Role of Engineers in the Construction Industry - Essay Example

Lecturer: Presentation: Role of Engineers in the Construction Industry This report outlines the role of engineers. It particularly focuses on the roles of professional mechanical engineers in the construction industry. This is an industry that involves developing dwelling places for humans as workplaces that require proficiency to guarantee safety of buildings. The type of work that the engineers are involved in has been highlighted. The report also discusses what the engineers need to practice the profession. The knowledge they need in regard to performing their tasks, skills acquired in education and personal attributes that have an impact on their output have been discussed. The report also outlines the ethical issues and practices that civil engineers are faced with and how they can deal with these issues. Their problem solving capabilities as well as their capacity to maintain ethical standards are significant in determining their success in the industry. The Role of Engineers With the emergence of industrialization, construction work requires collaboration of engineers from various fields. Each activity in the designing process requires a professional engineer contributing to a working team that develops a drawing to be used by a construction company. The role of mechanical engineers in the construction industry is significant in the establishment of up to standard buildings (Rojter 2010). They play a role in designing, building as well as installation of mechanical systems. They also coordinate development of plans for the mechanical systems, preparation of specifications for air conditioning and aeration in buildings as well as installation of hot water systems (Evans & West 2007). The mechanical engineers’ work in the construction industry typically involves bargaining and establishing project contracts and signing agreements with clients after floating tenders. They commission, organize and appraise the work of contractors. Their also work with comprehensive maps and drawings that they develop using computer aided design software. Management and estimation of costs for the mechanical systems in buildings is an important task for the mechanical engineers since it ensures that the project is accomplished within the budget (Mills et al. 2008). They describe specifications for operation and maintenance of mechanical systems in buildings. Mechanical engineers also have a task of decision making regarding expiry of mechanical systems and advising on the necessary replacements. They are required to ensure compliance of the systems with health and safety regulations. In the contemporary construction industry, clients are conscious of energy and environmental conservation. Mechanical engineers offer advice regarding reduction of green house emissions as well as economical use of energy (Evans & West 2007). The following section outlines what engineers need to practice their profession. Requirements for Engineers to Practice their Profession It is necessary for engineers to possess knowledge, skills and attributes that enhance accomplishment of their roles and tasks. Callister (2006) observes that knowledge in the development, review and analysis of engineering plans and specifications of equipments is necessary for mechanical engineers in the construction industry. They need to be in a capacity to identify errors in drawings or digression from the standard codes. Moreover, knowledge in computer applications is necessary to enhance their capacity to develop drawings and maintain records of their work. Mechanical engineers require wide knowledge regarding the health and safety standards and practices as regards handling of mechanical equipment. This is necessary because apart from protecting the non professionals handling the equipment, engineers are also safe from harm (Rojter 2010). Moreover, they are in a position to avoid unnecessary legal conflicts that may be costly for contractors and clients. Failure to observe these standards may lead to revocation of practicing license thereby having an impact on the engineers’ profession (Callister 2006). It is also important for mechanical engineers to possess knowledge in project management. Project management techniques help engineers to oversee implementation within the specified time period and in line with the budget estimates. They help in the avoidance of stalled projects and mitigation of risks that may increase the project cost if unattended to (Evans & West 2007). Communication skills are necessary to enhance correspondence between mechanical engineers and stakeholders. They also need to possess time management skills to ensure that project activities are accomplished within the projected time frame. Numeracy and analytical skills are necessary since mechanical engineering involves reckoning with numbers and arithmetical concepts in accomplishing the day to day tasks (Mills et al. 2008). Some attributes are fundamental to the success of mechanical engineers in construction. Team building personality is significant since they can not work in isolation. They need to collaborate with other engineers through teamwork to develop drawings and oversee their accomplishments. They also need to possess leadership qualities that enable them to steer project implementation teams ahead. Mechanical engineers also need to pay attention to detail since mistakes may be detrimental not only to their work but also to human life. They need to be creative in approaching sophisticated issues, which is important in problem solving and muddling through ethical dilemmas (Evans & West 2007). The following section presents some ethical issues and practices that mechanical engineers face and how they might deal with them. Ethical Issues and Practices Engineers are faced with ethical issues and practices and need to know how to deal with the issues as they emerge. The Australian Code of Ethics 2000 outlines some ethical issues that are significant in the engineering discipline. First, engineers are supposed to demonstrate integrity respecting all people and maintaining trust and honesty. It states that they are supposed to act on a clearly informed conscience. They should also practice competently through the upholding and enhancing their knowledge and skills (Alshemmeri 2011). They are faced with leadership issues and they are expected to maintain confidence and the reputation of their work. Maintenance of diversity in their project teams is encouraged as well providing guidance to clients who are dependent on their expertise. Sustainability issues are significant in the sense that they have to act responsibly in their work to ensure that buildings are up to standard and that they guarantee safety to the community as well as environmental integrity. They are required to take in to account of the future generations that are likely to use the environment in which they have an impact in the present (Mills et al. 2008). Mechanical engineers can deal with ethical issues through maintaining awareness of the stakeholder interests in the areas where they undertake projects. For example, they should offer advice to clients regarding what their conscience tells them is right. This safeguards the client from problems in future. They need to be honest and respect all persons, which is significant in avoiding conflicts while accomplishing their tasks (Rojter 2010). They need to constantly upgrade their skills to ensure that they remain competent and ensure that they are honest in their activities especially when they present themselves for consideration in construction projects. Providing false information in regard to personal competences may lead to failure when faced with overwhelming tasks that require greater competence (Evans & West 2007). To sum up the report, the following is a recap of the main points. The role of mechanical engineers in the construction industry is significant in the establishment of up to standard buildings. It is necessary for them to possess knowledge, skills and attributes that enhance accomplishment of their roles and tasks. Engineers are faced with ethical issues and practices and the require knowledge on how to deal with the issues as they emerge. The Australian Code of Ethics 2000 outlines some ethical issues that are significant in the engineering discipline. Reference Alshemmeri, T 2011, Energy Audits: A Workbook for Energy Management in Buildings, John Wiley & Sons Callister, W. D. 2006. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, 7th Ed. Wiley  Evans R & West, A 2007, Constructing Australia, Meigunyah Press, Melbourne Mills, J E, Mehrtens V, Smith, E J, & Adams, V, 2008, CREW revisited in 2007 the Year of Women in Engineering: An update on women's progress in the Australian engineering workforce, Ginninderra Rojter J. 2010 “Engineering Profession as a Social Practice: Impact on Professional Engineering Education”, The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Vol 2(7) pp.135-140. The Australian Code of Ethics 2000, viewed on 9th Sept. 2011 at Read More