Engineer Changes the Name of "Drawn By" on Eng Drawing 5

[jerry1423]

I work for engineers who I do design and drawing work for who have been taking my name off the "drawn by" in the title block and adding their name to it.
There is a place in the title block for "Checked By" and "Approved By" , which in the place their name should go, but they seem to want it in the "Drawn By" box.
I take lots of pride in the drawings that I do, and I really don't want my name written over, and I don't like somebody getting credit for something that I did.
The company does not seem to mind this, but I really don't know for sure.
So my question, Are there any legal issues that can come from doing this ?

Jerry J.
UGV5-NX1884

 

[JAE]

No legal issues that I see at all.

This is more of an in-house company policy and managerial issue.
I would simply communicate your thoughts to your direct supervisor. Do they know this upsets you?

 

[jerry1423]

No, they do not know.
I learned a long time ago not to complain, but maybe at my next review I will bring it up.

Jerry J.
UGV5-NX1884

 

[RVAmeche]

I understand your feeling, and it's odd, but if that's the way the company wants to do it, so be it. If it's just one engineer who wants his name on everything that may be something to bring up.

For what it's worth, some title blocks also have a "designed by" portion for the engineer since CAD techs use to do most of the actual drawing.

Note that coin flips the other way too - sometimes having your name on a drawing is not ideal there's issues during startup/construction.

 

[fel3]

Jerry…

If nothing else, your company is practicing poor document control. And, I think it's demeaning as well.

Fred

============
"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[moon161]

Seems petty to this CAD jockey

 

[jerry1423]

One issue that I have is some of these are very complicated solid models that I did, and the engineer would have no idea how to do them.
I also am extremely picky about the quality of my drawings, and that they are done according to drafting standard.
In other words they are not the half-butt drawings that most engineers do.
I worked for 20 years as a Draftsman before completing my BS MET degree (mostly nights), so I am one of those guys who has (good) old school drafting practices along with the technical knowledge to get things done right the first time.

Jerry J.
UGV5-NX1884

 

[1gibson]

Dear John Doe's supervisor,

I see that John Doe is in the habit of removing my name and putting his in the "drawn by" field for certain drawings/models (examples: dwg 123, 345, 567, etc.) It doesn't look like he is changing much of anything, so I sure hope he isn't charging too much time to those tasks. I also don't think he could answer in sufficient detail if technical questions come up later, so I'd prefer to keep my name there for more efficient support / troubleshooting if needed.

Sincerely,
jerry1423

 

[CWB1]

I'd suggest that if this is your biggest issue with your employer then be happy and let it be. Many companies today have gone to electronic approvals via PLM with nothing recorded on prints anymore as to who created, checked, or approved them. Within the mega-corps its also not uncommon to see print ownership logged rather than approvals, the logic being that the guys who did the work originally aren't important vs who owns the work now. I've worked for several companies where my name disappeared once the approval workflow was complete, and my manager's replaced it.

 

[GregLocock]

change the title box

Drawn by : jerry
Under the direction of : Lazy PE

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[JAE]

In other words they are not the half-butt drawings that most engineers do.

...Thems are fightin' words!!....

 

[Agent666]

Anytime you see someone else doing a shit job, remember to change the drawings 'drawn by' field to this persons name on the drawing. He'll appreciate it right? being the first port of call when somethings gone pear shaped will make them feel very important.

I assume they do it to everyone?

Agree regarding the poor document control. I want to know in 5 years who produced the drawing, so this person is the first port of call if I have any questions.

If they are doing it to claim they had more input than was reality, then the ethics involved on this persons part need to be questioned.

Then a discussion with your boss along the lines of 1gibson noted might be warranted. If you have a policy of requiring those who draw it to have their name in this location then get someone else to remind him that he is not complying with the company best practice, etc.

 

[TheTick]

Seems somewhat analagous to the "inventor" designation on patents. Attributing inventorship is statutory. The actual person who did the inventing needs to be listed. Not the boss. Not the company. (Some companies chronically flout this rule .)

This coukd get sticky off there's ever a deposition. (True story.)

 

[CWB1]

Seems somewhat analagous to the "inventor" designation on patents. Attributing inventorship is statutory. The actual person who did the inventing needs to be listed.

Incorrect, under the AIA only a designated rep needs to be listed.

 

[hawkaz]

This may be a way to prevent contractors from calling and asking for the wrong person. Don't know if the OP is qualified to answer technical questions that may come up.

 

[phamENG]

I agree that changing the title block is probably the best way to go, though you'd have to explain the situation to management to make it happen. I'm used to seeing the following fields: "Drawn By:", "Engineer:" (or "Designed by" but that doesn't always work depending on your company's possible distinction between engineers and designers), and "Checked by:". You can even add a forth for "Approved By:". That way, you can say you drew it, the engineer can say he's the engineer, and whoever does the QC check after him can sign off. If there's another line of review, they can approve it. Everyone gets their due credit.

 

[thebard3]

This happens to me not only with drawings but with other kinds of project documentation like SOPs, PSM documents, etc. I voice my disdain to supervision and it's clear that they just don't care. It's unethical, but I figure it also provides plausible deniability if there's an incident of some sort.

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.

 

[skeletron]

There should probably be a "Designed by" box to go along with the "Drawn by", "Checked by", and "Approved by". The person shouldn't be taking your initials off the drawing unless they are making major modifications to it. And, I agree with you, it is a bit of a p*ss off when you spend time doing something that you are proud of and then somebody comes and removes your initials from the work. It's so trivial because you are all on the same team. But it does happen. When it happened to me (not on a drawing, but on a calculation sheet I had programmed) I let it fly once as if it were a mistake and then approached the person when I saw it becoming a regular thing.

 

[FACS]

They shouldn't call it "Drawn by" anything. No one is actually drawing.

So don't put your name in there at all.
or
Fill in all the boxes with your name and hope one sticks.

Why be so proud to draw something someone else thought of or engineered.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Question for the OP; what your company produces, are there any chances that a failure could result in significant lose of property or even human life? If so, an accurate 'paper trail' may be critical if there ever was a legal issue resulting from a failure where there was a significant lose of property or an injury or fatality. Also, you've not mentioned whether you or the engineers of concern are licensed. Do any of you hold a license as a Professional Engineer?

While I have no real background in the law, except perhaps my first-hand experience dealing with patent issues, I can't help but think that altering the official records dealing with products produced by your company, or even if it was as a subcontractor, that there could be legal implications. At a minimum, I think your direct supervisor, if it's NOT one of the engineers of concern, should be made aware of this situation, if for no other reason than to protect yourself in the future.

Anyway, that's just some personal thoughts and advice. Please take it with that in mind.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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