Tedium 7

[SKIAK]

As a fairly new engineer my boss feels its necessary to have my do all of my own drafing for my projects. I understand the importance of drafting and detailing so I'm not complaining. I actually used to like drafting now and again. The more I do the more I get really, really, bored. I've tried listening to my iPod, which really helped keep my mind busy while my hands were occupied with circles, lines and hatches, but I've gotten more than a few dirty looks from the PE's. Now I find myself browsing the internet (around quality sites like this of course) and getting up just to walk around, stretch the legs and clear the mind. This doesn't happen when I'm engaged in designing/crunching numbers or anything else, just drafting. Is there any way to combat the tedium of drafting while staying productive?

 

[KENAT]

No, it's my excuse & I'm sticking to it. The important thing is making sure I get interupted twice every hour so I have an excuse for doing nowt;-).

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[GregLocock]

Don't joke, I occasionally have a couple of consecutive days when that is literally what happens - usually when t'management are going into headless chicken mode. It makes it impossible to get any serious work done, so I just throw my hands in the air and join the fun.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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

 

[SKIAK]

I knew if I waited long enough the REAL solutions would present themselves. I knew I joined this forum for a reason!

Joking aside, I'm getting the picture that so little of engineering actually has to do with "engineering." I must have slept through that lecture. Hmm... anyways after talking to my supervisor we are having a drafting competition in the department. Now its no longer about being productive its about getting a week paid vacation! Problem solved.

 

[jmw]

Does your supervisor have a new job to go to? will he stay long enough to ensure that the company delivers the promised rewards?
HR and higher management have a "better" incentive scheme... no prizes for the winner but the worst performer gets to help them with their restructuring/rationalisation program... i.e. a lifetimes unpaid holiday starting today.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[Sideswiper]

"Unfortunately you need iTunes to play your iPod on the computer"

I don't understand that statement. Why not attach your headphone directly to the iPod? Also, you can charge your iPod with your computer without installing iTunes.

Another solution is to burn MP3 files onto a CD or DVD. You can fit a LOT of music on a disc that way.

If I'm busy I listen to instrumental music. If I'm not, then maybe a podcast.

 

[SKIAK]

Connecting the iPod to the computer would let me listen to music with my headphones attached to the computer (so I could play it off as VOIP) so it doesn't look like I'm listening to music as jmw suggested.

Fortunatly I have a good relationship with my supervisor, he was an adjunct professor for my steel design class as well as involved in extracurriculars. Also work for a small enough firm that we don't have an HR department!

 

[BillBirch]

dgillie,
You weren't singing along with the Ipod were you?
Slightly off track, it reminds me of a joke -

An elderly couple is attending Mass. About halfway through, the wife leans over and says to her husband,

'I just let out a silent fart; what do you think I should do?'
He replies, 'Put a new battery in your hearing aid'.

Regards,
Bill

 

[TheTick]

At this point in your career you should be focused on looking good. You should concentrate on doing a thorough, professional job on all of your assignments, and doing so in a professional manner. By that, it should be in a professional manner w.r.t. the judgment of your boss. His is the opinion that matters right now.

If you spend your days looking bored and unmotivated, don't be surprised if that's how you're labelled. Wait until you are well established before taking liberties. Don't play reindeer games until you are sure you are one of the reindeer.

 

[KENAT]

Greg, I too get that situation - that was the inspiration for the joke. Combined with the fact I frequently have to pick up general Design Tasks rather than dedicated checking; some months I'm lucky to get double digit number of drawings checked, which is pathetic.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[JamesBarlow]

I think your problem may be that you already think detailing is tedious.

It's important to remember that as Engineers the only form of communication we have with the outside world is what's on that drawing. Many of the people who see your drawings will never meet you so it's the only thing they know about you. A few missed dimensions or a drawing that is hard to read and interpret is a real black eye to yourself and the company.

Detailing drawings should get the same focus and attention as an other aspect of your job/responsibilities. I realize many don't think that making drawings is real "Engineering" but the days of the dedicated drafter, especially in smaller companies, are over and now being an Engineer means making drawings.

I'm a PE and I do wear headphones while I work, sometimes. I don't wear them to keep my mind busy, since my mind is always busy no matter what I'm doing. I mostly wear them to drown out the grumblings from the other cubicles from the people who don't think Engineers should need to detail their own work.

On a side note I have always believed that the guys who don't like to detail drawings dislike it because it's a lot harder than it looks. You then add in that they are not very good at it and the complaints about "It's not really Engineering", or "I don't have time to do this" and of course my favorite "The guys at that shop are a bunch of morons that they didn't understand what I wanted" start to fly.

 

[KENAT]

Star for you JamesBarlow, I agree with what you put.

One thought, even if Engineers shouldn't be doing their own drafting surely they need to know enough about drawings (or MBD if applicable) to know if the Drafter/Designer has actually detailed what the Engineer believes is needed. I'd have thought this was even more the case in industries where you have to 'stamp' the design for approval and have some legal liability.

Given the above assumption, and my belief that the best way to learn how to read a drawing is probably to spend time creating them under suitable supervision (ideally in addition to some more formal training), then as a relative newbie doing a lot of drafting doesn't sound a bad idea.

Of course the OP more or less acknowledges this and is just looking for ideas to help overcome the fact he finds it tedious. Sounds like they may have found one.

dgillie, how's the contest going?

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[ewh]

I second that star.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - [small]Thomas Jefferson [/small]

 

[SKIAK]

Training is going well, next week we'll have our test. I'm having my doubts if I'll win since we're also competiting against the structural drafting departments from both offices (I'm getting close to their productivity level, quality is probably a different story)... but I'm going for fastest EIT.

In hind sight, I think the competition was exactly what I needed. We get 30min of one-on-one training a week and 2 hours available per week devoted to practice. I've gotten a lot faster in my drawings and I'd like to say there is also an improvement in the quality. I'm starting to agree with JamesBarlow that its not so much to keep my mind busy but to keep everything else out of my mind. I'm quickly understanding that drawings can't just be drawn, there is a lot of foresight, understanding and planning that needs to go into the detail. Thanks for the replies!

 

[vc66]

Well said, JamesBarlow.

V

 

[KENAT]

Star to you dgillie, I like your attitude about the whole thing, more refreshing than the usual.

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KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...