I read this on a whim and now I'm amazed: I never considered algorithms as part of mechanical engineering. Very clever. And in a pedantic reading of Richard Dawkins, this is the kind of "meme" he was talking about.
Oh, yes. Metal work is all about calculating. The classic book is "Machinery's Handbook", published for 105 years. Machinist's toolboxes often have a built-in space for it.