The term “fourth industrial revolution” is gaining wider acceptance as a useful term to refer to a ground-breaking process that will change the way we think about products, services, and engineering design itself. Keep reading to learn more about this fascinating topic and get a glimpse into the exciting tools that engineering designers will have…
From bridges and products we use every day, engineering design is everywhere. However, not everyone knows what an engineering designer does. Let’s take a closer look at this important role. What Does an Engineering Designer Do? Sometimes called “design engineers”, or simply “engineers”, engineering designers develop, test, and improve manufacturing processes and products. As a…
One of the most common questions we get is “How is engineering design different from other types of design?” Asking this question makes sense, since both “design” and “engineering” are wide concepts with many different applications, so it’s essential to understand the difference between some disciplines that are related but are by no means the…
In the first part of our basic glossary of engineering design, we explored some terms essential to navigate this exciting discipline. Today we bring you the second part of this selection of useful terms. Proof of Concept Also known as proof of principle, this is a rough model made to test if an idea is…
As fascinating as it is, engineering design can prove difficult to understand without a good grasp of some basic concepts. The following are some terms you will come across often as you explore this vast and compelling discipline. Blueprint A technical drawing that shows in detail how to build or develop something. This term, that…
You may be familiar with the acronym PSEP without really knowing what those four letters stand for. PSEP stands for Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan. This is an implementation plan established in 2014 by Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) to promote the continued safety of gas transmission pipelines. The basic goal of the plan is testing and…
In previous posts, we have defined engineering design and the engineering design process. As we have seen, engineering design is an important component of our society. But its benefits extend beyond the creation of useful things. Engineering design is also a thinking tool, and as such it offers several benefits to children. Introducing kids from…
Engineering design is all around us. It has been used to create everything from the chair you may be sitting on, to the device you are using right now to read these words. And yet, despite its ubiquity and importance, this field remains little understood. So much so, that the most common question related to…
Few people are as focused, organized, and goal-oriented as project managers. The secret of their mental and emotional discipline is a series of project management habits that anyone can adopt. Be Prepared One of the main tasks of a project manager is assessing potential setbacks. Risk management allows project managers to stay on top of…
The engineering design process is a crucial concept to understand engineering and the engineering mindset. However, people doing research on the Internet may find it strange that there are different versions of this process. Some champion a brief model with as few as four steps, while others propose a 12-step process. Faced with these diverging…