Tech Directions - February 2008 - (Page 17)

some of the necessary acceptance testing to gain experience and to provide good feedback to the developer and me. fied and updated, and runs on a desktop PC now—but today’s engineers are still using my design and benefiting from my thinking. And that makes me very proud. Many Rewards The GPS worked beautifully, with productivity improvements of at least 5 to 1, and often as high as 10 to 1. Within a few months, we used it to perform all network analysis. During the acceptance testing, one of the company’s major substations had a catastrophic fire that required a complete rearrangement of the high-voltage network circuits that supplied the substation. Previously, a disaster of this type would have required days to sort out, with customers out of service and all sorts of special operating conditions put into place in the interim. Using the GPS, we completed the circuit rearrangement problem in a few hours. It was a stroke of good luck to have the new system—and a dramatic way to prove its capabilities. I traveled around the country making presentations about the GPS and wrote a number of articles and technical papers about it. I had very much enjoyed designing new products and systems, and I requested that I receive similar assignments in the future. As a result, I was transferred to the R&D group in my company and spent 31 years of my 36-year career doing first-of-a-kind system development. Today, that GPS is still on the job. It has been modi- What my first engineering project taught me about the process of engineering: ● ● ● Planning a complex project takes as much time as building it. Always define a vision or philosophy for how to measure the benefits of your system. Teams play an essential role in new product development. It is very important to learn how to be a team player and leader. Having a detailed specification of work to be done makes it possible to track and measure progress in getting the system built. Test the new system when it arrives and make sure it works as designed. Correct any deficiencies and retest as needed. Train others to use and maintain the new system. Listen to their input, complaints, and suggestions. Take action accordingly. Be a true professional by publishing your work for others to learn from. Attend conferences and make presentations to your peers in the industry. ● ● ● ● Share techdirections with your students!! Classroom sets only $10* per subscription Email vanessa@techdirections.com or call 734-975-2800 x217 for details. *When you order at least 10 subscriptions www.techdirections.com PRE-ENGINEERING 17 http://www.elexp.com http://www.elexp.com http://www.techdirections.com

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Tech Directions - February 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers How Engineers Engineer—Lessons from My First Big Engineering Project Tips on Creating Complex Geometry Using Solid Modeling Software Press to Test—Shop-Built BJT Checker Is Easy Cable Television Technician International Technology Education Association Conference—Teaching TIDE with Pride Professional Development Opportunities Product Central Free for the Asking More than Fun

Tech Directions - February 2008

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