Unlicensed Activity 3

[Ron]

I would appreciate comment on the following:

In most areas of the US, National Engineer's Week is ended with a banquet celebrating local engineering accomplishments and providing selected awards for local engineers. Often there is a keynote banquet speaker, sometimes an engineer, sometimes not, but usually offering a topic of engineering involvement, interest, or connection to the community at large.

This year, a group has selected an individual as its keynote speaker on a topic of engineering interest. This individual runs a company that offers engineering services in three states. These are "classical" engineering discipline services that require licensing. A couple of problems....the firm is not licensed to provide engineering services and there are apparently no licensed professional engineers on staff.

In your opinion, does this compromise the integrity of the profession?

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[buzzp]

A little FYI as a side note: The US government does not require PE signatures on many of its subcontracted designs. I guess the government is not "public". They also have huge contracts so one could survive as a consultant, legally, and not perform "public" service. Seems odd to me but thats the way it is.

I think if you feel they are operating illegally then yes you should report them. However, since they are local to you, it says your firm is a little upset with the success of the other company. This is human nature. Not trying to cause problems but if this firm were in another part of the country you would not have taken the steps you have already. It would be nice if concerns were addressed no matter what part of the country your in if red flags go up but this is generally not the case. Good luck!

 

[Rich2001]

Here is a link to the NSPE's Guideline for Addressing Unlicensed Practice of Engineering

http://www.nspe.org/unlicensedpracguidelines.pdf

 

[Ron]

buzzp...the firm is not local to us and to my knowledge does not compete with us except in a small practice area. This was brought about by someone from the past "popping" up in an unexpected arena, bringing about the questions!

 

[VAD]

Interesting topic:

A few things to consider

1. Does the name of the firm have the term Engineering in cluded

2. The CEO of a firm offering engineering services doe not necessarily have to be an Engineer.

3. The firm may be legitimately getting professional engineers to be responsible for work and hence they can be legit in that respect

4. In today's business world there are numerous brokers. these days one cannot get professional liability insuranec without talking to a Broker.

While I agree that at face value the concept is wrong I am not too sure that they can be disciplined unless they are found to be in contravention to the law. This aspect varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction

Do you knoe that the trend today is to have designs done offshore and have a Professional Engineer sit with his stamp and stamp drawings as he were on an assembly line. This is the pattern of the moguls. Does any association really care. No. These are all heavies.

Only my opinions. I agree more outcry is required

 

[Ron]

VAD...I suspect this firm is brokering work, but to do that they must be authorized as an engineering business in order to offer the services. They are not.

**Need Professional Development Hours / Continuing Education ??
**Try this course...

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[plasgears]

It seems unorthodox to hang a shingle without licensing even among the staff.

The answer is to examine the firm minutely like you would examine a supplier that is not QS or ISO qualified. In effect, you are providing the qualification in terms of comprehensive examination. QS and ISO qualification precludes close examination.