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2850 Level 2 in Engineering Unit 201 Handout 15

Unit 201: Working in Engineering

Handout 15: Instructions, Requests and Advice, and Sources of
Engineering Information

Instructions, requests and advice

An instruction must be followed. It may be that failure to follow an instruction could

result in an unsafe situation being created. In some organisations the failure to follow
an instruction could result in disciplinary action being taken against an employee.

A request is not as authoritative as an instruction. There are not necessarily any

unpleasant consequences for not carrying out a request. A request is something that
someone would like you to do.

Advice is information that can taken by an individual and, following some time to think
and reflect on it, may be acted upon.

Sources of engineering information

Information is an essential ingredient in an engineering environment. There are many

sources of information available.

BS EN Standards

Published standards (BS and EN – UK and European) can be used for a variety of
reasons in an engineering workplace:

 to show compliance with safety law such as the Health and Safety at
Work Act
 to prove that manufactured goods have been produced to a known
standard
 to save money by not having to carry out further testing
 to prove that manufactured goods are safe
 international standards make goods easier to export to other countries
 to provide codes of good practice.

Instruction manuals

Instruction manuals are designed to tell the reader how to use a particular item of
equipment. It may include instructions on how to assemble the product for use. The
instructions are normally presented in a logical sequence and designed for use by
non-technical people. Advice on how to sort out simple problems may be included.
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2850 Level 2 in Engineering Unit 201 Handout 15

Technical handbooks

Technical handbooks are much more detailed than instruction manuals and are
designated for use by experts. The contents of a technical manual typically includes:

 parts lists
 exploded view/assembly diagrams
 recommended maintenance schedules
 detailed explanations of how the equipment works
 circuit diagrams
 wiring diagrams
 block diagrams
 flow diagrams
 testing methods/schedules.

Tables, charts, graphs and data sheets

Tables, charts, graphs and data sheets are all means of providing graphical
information; ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

Textbooks and reference manuals

Textbooks and reference manuals can be sources of technical information.

Textbooks take time to go to press. In areas of work that are experiencing rapid
developments in technology, textbooks are not produced quickly enough - technical
journals/manuals are more appropriate.

Computer programmes, the internet and intranets

Computer programmes, the internet and intranets can provide sources of information
that can be readily updated and accessed from any global location.

Computer programmes can be used to aid design and to carry complex calculations.

An intranet is a closed access computer network used to store/access information

owned by an organisation.

The internet is open to all users on a global basis.