Introduction to Engineering

Introduction to Engineering

• Engineering involves inventing, designing, developing, manufacturing, testing, selling, and servicing products.
• Engineering is applying math and science with judgment to use nature's resources for mankind's benefit, as defined by ABET.
• Common interests in engineering involve proficiency in math and science, suggestions from high school counselors, family ties, job prospects, and high salaries.
• It is important that students understand the career and the available paths while matching their strengths and talents.

The Engineer vs. The Scientist

• Scientists seek to understand why phenomena occur, while engineers seek solutions with application in mind.
• Scientists explore what exists, while engineers create what doesn't exist, according to Von Karman.
• Science focuses on acquiring new knowledge and asks "Why?" to expand the knowledge base.
• Engineering asks "Why?" with constant consideration for application, demand, cost, societal impact, and environmental impact.
• Examples of the engineer vs scientists:
  • Scientists study planets for understanding, while engineers design spacecraft.
  • Scientists study atomic structure for understanding, while engineers use it to build microprocessors.
  • Scientists study the nervous system to understand diseases, while engineers design artificial limbs.
  • Scientists create compounds, while engineers create mass-production processes.
  • Scientists study tectonic plates, while engineers design safer buildings.

The Engineer vs. The Engineering Technologist

• Engineering Technology is applying scientific and engineering knowledge with technical skills for engineering activities; it bridges the gap between the craftsman and the engineer, as defined by ABET.
• Technologists use existing technology to produce goods, working with machines and equipment.
• Engineers create new technology through research, design, development and they study extra math and science.
• Examples include:
  • A technologist identifies networking equipment, whereas an engineer designs new computer boards.
  • A technologist develops a manufacturing process, whereas an engineer designs the new machine.
  • A technologist analyzes a production line, whereas an engineer develops computer simulation.
  • A technologist identifies equipment for assembly, while an engineer designs the product.
  • A technologist identifies building materials, while an engineer determines support structures.

What Do Engineers Do?

• The Cubic Model illustrates different engineering roles by major, job function, and industrial sector.
• Industrial sectors depend on companies and agencies that employ engineers.
• Explore by placement centers, job fairs, seminars, internet searches, faculty, shadowing, internships, and electives.

Engineering Functions

• Research is similar to a scientist, exploring principles to overcome barriers, with an interest in breakthrough applications.
  • Methods involve conducting experiments, using computational techniques (mathematical models, simulations).
  • The work environment includes research centers such as universities, government labs, and industrial centers.
• Development bridges the gap between research and production, it applies research findings to specific products or applications.
  • This involves using laboratory findings and shows they work on a large scale under actual conditions; uses pilot plants or prototypes.
  • Example: Concept cars in the automotive industry; testing new design concepts and technology.
• Testing designs and implements tests to verify product integrity, reliability, and quality.
  • Challenges include simulating real-world conditions and acquiring accurate and reliable data.
  • Methods include data acquisition and instrumentation (radiotelemetry).
  • Collaboration involves working with design, development engineers, technicians, craftspeople, and management.
• Design provides detailed product specifications and is responsible for components or parts.
  • Considerations include dimensions, form, reliability, safety standards, manufacturing costs, and consumer appeal.
  • Collaboration involves working with analysis and test engineers, manufacturing engineers, and marketing.
• Analysis uses mathematical models and computing for design, development, and research.
  • Specialization involves expertise in technology areas like heat transfer, fluid flow, and vibrations.
  • Validation involves compares test data to predictions and coordinates with test engineers.
• Systems works with overall design, development, manufacture, and operation of complete systems.
  • Responsibilities include ensuring component interface, identifying design requirements, and meeting overall design requirements.
  • This often requires graduate work.
• Manufacturing and Construction turns design specifications into reality and develops processes to make products.
  • Responsibilities include developing processes, ensuring quality and repeatability, maintaining equipment, tracking inventories, maintaining a safe workplace.
  • Collaboration involves working with design engineers, trade workers, and management.
  • Construction Engineering it is similar to manufacturing engineering but outdoors.
• Operations and Maintenance oversees performance of facilities and maintains production lines, equipment, and systems.
  • Collaboration involves working with manufacturing engineers, line workers, and technicians.
  • Airlines (safety inspections), medical facilities (equipment maintenance) are examples.
• Technical Support links the customer and product and assists with installation, setup, and troubleshooting.
  • Skills include interpersonal and problem-solving abilities, plus technical training.
  • Examples include on-site installation supervision, helpline support, and diagnosing design flaws.
• Customer Support links the manufacturer and customer and is involved in the business aspects of customer relationships.
  • Skills include technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, and business training.
  • Responsibilities include customer satisfaction, warranty issues, and contractual agreements.
• The role of Sales is to bring a technical background to answer customer questions and concerns.
  • Skills include interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, and product application knowledge.
  • Selling aircraft to airlines and selling sophisticated technological products are examples.
• Consulting provides technical expertise to organizations and may be self-employed or work for a firm.
  • An example is designing cooling towers, evaluating organizational effectiveness, and providing recommendations.

Requirements for Engineers

• Registration as professionals is necessary.
• Engineers often move into management positions.
• Skills include technical ability, problem-solving skills, and leadership skills.
• Responsibilities include managing engineers or support personnel, overseeing business aspects of a corporation.
• Examples of Other Fields include law (patent law, corporate liability law), education, medicine, business.

Engineering Majors Includes

• Aerospace Engineering: -This involves flight within and outside Earth's atmosphere.
  • Includes aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, controls, orbital mechanics, and life sciences.
• Agricultural Engineering:
  • Is the production and processing of agricultural products.
  • Includes power machinery, food processing, soils and water, structures, electrical technologies, and bioengineering.
• Architectural Engineering involves the coordination between an architect's creativity and technology specialists' competencies.
  • It includes structural, electrical and lighting, mechanical systems, construction engineering, and management.
• Biological Engineering integrates biology and engineering and advances understanding of biological systems while developing biology-based technologies.
  • Applications include disease treatment, novel materials, and environmental health.
• Biomedical Engineering applies engineering principles to meet medical community needs.
  • Areas include bioengineering, medical device and treatment development, and clinical systems.
• Chemical Engineering emphasizes chemistry and chemical nature of products and processes and designs processess to mass-produce products.
  • Areas include chemical production facilities, energy sources, bioproducts, circuit boards, and system modeling.
• Civil Engineering meets societal needs and includes structural, environmental, transportation, water resources, surveying, urban planning, and construction engineering.
• Computer Engineering focuses on computer hardware; designs operating systems, compilers, and other software that interfaces with hardware.
  • Areas include computer architecture, electronics to interface with computers, computer networks, security, and artificial intelligence.
• Electrical Engineering presents a wide range of opportunities, including computers, communications, circuits, control, instrumentation, signal processing, bioengineering, and power.
• Environmental Engineering improves and protects the environment with disposal, remediation, and prevention.
  • Areas include waste disposal, site remediation, pollution prevention, and sustainable development.
• Industrial Engineering designs, improves, and installs integrated systems of people, material, and energy.
  • Areas include production, manufacturing, human factors, and operations research.
• Marine and Ocean Engineering explores oceans, transportation over water, and the use of ocean resources.
  • Areas include marine engineering (ships and boats) and ocean engineering (submersibles, underwater structures, ocean-structure interaction).
• Materials Engineering develops new materials and processes with a focus on structure, properties, processes, and performance.
  • This includes metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and biomaterials.
• Mechanical Engineering includes machines and mechanical devices, controls, and thermal sciences.
  • Areas include design, controls, acoustics, fluid flow, heat transfer, engines, power generation, HVAC, manufacturing processes, and bioengineering.
• Mining Engineering focuses on discovery, removal, and processing of minerals.
  • Areas include exploration, mining, mineral processing, equipment design, and transportation.
• Nuclear Engineering uses and controls energy from nuclear sources.
  • Areas include electricity production, propulsion systems, waste disposal, and radiation applications.
• Petroleum Engineering focuses on exploration, removal, transportation, and refining of petroleum.
  • Areas include exploration, drilling, transportation, and refining.

Other Fields

• Examples: Automotive, acoustical, applied mathematics, engineering science, engineering management, excavation, fire, forest, general, genetic, geological, inventive design, packaging, pharmaceutical, plastics, power, systems, theater, transportation, and welding.