Engineers in the Computer Age

By Robert MoteMotagg Solutions

Presented to CPGCE June 13 2007, Danish Club

More than ten years experience applying the specialised principles for electronic calculations in: - ABB Lummus Global, Holland, departmental procedure established 1999, applied extensively to all projects. Part of QA/QC procedures. - AMEC London, Macro development and word reports. - Fluor Camberley, taught to Korean Workshare partners. - Fluor Calgary, taught to New Delhi Workshare partners - Jacobs Calgary, taught to Mumbai/Charleston/Edmonton Workshare partners

Credentials

6. When was the last time you received any PC training ?

Questions

1. Do you like doing calculations ?

2. When was the last time you talked about calculations ?

3. Ever seen a calculation that impressed you ?

4. How do you use MS Word ?

5. How do you use MS Excel ?

Calculations

Engineers Technology

The rise of the designers

The impact of MS Windows

Changing standards

The Past The Future

Calculations

Engineers Technology

The Market place

Conventional Calculations

Electronic Calculations

versus

A calculation is a calculation is a calculation

Or is it?

Hard CopyCalculation

MSExcel

RISAStaadPro

MSVisio

MathCad

Third party apps

Document Management

system

MS Word

Hand-written

notepad

PDF format

Conventional calculationsCurrent methodology

Cover Sheet

Intro

Model

Loads

Parameters

Load dia.

Analysis

Results 1

Results 2

Conclusions

Hard CopyCalculation

MSExcel

RISAStaadPro

MSVisio

MathCad

Third party apps

Document Management

system

Hand-written

notepad

PDF format

Conventional calculationsCurrent methodology

Cover sheet

Intro

Model

Loads

Parameters

Load dia.

Analysis

Results 1

Results 2

Conclusions

Accuracy

Detailed

100% coverage

All in my head

Mirrors final design exactly

Quantity-based

MSWord

MSExcel

RISAStaadProSframe

MathCad

Translation

Third party apps

PDF format

Electronic calculationsRecommended practice

Importing data

Importing data

Document Management

system

Soft CopyCalculation

Hard CopyCalculation

-

VBA Macros

MSWord

MSExcel

RISAStaadProSframe

Translation

Third party apps

PDF format

Electronic calculationsRecommended practice

Importing data

Importing data

Document Management

system

Soft CopyCalculation

Hard CopyCalculation

Reasonable

Summarised

Critical design

All on paper

Minimum basis for design

-

VBA Macros

Quality-based

Engineers and The Market Place

Outsourcing

Emerging Markets

Changing Environments

Using the Tools

The Engineering Outsourcing DebateThe impact of engineering outsourcing on the global economy is a discussion of keen interest.

Consistent reporting of problematic engineering graduation data has been used to fuel fears that America is losing its technological edge.

Typical articles have stated that in 2004 the number of undergraduate engineers are: United States 70,000 India 350,000 China 600,000

Framing the Engineering Outsourcing Debate: Placing the United States on a Level Playing Field with China and IndiaMaster of Engineering Management Program, December 2005Duke School of Engineering

• capable of abstract thinking and high-level problem solving using scientific knowledge.• thrive in teams, • work well across international borders, • have strong interpersonal skills, and are • capable of translating technical engineering jargon into common diction.

Dynamic engineers lead innovation.

The majority of dynamic engineers have a minimum of a four-year engineering degree from nationally accredited or highly regarded institutions.

DYNAMIC ENGINEERS

may possess engineering fundamentals, but not the experience• lack experience or expertise to apply this knowledge to larger problems.

These individuals are typically responsible for rote and repetitive tasks in the workforce.

Transactional engineers often receive associate, technician or diploma awards rather than a bachelor’s degree.

TRANSACTIONAL ENGINEERS

5080

46

INDIA

CHINA

USA

DYNAMIC

TRANSACTIONAL

2005

What is the Future ?

2015 2025

EUROPE

CANADA

So are we really dynamic ?

Do 80% of us become transactional over the course of our career?

How to find the dynamic impulse ?

Doesn’t computers give us an advantage ?

A window of opportunity

Are we talking the same language?

Is the writing on the wall ?

The Road to the Future

A window of Opportunity

Quattro

Fox P

ro

WordS

tar

BB

C D

ragon

IBM

Mainfram

e

MS

Office

Fortran since 1954MS Excel 5.0 launched 1993MS Excel 1.0 launched 1985

MS Word 6.0 launched 1992

Are we talking the same language?

Plankalkul 1945, Konrad Zuse, Nazi Germany Over 2000 programming languages developed since 1972

FortranBASIC

++C

C

+C

PascalCOBOL

Over 200 programming languages developed between 1952 and 1972

VBA

dBASE II

ADA

LISP

HTML

XML

Eiffel

Mathematica

Java

Simula

CSP

HaskellOberon

APL

Prolog

FP

5OPS

Parlog

CLOS

( )CLP R

/PL I

Where did we go wrong?

Defaults

Delegated quality to third party

WYSIWYG WYPIWYG

Anecdote of the 3 dp setting

Graphical Dyslexia

Lack of Visualisation

Shoulder-Shrugging Syndrome

The Blinkers

Poor benchmarks

MS Word

MS Excel

VBA Macros

Conventional Calcs

Electronic Calcs

A set of pro-forma calculation templates to be used by engineers

It’s also a culture shock

A MS Word document conforming to QA/QC requirements of the project/company

It’s about how to give engineers the techniques to be more effective.

Using the Tools

Conventional

Quality -VariableHard copy only No Template

No Clear procedure followedPoor Structure - inconsistentNo historyCannot be translated easilyTitle onlyLittle interestNot accessible project-wide“ Can do better but….”Engineers don’t talk to each otherMaximum effort - poor impact

Quality - Knockout StandardElectronic copy - Hard copy available Template calculations with headings and pages numberedClear procedures followedHighly Structured - ConsistentHistory available Can be translated easilyTitle and calculation document presetMore interest generatedTotally accessible project-wide“ Will do better, no buts….”Engineers encouraged talk to each otherBecomes minimum effort - maximum impactMinimum benchmark for future project

Electronic

My experience of Electronic Reports- Clients/third party impressed with the standard.- Engineers more productive, energized, enthusiasm.- Engineers are working in the same direction. - Creates a stimulating, open and competitive environment.- Significant savings in project hours.- Helps engineers establish a benchmark for the future.- Helps lead engineer control the project.- Redresses the balance in engineer/designer training.

- Training is on-the-job.- It is a refreshing cultural revolution for engineers.- It’s about positive techniques.- Puts calculations on a par with the drawings as a deliverable.

The Benefits

MS Word

Development of consistent corporate procedures.

Increasing the engineers productivity in an era of dwindling resources.

Increasing the engineers’ skill base.

Improvement in quality of calculations.

Easier to check, easier to ask questions.

The report style can be fixed, communicated and demonstrated.

Substantial savings in engineering time,

Enables delegating of separate sections to different engineers.

The Road to the Future

Be dynamic

Be innovative

Improve your technological skills

Align knowledge with technology

Align technology with your experience

Take responsibility for quality