Chapter 1

Introduction to Engineering Skill

 What is Engineering?
Definition 1: Engineering is a scientific field and job that involves taking our
scientific understanding of the natural world and using it to invent, design,
and build things to solve problems and achieve practical goals.

Definition 2: Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the

mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and
practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically,
the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of humankind.

Definition 3: Engineering is applying scientific knowledge and mathematical

analysis to the solution of practical problems.
 What is Eng. Cont’d
• The things engineers build are called technology. Without technology, the
modern world simply wouldn't exist.
• These technologies make our lives safer, more enjoyable, and more
productive.
• We're surrounded by the work of engineers practically every moment of our
lives.
•  The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more
specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on
particular areas.
 What is Eng. Cont’d
Here are some examples of the different engineering disciplines:
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Agricultural Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
 What Do Engineers Do?
• They apply scientific laws and mathematical principles to design the
countless products and services that we use every day.
• Engineers consider factors such as cost, efficiency, sustainability,
reliability, and safety in their designs.
• Engineers perform tests to ensure their designs can withstand the
loads and conditions prescribed.
• Engineers continue to seek ways to improve existing products and
services.
• Engineers design, maintain, and supervise different technologies
 Characteristics of Good Engineers
• They are problem solvers
• They are analytical and detail oriented
• They are creative
• They have the desire to be lifelong learners
• They have good communication skills
• They have good time management skills
• They are good team players
• They are active in the profession and community
 Engineering Thinking
• Engineers make judgments and provide explanations to justify
their choices.
• Engineering thinking is the development of such explanations
that identify and validate a particular solution as the best.
• Engineering thinking involves analogical reasoning as well as
deduction.
• Engineers deal with complicated and difficult problems that have
many possible solutions but choose few good ones
 Engineering Thin. Cont’d
• "Engineering judgment" is the ability to make sound design
choices based on experience and intuition.
• It is hard to summarize it in a list of rules.

• Problems engineers face on a daily basis can be broadly

categorized into two:
• Simple Problems and
• Compound Problems
 Engineering Thin. Cont’d
• In simple problems, the constraints and criteria for evaluating
the solution are all qualitatively similar.
• However, in compound problems, the evaluation criteria are not
qualitatively similar and cannot be jointly optimized.
• Most engineering problems are compound.
• Wherever there are choices of materials, subsystems or
methods that emphasize one or another property, the problem is
compound.
 Engineering Thin. Cont’d
• Engineering thinking usually requires the balancing of cost, safety and
aesthetics and it is considered compound.

• Engineers consider the following strategies as they analyze and solve

compound problems:
• Disqualify (ignore) criteria that cannot be measured.
• Express relative values of criteria based on some evidence, then
try to reduce the problem to a simple one.
• Divide the problem into parts which can be independently solved
as simple problems
 Engineering Thin. Cont’d
• In making decisions concerning compound problems, the
engineer must draw on similar or at least related previous
problems and solutions.

• Analogical reasoning whereby a solution to a previously known

problem may be applied to solving a structurally similar problem
is thus at the heart of Engineering Thinking.

• Therefore, engineers should be trained in the use of analogy,

and given a rich set of source analogs from which to reason.
 Problem Solving Strategies
• Engineers deal with reality and usually have a set of specific
problems that must be solved to achieve a goal.

• Engineering problems exist every day and they usually have

more than one solution.

• The objective of the engineer is to solve a given problem with

the simplest, safest, most efficient design possible, at the
lowest cost.
 Problem Solving Cont’d
The following are the steps involved in solving engineering problems:

1. Define the problem

• It is necessary to ensure that the identified problem is fundamental
and not simply a symptom of a problem.
• Many inadequate designs result from trying to treat a symptom
instead of solving the underlying problem.
• When the problem has been identified it must be clearly described
and defined
 Problem Solving Cont’d
2. Collect the necessary information and data
• It is important to collect as many information as possible relate to the
problem defined in the first step.
• It helps to understand what has been done before, the constraint and
limitations as well as the possible way forward.

3. List possible solutions

• Using the information gathered above, generate as many solutions as
possible to the problem no matter how ridiculous or sensible they may be.
• This is probably the most creative part of the task and probably the most
difficult.
 Problem Solving Cont’d
4. Evaluate and rank the possible solutions
• Evaluating the possible identified solutions require a careful study.
• Many of the ideas will be set aside on no more than commonsense
basis.
• But others need analytical skills with the tools of mathematics and
engineering analysis.
• After analyzing, choose the solutions that seem more relevant to
solve the problem.
 Problem Solving Cont’d
5. Develop a detailed plan for the most attractive solution(s)
• Here is where the education, skills and experiences come in
handy
• Using all the knowledge acquired from previous education and
experiences, go deeper and describe how the top selected
solutions would work.
• Explain the advantages, disadvantages, constraints and
limitations that come with the plan.
 Problem Solving Cont’d
6. Re-evaluate the plan to check desirability
• Now based on the detailed plan analysis of the top selected solutions, re-
evaluate your options and come up with the one that is best of all.
• See how it can get to the ground to be executed.
7. Implement the plan
• Execute the solution as per the detailed implementation plan set above.
8. Check the results
• Monitor and evaluate how the solution is working towards solving the
problem.
• If there is a need to make it better, see which approach is best.
 Engineering Failure
• The role of the engineer is to respond to a need by building or
creating something along a certain set of guidelines (or
specifications) which performs a given function.

• It is very important that the product or service should perform its

function without failing.

• Although everything must eventually fail after performing it’s given

function at a good level, the engineer should be careful of
catastrophic and sudden failures.
 Engineering Fail. Cont’d
• Catastrophic failures are those that could result loss of life, loss
of property, damage to the environment, injuries, and health
risks.

• Through analysis and study of engineering disasters, modern

engineering designers should learn what not to do and how to
create designs with less of a chance of failure.
 Engineering Fail. Cont’d
The common causes of engineering failures are usually considered to be the
following:
• Design flaws
• Construction flaws
• Inadequate maintenance
• Improper operation (eg. machines)
• Material quality problems
• Extreme environmental conditions (eg. weather)
• Natural disasters (eg. earthquake and flooding)
• Human posed accidents (eg. terrorist attacks and fire accidents)
 Take Home Quiz
Pick one example of an engineering failure or disaster of some
type and describe;
• What failed.
• What the reason for failure was.
• Who was responsible for the failure.
• What could have been done for it not to fail (in your opinion)
Maximum: 2 pages
Deadline: next class
Thank You!