Engineering Your Future
Assignment 1
2.1: An Engineer’s Activities in Comparison to His Field of Engineering
Though engineers may specialize, they are often trained to diversify and thrive in a wide variety of job positions. After contacting Sr. Project Manager at Millipore Corporation David Leonard I came to understand that the degree you earn does not force you into any position; your degree may serve in the application of skills learned but it does not set in stone where you shall apply those skills.
David Leonard achieved a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1985. He went on to achieve other degrees in the field of business and leadership, qualifying him not only to work with the production and development of today’s complex technology, but to lead and manage in major corporations. Mr. Leonard’s current position as a Sr. Project Manager requires him to manage customer facing projects, or projects which deal with the development of hardware, software, or any technology which the business’ customers interact with. The textbook definition of Mechanical Engineering is that it is “concerned with machines and mechanical devices... Mechanical engineers are involved in the design, development, production, control, operation, and service of these devices.” Mr. Leonard is able to apply his knowledge in the field of Mechanical Engineering to work directly with the technology he is developing, but must also use the leadership skills he has developed to manage the project at hand. Mr. Leonard must be able to not only develop said technology, but ensure it is done in a way which is cost, time, and quality efficient.
Mr. Leonard holds a position which requires him to apply his skills as an engineer in more than just the traditional manner; he acts as a Mechanical Engineer in that he works with the design of a mechanical component, but he also acts as an engineer in his application of leadership skills in his position of management.
2.13: Engineering Discipline Involved in the Production of M&M’s
Though they may be devoured in seconds, M&M’s require a noteworthy amount of effort so that they may be produced. Engineers must develop machines which can create these candy morsels, a safe and cost productive packaging for them, and many other factors to ensure this product is widely desired and successful.
Engineering disciplines involved in the production of M&M’s include Agricultural Engineering—food process engineers must ensure the ingredients grown and used in the production of M&M’s are safe and efficient— Chemical Engineering—safe dyes must be produced to color the M&M’s—Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical engineering— machinery must be designed, developed, assembled, and programmed to properly and safely assemble the M&M’s— Materials Engineering— the components of the machinery used to produce M&M’s must be composed of the proper materials— and Petroleum Engineering— machinery must be powered.
2.40: Problems Spanning Petroleum and Materials Engineering
Though fields of engineering have come a long way, with each new development in each field comes a barrage of new issues. For instance, Materials Engineers must develop new materials to support new designs for technology created in other fields of engineering. They must ensure the materials created serve the purpose they were created for, whether it be to conduct, support, or anything else. With technology at such a high point in today’s society, Materials Engineers must keep up by discovering new materials for new purposes.
Petroleum Engineers of today’s society must develop methods of efficiently removing oil from oil deposits, of recovering the oil remaining in the sand after initial oil removal, of transporting the oil or gas in the most cost efficient and safe manner possible, and refining the crude oil into a processed product which may be used to fuel current technology.