Mechanical Aptitude Test

[farmer2]

Does anyone know of a mechanical aptitude test that could be given to applicants for a job requiring ability to trouble shoot and inspect equipment?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

The Army will be happy to give you one...

Check w/ a local community college or psychologist

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

farmer2,
That's difficult to answer without knowing wht the "equipment" is. (Agricultural, scientific, heavy industrial, musical, ???)

... but what could be better than actual problems with the equipment in question.

 

[MintJulep]

There may be some ideas for you here:

http://www.att.com/gen/careers?pid=9245

 

[farmer2]

Thanks to all for replies.

CoreBlimeyLimey,
The equipment is for a tree service, which has truck mounted man lifts, saws, tools, etc. So we are talking mechanical, hydraulic and I assume light electric troubleshooting. The applicant hired would also work in the field supervising job foremen.

 

[bklauba]

Hopefully they will avoid this . .

BK

 

[TheTick]

Start with something simple. I'm sure you'll sift out most of the riffraff on literacy alone.

 

[Gymmeh]

Similar to Tick, keep it simple.

Are there any major problems you face everyday that you could water down, for the purpose of an interview?

Or have a failure from the past that you could have the person look over and see how quickly they know the failure mod? (I had this in one interview, and thought it was really good and practical)

I would advise against, emailing them a bunch of problems and asking them to complete them on a specific time, with out using resources –or something like this. The results prove to be inconclusive and there is a high potential to rule out the honist person who may not know it off the top of his head but can learn it really fast.

 

[BillBirch]

I remember in the early eighties on oil and gas and petrochemical projects, our chief draftsman, when interviewing casuals to churn out manual isometrics, would show the candidates an iso and get them to "construct" it with an old straightened coat hanger. It worked very well!

 

[mrainey]

This was inspiring some discussion a few months ago.

http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/quizzes/MechanicalAptitude.php

Software For Metalworking

http://mrainey.freeservers.com

 

[SomptingGuy]

My old boss used to use a big cutaway diagram of an Iron Duke engine and would ask potentials to describe it. The range of replies was startling:

- I think it's some kind of engine.

- Well whoever drew that balancer shaft got the gear teeth wrong - they don't mesh.

- Steve

 

[MiketheEngineer]

If they pass the drug test - you are half way there!!

 

[Gymmeh]

LOL!!! More like 90% there!

We have had 4 new people come and go in the last 4 months because of the failing drug tests... and we just got another new one today...

 

[SomptingGuy]

I only managed 90% on that h

http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/quizzes/MechanicalAptitude.php

test. I think some of the electric circuit nomenclature tests were a bit unfair on a humble mecheng guy. Still, at least I passed.

- Steve

 

[unclesyd]

I like to start very simple, just the use of the proper tool for the job.

I saw this approach being used by an international firm in hiring new technicians. We had a female accounting clerk who applied for a job with this company for a job as a technician. She and I had built several Heathkits and while doing so I had taught her the proper use of each tool.
In her aptitude test she was asked to replace a small motor in a piece of equipment. On the table were several tools including a small screwdriver. To get to the motor she was required to take off a cover held by several large screws. She looked at the screws and the available screw driver and without hesitation see opened the tool kit and retrieved the proper screw driver for the subject screw. At this point the tester told her she had the job.

After this incident I convinced our maintenance superintendent that this would be a good approach for future mechanics trainees instead of the current on the job evaluations. Our resultant program including several different tool scenarios, the screw driver, box end wrench vs the open end or adjustable wrench on a rounded nut, etc.

The second stage testing after there was a short exposure to some safety rules, like anything over 12 volts get an electrician, when in doubt get the manual, etc.

The third stage was for people who professed some proficiency in certain areas. For the ones who said hydraulics, there was a valve body where one was ask to change out a cartridge valve. The valve body was extremely dirty. Part of the test was to see if the first step was to clean the area where the valve was to changed.

None of the initial testing was to see if they could do a specific task rather if they had the basic understanding along with the proper approach to a job like the use of tools, safety, instructions, etc.

Anecdotal
The person mentioned above went rapidly up through the ranks and retired from upper management.

 

[farmer2]

Thanks for a lot of good ideas. The DTS test looks good but I wonder how long it would take the average person to complete.

 

[TheTick]

DTS: interesting. My physics teacher would have conniptions over using kg for "weight", "torque" as "force", "psi" as force.

96%

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

About 25 minutes ... 90%.

 

[GregLocock]

92% in 15 minutes.

About half the questions had an error of some sort in them.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MikeHalloran]

You could ask someone to assemble the core of a bent-axis hydraulic piston pump. Typically ~13 small pistons flexibly joined to a swashplate, that all have to be inserted in _very_ tight fitting bores in a cylinder body, while at the same time you have to align and assemble a central universal joint, too.

It requires both dexterity and patience... if that's what you seek.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA