Review:
What is the difference between a scientist and an Engineer?
Ans: Engineering is applied.
Application:
The difference between theory and practice
“In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice, they are not.”― Albert Einstein
Science
A scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method.
*The “Scientific” method:
*The “Scientific” method:
- Formulate a question,
- Make a hypothesis or theory,
- Predict what would happen if the theory or hypothesis is true,
- Test the hypothesis through experimentation, observations, empirical measurements
- Analyze experimental results,
- Make conclusions based on results)
*The “Engineering” method
“The use of engineering heuristics to cause the best change in a poorly understood situation within the available resources.” - Koen
The Engineering Method
Starts with a problem, ends with a solution.
The Engineering Method 10 Step Design Process:
Starts with a problem, ends with a solution.
The Engineering Method 10 Step Design Process:
PGR.BAT.DCCR.
1. Identify the Problem/product innovation
2. Define the working criteria/Goals
3. Research and gather data
4. Brainstorm/generate possible solution ideas
5. Analyze potential solutions
6. Develop and Test the potential solutions
7. Make the Decision on which solution to use
8. Communicate decision to team members
9. Implement and Commercialize
10. Perform post-implementation Review and assessment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Identify the Problem/product innovation
Initially:
- Problems are poorly defined
- Most decisive issues not yet apparent
Example Chemical ENGR problem:
Flow assurance engineer:
Petroleum Flow assurance issues:
Flow assurance solutions:
Hypothetical situation:
A chemical engineer working for an oil company was assigned to solve a problem involving an electric heater that was purchased & installed to heat a particular stream of liquid to a certain temperature.
The problem:
Unfortunately, once constructed, delivered, and installed the heater did not raise the temperature of the targeted liquid stream to anywhere near the desired value.
What is the root of the problem?
Everyone at the oil company had spent months debating the cause with elaborate theories supporting arguments of:
- Heater constructed improperly?
- Heater installed improperly?
Upon investigation the new engineer found:
- The oil company had ordered the equipment from a reputable company who specialized in heat tracing.
- The amount of power/length that the heater had to deliver had been specified by the oil company.
What shall we do???
The new Chem E engineer decided to collect his own data on the flow rates and temperatures of the stream going through the heater. Turns out:
- it was not an improper construction,
- it was not an improper installation...
The real problem....
The original order had requested the wrong amount of power (colder ocean temperatures than expected required more power than what was ordered).
For months the problem had been misconstrued - the problem was not a malfunction of the vendor who made the heater.
For months the problem had been misconstrued - the problem was not a malfunction of the vendor who made the heater.
Often defining the problem involves blame games... You are half way there if you can just accurately define what the problem actually is.
Random ENGR trivia:
Hibernia - World's largest oil platform
Random ENGR trivia:
Hibernia - World's largest oil platform
37,000 t (41,000 short tons) integrated topsides facility mounted on a 600,000 t (660,000 short tons) gravity base structure. (GBS) contains storage tanks for 1.2 million barrels (190,000 m3) of crude oil. (right next to the ocean ranger - another platform that sank in a storm killing all 84 engineers on board)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Define the working criteria/Goals/resolutions
The "wishful" thinking phase of the project where everyone lists their unrealistic expectations of what you're going to make.
The "wishful" thinking phase of the project where everyone lists their unrealistic expectations of what you're going to make.
Example working criteria:
- How much will it cost?
- Will it be difficult to produce?
- What will be the size, weight, strength?
- What will it look like?
- Will it be easy to use?
- Will it be safe?
- Are there any legal concerns?
- Will it be reliable and durable?
- Can it be recycled?
- Is this what the customer really wanted?
- Will our customers really want to purchase it?
- Will they purchase our version instead of a competitor's?
Goals = objectives
Example:
Produce an automobile that:
- produces less emissions
- increases gas mileage
- avoids crashing
- drives itself
- augmented reality dash display
- doubled stopping power
- avoids traffic because it can fly
When setting goals, make them
S. Specific
M. Measurable
A. Actionable
R. Realistic
T. Timebound
3. Research and gather data
Who has worked on it?
What did they come up with?
How much did it cost?
This is what conferences are for...
What information has been published about the problem?
What problems did everyone else run up against?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the solutions out there?
true story:
Once upon a time there was a graduate student (not going to name names) who wasted 2 years of work because they did not do their research...
moral of the story:
You can waste a lot of time reinventing the wheel if you don't do your research! Stand on the shoulders of giants by not isolating yourself - talk to everyone, go to conferences, get the inside scoop!
Question:
What is the difference between plagiarism and research?
˙ǝɔuǝɹǝɟǝɹ ǝuo uɐɥʇ ǝɹoɯ sǝsn ɥɔɹɐǝsǝɹ :su∀
Warning: You will be required to use more than one reference on all of the papers you write in this class!
Who has worked on it?
What did they come up with?
How much did it cost?
This is what conferences are for...
What information has been published about the problem?
What problems did everyone else run up against?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the solutions out there?
true story:
Once upon a time there was a graduate student (not going to name names) who wasted 2 years of work because they did not do their research...
moral of the story:
You can waste a lot of time reinventing the wheel if you don't do your research! Stand on the shoulders of giants by not isolating yourself - talk to everyone, go to conferences, get the inside scoop!
Question:
What is the difference between plagiarism and research?
˙ǝɔuǝɹǝɟǝɹ ǝuo uɐɥʇ ǝɹoɯ sǝsn ɥɔɹɐǝsǝɹ :su∀
Warning: You will be required to use more than one reference on all of the papers you write in this class!
4. Brainstorm/generate creative ideas
Rules of Brainstorming:
1. Postpone and withhold your judgements.
2. The wilder the ideas, the better
3. Quantity not quality
4. Build on the ideas of others. Group Think!
Encourage embellishment!
5. Every person and every idea has equal worth.
Record all ideas on large board where everyone can see them.
Problems:
Chapter 7 in book, pg 211+ - brainstorming strategies & info
1. Postpone and withhold your judgements.
2. The wilder the ideas, the better
3. Quantity not quality
4. Build on the ideas of others. Group Think!
Encourage embellishment!
5. Every person and every idea has equal worth.
Record all ideas on large board where everyone can see them.
Example Class Brainstorming Exercise:
Get into groups, and design a new lawn watering system
Problems:
- Water conservation,
- even and complete coverage,
- weather issues (frozen pipes, rainy days),
- won’t interfere with lawn mowing,
- high visual appeal,
Goals:
Take care of all problems
Take care of all problems
Research: Current models:
Brainstorm!
Chapter 7 in book, pg 211+ - brainstorming strategies & info
5. Analyze potential solutions
Write down the list
Eliminate duplicates
Ask clarifying questions about ideas
Evaluate pro's and cons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write down the list
Eliminate duplicates
Ask clarifying questions about ideas
Evaluate pro's and cons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Create models with CAD, or create physical small scale models using simple building materials.
Test for:
- Durability
- Ease of assembly
- Reliability
- Strength
- Environmental issues
- Quality
- Safety
7. Make the Decision:
5. Put your names on it, save it, and email it to me and the other people in your group.
8. Communicate and specify
Engineers, craftsmen, computer designers, production personnel, etc. etc. Everyone has to be on the same page.
Open up https://www.google.com/sheets/about/ and make a decision table to rate and rank project ideas.
1. List all of the working criteria.
2. Assign a relative weight of how important each working criteria is.
3. Grade (estimate) how each of your ideas score for each of your working criteria.
4. Add up the points of each idea, and see which ones scores the highest!
5. Put your names on it, save it, and email it to me and the other people in your group.
Engineers, craftsmen, computer designers, production personnel, etc. etc. Everyone has to be on the same page.
- written reports
- training materials
- operating manuals
- presentations
9. Implement and Commercialize
Final opportunity for revision or termination of project
Up to:
Final opportunity for revision or termination of project
Up to:
- Management
- Engineers
- Business - sales and marketing
- Legal
10. Perform post-implementation Review and assessment
- production efficiency
- quality control
- sales
- revenue
- costs
- expenditures
- profits
Learn the 10-step process - it will be on the midterm!
