Speaking

Topics to discuss

1. Do your interests and abilities satisfy the requirements of the job you would like to do in the future?

2. If not an engineer, would you make a good doctor (teacher, journalist, researcher, etc)? Why or why not? Explain your reasons for and against.

3. Knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is growing in importance nowadays, isn’t it? Try and explain why.

4. Name some occupations or professions for which a good knowledge of a foreign language is desirable. Give your reasons.

5. What role does knowledge of a foreign language play in your profession? Do you think you will be able to use foreign languages in your career?

Reading

Before you read

Read the story and be ready to comment on it

A man whose name was Herbert Hoover used to tell of meeting a woman on a ship while traveling. After several conversations over a week or so, the woman asked what his occupation was. Hoover told her he was an engineer, a mining engineer. And the woman replied, “An engineer? I thought you were a gentleman.”

While you read

Read the interviews given by the experienced engineers from some of the leading foreign companies to MASHINE DESIGN magazine and formulate the only question they were asked

A

John Volter, engineering manager at Festo AG

Today, nothing works without information technology, this change is revolutionary. With 3D-CAD, we’re designing three times faster than before, and the time saved using FEA for strength calculations is even greater. And that’s true even though with greater computing power came an equal increase in model complexity. But IT opens up a big playground for trial and error and undisciplined work. Sometimes progress is foiled by having to take too many iterative steps to get the best result instead of analytical thinking before designing.

B

Cris Maxwell, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Parker Hannifin Corp.

The tools we have today are just incredible, far superior to anything we could have imagined as far as the math, analytics, and ability to create virtual models before we actually cut any metal. That’s one reason we build better products today and take for granted things like reliability and six-sigma quality.

But what hasn’t really changed a whole lot is the speed of the design process. Sometimes you can build and test a part and have an answer sooner than the time it takes to model it.

C

Simon Chand, Chief Technology Officer of Rockwell Automation

There are two constants in the engineering profession that have not changed and will not change in the future. The first is how we look at engineers. Engineers are a unique group that knows how to solve problems and bring something of value to society by turning ideas into reality. The second constant is that the foundation of all engineering disciplines must remain strong analytical skills in science and math.

Still, there are several areas where there have been changes and will likely change again. The first covers the technical aspects. When I earned my engineering degree approximately 30 years ago, the focus was on being specialized in a certain discipline. Today we’re seeing more interdisciplinary work like mechatronics, where an electrical engineer needs expertise not just in electrical but also electronics, computer science, and mechanical. I see more melding of engineering disciplines with engineers becoming more flexible.

The second area concerns design constraints. Constraints include safety, sustainability, energy efficiency, reliability, manufacturability, and environmental. And there are more constraints today than before, and a lot more coming in the future. Engineers will have to understand all of these constraints their machines or products must meet.

The third area is collaboration. Today, the moment you walk into a work environment, you’re part of a team. An engineer must be able to collaborate and design virtually with a team distributed all over the world. And that involves communication, which means writing reports, giving presentations, talking to others, and attending meetings. The burden on engineers to communicate effectively continues to grow. Working with global teams presents language and culture barriers, how you talk to others, and even how you ask them to get something done.

D

Scott Hibbard, Vice President of Technology at Bosch Rexroth Corp.

In over 30 years of design and development engineering, the biggest change I have seen in engineering is in information retrieval. Engineers once needed racks and racks of catalogs to design control systems. Today, the same research is reduced to a few keystrokes to search and retrieve specifications from a database, whether it is on a PC or online. There is no way to design and develop the complex systems of today using the methods of the 1970s.

Regarding the social aspects of engineering, the profession is more respected throughout industry. Thirty years ago, many outside the profession thought engineering meant either a “rocket scientist” or a “factory technician.” Due in great part to the proliferation of consumer devices such as PCs, cell phones, and MP3 players, many more people have a stronger appreciation of the trade and how it affects their lives - even if they still have no idea what engineers do.

After you have read

What could be your answer?

Whose opinion do you appreciate best? Why?

Unit 4