Manufacturing competitiveness has been selected in areas of national priority and in areas aligned with EU Horizon 2020. The IMC31 conference uniquely showcases research undertaken in academia and industry by postgraduate students and experienced researchers in manufacturing engineering domains. The conference was held at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and jointly hosted by University College Cork (UCC) on the 4th and 5th of September 2014. The theme of this conference was "The Engineer in the Innovation Ecosystem", which highlights innovation and entrepreneurship amongst engineers across all sectors.