Your manufacturing experience is a massive advantage but not all Design Engineering departments fully appreciate that yet. I work independently now, basically providing coaching for Engineers who are missing that experience and helping to bridge that skills and experience gap for the companies...
I started in design engineering and have experience in production and in quality control before returning to design engineering and consultancy. Taking all factors such as over-time, work life balance, money, enjoyment, freedom etc into consideration, production and quality were the worst.
I...
There are websites that specialise in connecting expertise with companies in need. Freelancers and consultants are registered with them and either available to view or connect with directly or via a request submitted to the site. I'm cautious about posting the links here but a quick google...
In a previous role, I was Engineering Manager in a small company and one of the 5 strong management team that ran the company for the MD, including 2 Production Managers, a Finance Manager and a HR Manager. At management meetings, all I remember the HR Manager ever saying was "you can't do...
Subsearobot, typically at what stage of maturity is a project at when you receive it and when you pass it on to the next stage? for example are you being told "here is a problem, solve it" or "design this widget, here is the spec" or "here is our final concept, make it work" and do you pass on...
Advocates of Design Thinking will probably argue with me here, claiming it to be so much more but in my opinion Design Thinking is just product design wrapped up in a fancy title with numbered stages so experts can sell a unique, nicely packaged 'information product'. Don't get me wrong, there...
When you have a very specific career path in mind you need to research the industry, define the exact job(s) that you want to be doing in it (i.e. company, role, title, responsibilities etc) and talk to the people doing those jobs and the employers who are hiring them. Find out from them exactly...
More info on the application, who you are trying to keep out and the risk level you are protecting would be useful.
For example if it is a commercial product for use in homes with a relatively minor risk if the part is opened (i.e. you just need to look like you have considered it) then check...
Just came across this article and this thread came to mind. I'm maybe way off field here but thought there might at least be some inspiration or research benefit in this.
Link
Declan Scullion CEng
www.leandfm.com
Total Design by Pugh as suggested is a good call. Possibly even the Toyota Way by Liker is another good option, it is not just a manufacturing system it relates to total quality management including the product development process. Another option for you is to google "Design For . . ." could be...
So you understand how to run the plant, you have the respect of the operators you mentioned, it sounds like you can work very effectively with the non engineers you mentioned in the original post, your value is seen by the next boss up who over ruled your boss to have you at meetings . . . Ever...
I think what a few people here have missed is the fact that you already have a degree, albeit not engineering related, but that required a certain level of intelligence and means that you have a certain appreciation for what is involved. If you have your eyes open and are prepared to put in the...
Very good point GeoEnvGuy about providing a vision and senior guidance. Not to sound like a millennial hugger but professionals need more than 9 to 5 and a pay cheque, they need to see the bigger picture, believe they are really contributing to something and feel supported.
I'd say a new...
I have never seen estimating hours work out, either because of padding as mentioned or because the engineer becomes annoyed at the person doing the estimating's lack of understanding or lack of appreciation of the value of what they do. Imagine being given a dart, then being blindfolded, pointed...
Is the sole purpose of this activity to rate the effectiveness of the engineering team? Or will these estimates be used for costing or quoting purposes?
If it is just to rate effectiveness then why use time as the metric? . . .bear with me, metrics to measure engineering performance are a...
A couple of comments suggesting that the supervisor may see more bigger picture factors than you do and actually is making an educated decision based on experience. Fair point, but if your supervisor/manager/person you look to for guidance and direction, isn't prepared to offer you that...
Agreed, A succinct summary of my experience as hinted to in my comment. I have a lot of experience with those small companies. I would add though (almost in their defence) that the profit they chase is most often return on their investment in their development. Their decision to favour profit...
In direct reference to the OP's original question: should an engineer take on a project they do not have experience in? I would have to say from the big picture point of view, if an engineers never took on work they weren't experienced in, then they would never develop experience. I would...
Was in a very similar situation to Agent666 and MoltenMetal in my first engineering job, small company start-up, only two engineers designing products, both of us fresh out of uni. In my first performance (and salary) review the MD actually said to me "Sure you are single with no children or...
18 HP engine should be more than enough although you may have to play about with number of belts and tension if you go down that route rather than chain drive.
As for hydraulics, you might find the size of tank required for those speeds and the associated weight of the oil not to mention the...
