-1992

Faculty celebrated its 40^th anniversary. In this academic year, the Faculty gathered a large number of students: 679 students at five-year full-time Master’s studies, 136 students of external studies and 68 of complementary Master’s studies (Management and Marketing). PhD studies were also started. The program and regulations of these studies have been developed by its first director – Professor Bogdan Nowicki. This year also inaugurated a very dynamic development of international cooperation. The Faculty initially appeared as a participant and later as a contractor and coordinator of many projects (TEMPUS, COPERNICUS, PHARE, TESSA, LEONARDO DA VINCI, and SOCRATES). Thanks to this cooperation many students and staffwere leaving for internships and to study abroad. 

1992-1993

This year started the implementation of the new system of study at the Faculty of Mechanical Technology and Automation, which was substantially different from previous forms. For the first time,three fields of study were provided with the flexible organization of full-time studies at the Warsaw University of Technology. It included: Automatics and Robotics, Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, Management and Marketing. The new organization of the course of study opened the significant customization of education for the students through the possibility of choice of one of the seven specializations, and one of the 22 profiles of study, teaching auditorium limit to 24 hours a week, the right to choose 240 hours of elective subjects and 600 hours of complementary subjects.

1994

Centre for the Promotion of Technology and Productivity was established at the Faculty. It was conceived as a promotional center for highly advanced methods of design of Machinery and Technological Equipment, technology and computer-integrated flexible manufacturing systems, quality assurance methods and productivity, modeling of manufacturing systems and enterprise management systems.

1994-1995

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation of Warsaw University of Technology launched unique parallel studies on a national scale. These studies will allow best students to study simultaneously at their parent field of study and, in the evening class mode, conducted by the Institute of Production of Organization Systems in field of the Management and Marketing.

TRANSFORMATION OF THE FACULTY OF
 MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION INTO–

 THE FACULTY OF PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

31/06/1995

Warsaw University Senate adopted a resolution to change the current name of the Faculty of MechanicalTechnology and Automation into the Faculty of Production Engineering. There were also other internal organizational changes:

The Institute of Chipless Technology - change of name into the Institute of Materials Processing

1997-2000

The Faculty has produced several unique laboratories: the Laboratory for Machine Tools Erosion, Laboratory of Automated Manufacturing Systems and Engineering Laboratory Bonding (in the Institute of Production Engineering), Ergonomics Laboratory (in the Institute of Production and Organization Systems) and the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory and the Technology Laboratory of Heavy Alloys (Institute of Mechanics and Design.)

In the same year the implementation began of the University – wide Priority Program under the name of the New Technologies. The program was positioned at the Faculty of Production Engineering and Professor Bogdan Nowicki was the head of it. Research on about 30 topics was carried out within the confines of this program, mostly by the employees of the Faculty. 

1998

In 1997-98, the restructuring program was created due to the bad financial situation of the Faculty. It was assumed, that the program will increase the number of students through the enrollment to the specialization of Production Engineering. It also assumed development of doctoral studies, conversion of shop premises in the classrooms, reducing employment, closing the deficit in the experimental workshop.

1998

As a result of development of the program, new external Bachelor’s studies were launched majoring in Marketing and Management (recruitment of about 100 people). The Council of Higher Education, under pressure from other Universities, changed the relevant proposals of the Faculty.  It inscribed the Management and Production Engineering discipline into the register (with a lower level of funding) instead of the Production Engineering one. In this situation, Faculty of Production Engineering has launched a specialization within the field of study of Mechanical Engineering discipline (recruiting 90 people). The PhD studies have launched a new specialization of Production Management, Technology Transfer and Technological Innovation, which from the beginning has gained very high popularity. 

1999

For the Management and Marketing programs developed and launched graduate courses (Master of Science degree giving). The Faculty also developed guidelines and began implementing a quality system of education. Design works were completed and it achieved 70% of the funding for the construction of the internal flank of the New Technology Building.

2000

The construction of internal study of the New Technology Building started (2000 m2, including three auditoriums, training, computer and laboratory classrooms). Simultaneously, the Faculty of Production Engineering took over an area of 1200 m2 in the New Technology Building from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (in conjunction with the construction of the new building for this Faculty at Wołoska Street). This area was utilized for classrooms, laboratories and employees’ rooms. In 2000, nearly 2600 students studied at the Faculty of Production Engineering, including 1700 full-time students, 670 for evening and extramural studies and 255 for PhD studies. The Faculty employed 300 workers, including 187 academic staff (36 Professors and Associate Professors, 77 lecturers, 31 assistants and 40 lecturers). 

2004

The Faculty of Production Engineering has extended its offer with a new discipline of teaching “Management and Production Engineering”, offering both technical and organizational knowledge.

2006

The Institute of Printing was transferred from the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography into the Faculty of Production Engineering.

2008

The Faculty of Management isolates itself from the Faculty of Production Engineering. The Institute of Printing unites with the Institute of Mechanics and Design Institute. There is a concomitant transformation of the Printing Institute into the Department of PrintingTechnology.

2009

A new server has been run that supports complete IT needs of the Faculty of Production Engineering. 

2010

The evaluation of quality of education by the State Accreditation Committee for three disciplines of education was positive. Papermaking and Printing (tothe academic year 2013/14), Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering (2015/16) and the Automation and Robotics (to 2016/17) received a positive grade. Obtaining such favorable ratings was associated with a great efforts and organization and adaptation skills of the staff to new needs.

FACULTY OF PRODUCTION ENGINEERING IN NUMBERS 

Until 1995, the Faculty of Production Engineering was known as the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation and earlier as the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It belongs to the biggest technological Faculties in Poland. In 2006, more than 2,800 students studied at the Faculty and more than 90 PhD students. After separation of the Faculty of Management, this number dropped slightly and now comes to about 2400 students. Currently, more than 250 employees are working at the Faculty, including more than 150 research and teaching employees, and 27 professors and associate professors. Many prominent Polish scientists worked, or came from the Faculty. They include, inter- alia, such notables as: professor Adamiecki - a precursor to management science, prof. Mierzejewski - world-class scientist and designer of Machine

The numbers of graduates in the years 1951-2011.

Tools, professor Pełczynski, professor Marciniak and professor Skarbiński - world-class scientists and engineers in the field of Metal Forming and Casting. Currently, the Members of the Polish Academy of Sciences are: Professor Zdzisław Marciniak and Professor Włosiński Władysław, who is also a foreign member of Chinese Academy of Engineering - leading scientists and practitioners in the field of Metal Forming and Welding Engineering Metals.So far, the Faculty promoted nearly 470 doctors of technical and economicalsciences and 90 doctors of sciences. The Faculty boasts one of the largest staff of professors and doctors among Technology Faculties and qualifications to confer degrees: Ph.D. and postdoctoral in the field of technical sciences, “Design and Operation of Machines" and “Mechanics”, doctor of economic sciences in the field of "Management Science "(until 2008, when the Faculty of Management separated).