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Engineering Design: The Downside Of It

Science is universal, engineering is cultural. Engineering is the application of science to solve human problems. Societies tend to have different understanding of how this is done and often than not expect the same result in practice. The approach to engineering practice in our society leaves it in a suggestively primitive stage where implementation and standards could still be a challenge.

In the heart of engineering practice, is design. The primary purpose of engineering design is to apply scientific knowledge to the solution of technical problems. The precise details of the design or drawings help create objects without errors, delays or other costly issues. Engineering design remains the core and foundation both in theory and practice.

 In theory, Technical Drawing was a fairly important aspect of engineering training in school where one could express ideas on paper and coordinate a set of drawings with dimensions. The training came with inadequate expectation at the workplace after graduation. Some schools still offer very weak course contents in design. Most engineers learn the skills after graduation and some acquire it while being engaged in corporate organizations with an edge in engineering practice during Industrial Training.

An engineer is expected to have the capacity to fantasize with ideas, conceptualize, visualize, and ultimately design. He should be able to create blueprints and schematics for structures, systems, machines, and equipment and work collaboratively with other engineering personnel for optimal results. In doing so, he follows a series of steps through a methodical process to solve a problem, fill a need, and create a better society.

The pattern of learning design in school has not significantly changed though there is an improvement. Graduate engineers still come out of school looking much unprepared to engage in visualizing situation to conceive a solution. However, so many design apps are available to assist and cater to engineers’ needs from simulation, collaboration, conceptualization, visualization to prototyping and validating of ideas.

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The common steps engage in design process include; Define a problem, Brainstorm on it, Research and generate ideas, Identify criteria, Specify constraints, Explore possibilities, Choose approach, Develop design proposal, Make prototype, Test and evaluate the design, Refine the design, Get approval and Implement. These steps are used to fully and clearly define requirements for an engineered system.

The most basic and the foundation of engineering drawings are; Isometric drawing, Dimensioning, Orthographic (comes with a front view, top view, and end view), Sectioning, Cross-Sectioning Views, Half-Sections, and Assembly drawing.

Today there are several design engineering tools and apps for engineering professionals to aid in workplace design. Design engineers require specialized software, tools, and apps to research and develop ideas for new products and their associated systems. These apps and tools are readily available and there are training centers for it. Training could also be obtained online. They include; Autodesk, MATLAB, STAAD Pro, CATIA, ZW3D, MechDesigner, BricsCAD, Solid Edge, Rhino, TopSolid Design, TurboCAD Designer etc.

Usually, design engineers are well paid and earning varies with the nature of the project and duration. The downside of it is that only a few enterprises appreciate the need for engineering design in product and project developments. Most SMEs will be unwilling to bear the cost of any design, especially in a mini project. Some organizations will argue against paying for detailed engineering design and paying the right fee. However, multinational corporations will easily defray such cost knowing the importance.

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Worse still, when we argue against paying for design work, it leaves much concern than a headache. This attitude has spread to how engineers are remunerated in work place and fee paid for service delivered. It is inimical to engineering practice and development when engineering personnel are underpaid.

The same attitude led to the abandonment of 2014 COREN approved engineering personnel consultancy scale of fees. The Engineering Consultancy and Project Management Services, Agreement, Charges and Condition of Engagement (ECOPACE) document was put in place to address engineering personnel poor remuneration in service to both Private and Public sectors. The document that could not be implemented or enforced is now jettisoned.

In retrospect, the British colonialists have been blamed for laying a poor foundation for the practice of engineering in Nigeria. It is alleged that first generation graduate engineers were not engaged in engineering design because their intellectual delivery was in doubt and so they were made obscured and redundant at the workplace. The second school of thought averred that it was a deliberate policy put in place by the colonialists to underdevelop engineering practice in Nigeria. These arguments may not be sustainable in the light of India’s giant strides in engineering and technology development having emerged from same situation.

Whatever reasons may be adduced to the sorry state of engineering practice, the fact remains that engineering profession is over 70 years old in Nigeria and whatever foundation had been laid could be rebuilt to redirect the course of engineering development. Otherwise, it seems we built the downside of the engineering profession for our nation and wish to maintain the status quo.

 

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