Engineering Personal Development - Assignment Example

Section 1:

I am a double-major Engineer specialized in both instrumentation and mechanical engineering equipped with profound and advanced principles in project management and 10 years worth of experience. Within my career life, I have undertaken responsibilities as a planning unit supervisor in an infrastructure organization with several engineering and project management roles as well as duties. Nevertheless, I am enthusiastic, ambitious team worker with great potential. As the planning unit supervisor, my career roles include:

Managing and supervising the maintenance, operation and control planning activities. This involved reviewing of the P&ID loss diagrams, development of instrument index as well as the I/O list, development of data sheets for field instruments, reviewing and developing control system architectural drawings hook up and loop diagrams and routing equipment layouts.

Directing the implementing the organization’s goals, policies, objectives and the performance of key indicators. This involves the use of services and resources to a level that accomplishes the objectives of the energy and sustainability programs. This involved development of strategic plans; taking on increasing responsibilities including leading teams and strategic management of projects; involving in the development and implementation of sound financial and business decisions; and involving to the creation of innovative contributions that impact the community and the world positively.

Implementing effective strategies for the environmental and regulatory compliance issues as well as Implementing, monitoring and reporting on Directorate’s pollution prevention, abatement and control methods, as well as the total energy use and efficiency involved the process of water distribution network. Moreover, as a planning unit supervisor, I engage in leading weekly coordination meeting with all the Directorate divisions’ through initiating and monitoring measures for programs created to properly address environmental conditions, which demonstrate cost effective utilisation.

Furthermore, I am engaged in the managing the preparation and updating current and purposed future Projects. This is achieved by utilizing the organization’s core project management skills for the maintenance of the schedule and momentum to fuel completion. Moreover, I target the yearly budgeting procedures to propagate implementation and alignment of the key strategic initiatives as well as managing the preparation and updating current and purposed future Projects. .

Leading weekly coordination meeting with all the Directorate divisions is one of my key roles as a planning supervisor. This involves fostering work environments which promote diverse viewpoints to allow every individual perform at their utmost potential. Furthermore, it involves engaging the staff and customers and bringing them together to share ideas and offer their opinions concerning my strategic direction ideas. This helps in evaluating and measuring the direction and ideas of the planning team against the observations and views of the clients which is critical in the maintenance of the practical prospective achieved by stretching the thinking of the team. Besides that, I lead the reports that generate division which prepare and provide available and reliable data for the networks of the transmission of water. This includes constant and real time supervision on the projects and the designs to avoid future irregularities and malfunctions that would pose a risk to the environment and the community.

Finally, I approve and manage designs, planning water and expanding projects. This involves tracking and measuring implementation across my executive timeline and as well as reviewing and revising the strategic plan regularly and using it to look for new and upcoming opportunities that are against the initiatives of the strategies so as to maintain the momentum of the company.

Section 2:

Throughout my career, i have carried out several analyses of technical and engineering problems and provided solutions to manage these problems. The technical problems include:

• Lightning Enclosure

This was a college project which involved the creation of a faraday cage to block electric currents. The cage is designed with the use of a material that conducts electricity. The cage operates in the principle that an external electric field creates the charges within the conducting material of the cage and distributed in a way that the external electric charges cancel out the effects of the electric field in the exterior of the cage.

An external field causes charges to rearrange and consequently cancelling the electric field inside. The electric fields that are externally applied induce a force upon the electrons within the conductor thus developing a current that causes further rearrangement of the charges. The current stops when there is a rearrangement of the charges and the applied field within the cage cancelled.

This principle helps to protect electronic equipments that are very sensitive from the external RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). Faraday cages helped me develop simple lightning enclosure solutions which can provide shining, bright LED illumination in a low profile design that is most efficient for the use in confined and tight areas.

• Error proofing

This involves the implementation of a mechanism that is safe from failing to ensure that a system or a process does not produce defects. Error proofing does not allow even the slightest amount of defects to be acquired. Ensuring the quality of a system is always a nonstop process. Ineffective processes such as equipment failures, material defects and human errors affect the performance of a system and its product efficiency. Real time identification of mistakes, factors causing them and rectifying these factors are some of the important keys that help me detect errors within a system so as to develop a lean manufacturing environment. Error proofing has help several organizations in the manufacturing fields overcome their challenges, improve the quality, increase the efficiency and reduce downtime and expenses.

Error proofing is a great activity to incorporate it with the workforce in order to achieve a constant improvement. Most ideas involving error proofing have helped to relieve stress from engineers and other staff members by doing away with the need to focus on mundane exercises and by offering more potential tools to get the work done right in a consistent manner.

The error proofing concept involves; controls or features in processes or products to reduce or prevent error occurrence and inexpensive & simple error inspection and detection of error at every end of a successful operation to determine & correct the source’s defects.

The principles that fundamentally addresses error proofing includes; elimination of error possibilities such as simplification of products or consolidation of parts that avoid defects; Replacement such as the use of automations or robotics the avoid errors from manual assembly; Prevention such as features of parts that only allow the correct way of assembly; Facilitation which involves visual control such as labelling or marking, colour-coding and location of features and parts; Detection such as the use of sensors in the mechanical process to identify incorrectly assembled parts; Mitigation which involves the use of fuses to avoid overloading circuits arising from shorts

• Measurement and level monitoring

Getting access to accurate and precise fill level measurements from storage containers such as tanks is very important in the management of inventory, quality and safety assurance and securing the contents within the storage containers. A wide variation in the containers and its contents as well as the location and conditions of the environment creates a huge challenge in acquiring the timeliness and accuracy of the data and from the containers thus interfering with its value. In my professional field, I helped develop solutions for the measurement and monitoring of the levels of fill by developing sensing technologies for the optimization of the detection of every unique target. Throughout my professional field, i have created systems and devices that help in the measurement and monitoring of levels. For instance, i developed a PLC program that automatically controls the level of water in a tank without any supervision i.e. a system that detects when the level of a tank is low thus opening the inlet valve to let the flow of water into the tank and detecting when the level has reached its highest level thus shutting off the inlet valve. Furthermore, i designed a simple level sensor that can be used to detect and show the level of water and other fluids as well as solids in form of fluids (fluidized solids) such as slurries and granular materials.

Section 3:

Throughout my professional field, I have integrated my engineering knowledge and skills to develop several systems and products to meet different objectives. They include:

• Thermal stress analysis

The distribution of temperature can cause effects of thermal stress which causes the expansion and contraction of materials. In my career life, I utilized thermal stress analysis in fit processes or shrink fits. This involved mating of parts by heating one part and cooling the other for ease of assembly. Another application for thermal stress analysis was in thermal creep. This is a permanent deformation arising from constant stress application below the elastic limit such as the metal behaviour when exposed to high temperatures and mechanical loads over time.

Thermal stress analysis comprises of 2 basic steps; performing analysis of heat transfer to determine temperature distribution and inputting the temperature results directly as a load to determine the displacement and stress from the temperature loads. For instance, i carried out a thermal stress analysis of a heat sink assembly and a transistor by first conducting analysis of a steady state heat transfer to determine distribution of temperature as shown in figure 1 below as simulated by Autodesk’s FEA Editor Environment. The type of analysis was changed to structural analysis which used static stress with material models that were linear. Afterwards, the analysis of the static stress with, models of linear materials was run and the final results with the effects of thermal stress were displayed as in figure 2.

Figure 1: A heat sink model and a transistor with results of temperature distribution from analysis of the heat transfer of a steady state

Figure : Stresses (Right) and displacements (Left) in the heat sink assembly and transistor resulting from temperature loads.

• Level Sensors

In my professional field, I designed a simple level sensor that was used to detect and show the level of water and other fluids as well as solids in form of fluids (fluidized solids) such as slurries and granular materials. Flowing substances essentially become horizontal in a physical boundary such as a container due to the downward pull of the gravitational force. On the other hand, bulk solids pile at angles to rest at a peak. The level sensor can be used to measure substances or materials that are either confined in a container or in its existing natural form such as lakes and rivers and the measurement can either be point values or continuous. The level sensor that I designed was a continuous vibrating point probe which showed if a substance is below or above the sensing point. The sensor in sensitive to levels of extremely fine powders with a bulk density of between 20 kg/m3 and 200 kg/m3, fine powders with a bulk density ranging from 200 kg/m3 to 500 kg/m3 and granular solids with a bulk density greater than 500 kg/m3. The level sensor was very efficient for bulk powder level because only a single element of sensing gets in contact with the powder.

The level sensor uses an analogue sensor since its output voltage is analogue and is proportionate to the amount of liquid the sensor is intended to measure. From the image, the sensor is a series of wires in parallel across the board. The wires are responsible for the level detection and measurement of the liquid. For instance, if the board has is immersed in water or any other fluid, the output will be a reading of a maximum analogue value and if it is immersed halfway, the reading drops and if not immersed, the reading is zero.

• Creating a PLC programming to automatically control the level of water in a system

In my design, a pipe network from the reservoir (main tank) is connected to 3 tanks. Each tank has two float sensors that measure the high level and the low level of water in the tanks. A solenoid is also fitted in the tank in the inlet pipe. A PLC as well as a ladder programming diagram controls the whole circuit. I wrote the program in such a way that whenever the level of water goes beyond the low level in any of the tanks, the low sensor gives the PLC a signal to turn the switch on at the respective solenoid valve. The opened valve allows the flow of water into the tank and whenever the level of water reaches the high level, the high level sensor is activated and signals the PLC to turn off the switch on the solenoid valve which eventually shuts down the flow of water into the tank. The valve closes and opens depending on the level of water in every tank.

The circuit in the system has four sensing probes which are immersed in water to sense the water level. The first probe, probe a, is in connection that is the same as the other three probes which is at the most bottom part of the tank which also acts a level of reference. The probes d, c and b are positioned at the maximum, middle and minimum level respectively. Whenever water in the tank gets in contact with both probes a and b, there’s a flow of current from a and b across the water to the transistor’s base through a resistor of 220K. Consequently, the transistor conducts electricity which is thus indicated on the LED indicator.

Section 4:

Non-technical subjects have been a key factor in building up my professional foundations throughout my career. My tendency to learn and explore new things has been a driving factor to engage in non-technical subjects. First and foremost, it has helped me structure and develop the planning sessions that has helped in the reflection of my desired level of contribution. For instance, if I chose to be a facilitator, I would create an agenda that is well defined to mange my time and if I intend to participate or hold discussions, I would consider a 3rd party and unbiased facilitator to conduct the session. There way of doing this is neither a right way nor a wrong way as long as one keeps in mind that it is hard to perform well at both.

Secondly, non-technical subjects have helped me monitor the commitment and momentum through periodic updates. For example, if a key member of the team is withdrawing or rather falling behind as a result of workload, I would consider giving him or her an employee with a high potential but less experience to offer help in the work regarding the process of strategic planning. This enables the key member of the team delegate responsibilities meant for him or her and at the same time enable the leadership team judge the strategic ability of that individual with high potentials.

Non- technical subjects have helped in updating my analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and those of my competitors. In my field, I have considered assigning every planning and management team member a competitor to help them conduct the analysis as a pre-work. This is achieved by using a standard template to help in the analysis, collection of data that is consistent and write down anecdotal information concerning the competitor

Developing a staffing plan that is strategic is also a key element obtained from non-technical subjects. This is mostly overlooked but it has helped me develop strategies that are critical to the successful implementation of a management plan. Since staffing is a subject that is very sensitive, I have mostly considered gathering a smaller working group that is trustworthy to put this together. In my experience, the most overlooked elements to management planning are the development and implementation of a staffing plan that is strategic. I often include it in my roadmap since it helps me identify skill sets that are critically important as well as the positions of the staffs that are required to execute my plans successfully. I have experience a big drawback in identifying and retaining a talented individual to join my team. The exclusion of this element of staffing could greatly pose a risk to the implementation of the timeline.

The Development of strategic plans i.e. by taking on increasing responsibilities including leading teams and strategic management of projects; involving in the development and implementation of sound financial and business decisions; and involving to the creation of innovative contributions that affect the society and the world positively. All this has been gained from non-technical principles.

Engineering projects are mostly carried out by a multi-disciplinary team. This means that a team of engineers from several primary disciplines in a narrow sense. Taking a broader view, it means a team of engineers with different knowledge and skills, public relations experts, technologists, business graduates, lawyers, public relations experts, policy makers, etc. For the engineers, it would be vital to understand the processes of risk management and health and safety management. Furthermore, they have to be aware that their own perception of risk and safety management will be equal to that of an individual with a different background. For instance, in case of a fire explosion, an engineer would concentrate on mitigating the risks; a business manager would focus on minimizing the financial exposure while a lawyer would concentrate on minimizing the liabilities in future litigation cases. Every individual in their own mind is involved in risk management but the engineer is at the base of all these actions.

Section 5:

One of the technical trainings that I have attended includes the Building Information Modelling training. Building Information Modelling provides an opportunity for the construction industry to cut down costs increase quality and productivity, and reduce time of delivery of a project. Building Information Modelling is a model generated by a computer that assists in planning, design construction and subsequent facility operation. By use of Building Information Modelling engineers, architects and project managers are able to visualize the simulated version of what is to be built and subsequently identify issues relating to design, construction and operational issues. Within Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), Building Information Modelling provides a new paradigm shift. Building Information Modelling fosters integration of various activities and stakeholders in a project. Additionally, Building Information Modelling has the prospective of enabling harmonious working of all players besides improving efficiency.

Building Information Modelling is one the most promising developments in ACE. It offers the opportunity to view the construction in a virtual world. Once complete, the Building Information Modelling model would provide geometric details and other accompanying data that will enable support of activities needed in construction process. Building Information Modelling is rich in data it’s intelligent and has digital representation of the construction project. The information therein can be applied in making inferences, decisions and improve the project delivery process. Building Information Modelling differs from 3D CAD in sense that it 3D CAD offer views in terms of plans, elevations and sections while Building Information Modelling describes a building in terms of its elements such as space, beams and columns. Building Information Modelling would also have information concerning suppliers and maintenance procedures and flow rates.

Well-designed CAD drawings enable proper planning which would promote proper utilization of labour and other resources through estimation. The information in Building Information Modelling is not only useful for planning; it is also used in forensic analysis to determine possible points of weaknesses and failures. Building Information Modelling is also critical in cost estimation since most Building Information Modelling software have inbuilt capability to do cost calculation once the model is developed. Additionally fabrication of structures or systems used in the building is made possible through information obtained from Building Information Modelling.

Several software applications exist in the market to prepare Building Information Modelling, however Autodesk® Revit™, Graphisoft® Constructor™ and Bentley® Architecture™ are the widely used software. All the three have different capabilities; Autodesk® Revit™ for instance comes as a package with three applications for architectural, for MEP and for structure design. Drawings from AutoCAD can be imported into it and enable development of a model.

In the mechanical feasibility of Building Information Modelling, all HVAC and other major equipment in the building will have to be modelled. The distribution system for HVAC is modelled to attain the outside face dimension however control systems for the distribution system will not form part of the model. Pipes that is bigger than 3/4ʺ in diameter will be modelled to the outside of the building. While in the electrical feasibility, the major electrical equipment such transformers, backup generators, switch gears and distribution panels will be modelled. Underground conduits as well as electrical feeders shall be modelled. Permanent lighting, their controls and junction boxes would be modelled except if the execution plans for Building Information Modelling states otherwise. Security and communication equipment such as cameras, motion sensors, speakers and phones would also be modelled.

In mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines, the engineers have a tough task in BIM implementations since the discipline relies on the 3rd party prepared model. This means that mechanical and electrical engineers depend on the models designed by architects and structural engineers to develop their models. Therefore, they have to alter the models twice which could change the work system entirely. The challenges include; essential areas for mechanical and electrical installations such as ceiling heights, room layouts, and location of plant rooms, raisers and voids. Other challenges include the essential designs for thermal calculations such as cooling and heat loss and the essential design for comprehending and graphic design such as annotations, dimensions, etc.

Section 6:

The nature of my technical role allows me to make choices and judgments within procedures and standards regarding my technical knowledge. The first step involves planning. For a successful planning, the following have to be put into consideration: Reviewing and revising all the preliminary reports comprising of all the project’s advance planning studies. This done by ensuring proper widths of the shoulder, false work and traffic clearance, slab status approach and verification of the provision of scour in the development of the general plan. Nevertheless, carrying out investigations on statements or data in of a site district reports that seem to be inconsistent or uneconomical according to the policies. Reviewing and revising books involving bridge maintenance and holding discussions with the relevant engineers for the rehabilitation and widening of the projects.

Secondly is through coordination. This is successfully implemented through; a) Coordinating structural and electrical designs and details within the project. This is carried out by holding meeting with the detailers and the designers as required. b) Standardizing the details and designs to allow reproduction instead of redrawing and looking for other means of cutting down the cost of planning. c) Working closely together with other units such as the maintenance team, geologists, hydraulics, specifications, etc. so as the decisions based on these areas are consistent and timely across a project. d) Maintaining a constant contact with the counterpart of the District regarding issues of a project, costs, deadlines and progresses.

For a successful management of a project, I am required to carry out a project control through: Reviewing and analysing the completed general plans; Reviewing and analysing the estimates of the general plan; Keeping records of plans of a project; Constantly reviewing and analyzing details and designs as they are being created; Reviewing and analyzing the whole project for completeness and continuity; Reviewing and analyzing the final estimates; Reviewing and analyzing a design for accuracy and precision; and staying updated concerning the progress of a project and liaising with the appropriate engineers in the various fields concerning with the factors that would affect the PS&E date.

Effective communication across the entire staff enable me identify the problem that arise or are about to crop up within an organization. This helps me develop real time decisions and judgements on how to manage these drawbacks. Exchange of ideas among the staff members is a key factor in the contribution of the management of setbacks that arise within the period of the implementation of a project. Effective communication helps in maintaining a constant communication incorporating the whole personnel that are involved in a project.

Lastly, to make effective choices and judgements, I am required to direct the implementation of the organization’s goals, policies, objectives and performance of key indicators with the use of services and resources to a level that accomplishes the objectives of the energy and sustainability programs. This involved development of strategic plans; taking on increasing responsibilities including leading teams and strategic management of projects; involving in the development and implementation of sound financial and business decisions; and involving to the creation of innovative contributions that impact the community and the world positively.

All the above mentioned responsibilities are based on my technical roles as a mechanical and electrical engineer. The roles require me to be inquisitive, creative, detail oriented and analytical. I am required to work as an active member of a team and be fluent in writing and oral communication since mechanical and electrical engineers have to convey information with a broad array of specialists operating in a wide field both outside and within the engineering field. Furthermore, I am required to have managerial skills to manage several field related to the manufacturing industry such as agricultural production.