Notes from Chapter 3, Thinking Like an Engineer

EGR 150 Design & Teamwork Textbook Reading

Read Chapter 3, Design & Teamwork, pages 57 - 79 in Thinking Like an Engineer

In your Blog under the tab (page)  “Readings”, Title a new post, “Notes from Chapter 3, Thinking Like an Engineer.” Tell your instructor what you learned about each of the following. Include examples that you think will illustrate the point you are trying to make. I want this to be something that you will later return to and enjoy reading and reminiscing about your earliest engineering days. You may write it in first person. Hopefully you will glean the same information that your instructor did and we can have a discussion on Design & Teamwork and how it relates to your future EGR 150 lab projects. This is a graded assignment for Homework & Blog/Website.

1. Define Design in your own words

Design is the start-to-finish process of identifying a problem, researching solutions, selecting one solution, implementing that solution, and evaluating the results.

2. Explain the ABET design approach

The ABET design approach is made up of two repetitive and interdependent processes. The first process focuses on discussing with clients, stakeholders, users, or constituencies; defining a problem and objectives; and evaluating the results. The second process includes deciding the results necessary to achieve set objectives (problem definition; specification), determining how results will be achieved (generating ideas; innovation), determining how results will be evaluated (first part of analysis), establishing indicators that will show the desired results are being achieved (second part of analysis), and implementing your ideas (testing; prototype).

3. Who are stakeholders and why are they important

Stakeholders (clients, users, etc.) are those who are seeking for a solution to a problem. They could be investors, employers, or clients that task an engineer with providing a valid solution to a problem. They are important because their satisfaction with an engineer’s work determines if they will implement the proposed solution and pay for the work. The stakeholders are those who profit from an engineer’s work.

4. Defining a problem is one of the most important steps in solving a problem and we will learn more about how to write a problem statement through other sources (readings, powerpoints etc.) Nevertheless, I want you to tell me what you learned from sections 3.2 and 3.3

Sometimes engineers are given a specific problem to solve with a predetermined result, while other times engineers have more freedom in their generation of solutions and ideas.

Example of redefining a problem:

Dum Dum Pops

Flavors were mixed between batches of Dum Dum Pops because there were remnants left behind in the machines after each different batch. Instead of determining a better cleaning method or inventing more efficient machines, the company decided to allow the flavors to mix and to call the resulting Dum Dum Pops “Mystery Flavor.”

ABET determines objectives that must be met by an engineering degree program and allows each engineering program the flexibility to determine how to meet those objectives and how to indicate their achievement of objectives.

Criteria should be discussed before generating solutions so you don’t choose criteria to fit a certain solution.

Criteria must be decided before ideas are evaluated so each idea is evaluated the same way.

Three types of criteria:

            Must (Constraints)- All solutions are required to meet; may be

            established legally

            Ex) Building codes, environmental standards

            Should (Criteria)- It is clear what is better

            Ex) Energy use (less is better)

            Preferences/Opinions- Different groups prioritize different features

            Ex) Office temperature

The category of criteria changes based on the context of the situation.

Example: It usually does not matter what color you paint a house, but there is a mandated color for construction signs.

5. Brainstorming section 3.4

3 rules: More is better.

              Variety is better.

              Do not criticize.

            Prior art: Researching previous solutions of a problem

            Ex) In court cases, lawyers look for precedents, or similar court cases that

            resulted in a desired solution

            Biomimetics: Researching solutions of a problem in nature

            Ex) Modeling solar panels off the structure of a tree to efficiently collect

            solar power

            If you think of 10 meaningful criteria, choose the two most important!

            Using a small number of criteria helps to keep things simple!

6. Making Decisions Section 3.5

Evaluate solutions against criteria.

Immediately toss out solutions that do not meet required criteria, they have served their usefulness in generating a variety of ideas.

Narrow Solutions

            Voting (not the best; does not protect minority)

Pairwise comparisons (see table below)- all criteria are weighted

the same

Source: http://www.thesecurityminute.com/ranking-critical-assets

Rating	Description
3	More critical
2	Equally critical
1	Less critical

Weighted benefit analysis- takes into account that some criteria are

more important than others. Each criterion is assigned a weight value. Each option is assigned a value for how well the option meets the criteria. (pictured below; source: Thinking Like an Engineer)

                       

7. Prototyping & Testing Section 3.6

Reality check: 

Can elements of other ideas be integrated into my chosen solution?

Does my chosen idea work?

Build a prototype (resource intensive; only created for best solutions): model that shows if the idea works in practice

Testing: Analyze reliability and marketability of solution; implement your solution; collect user data and evaluate possible improvements

Continuous cycle: “Design, build, test, redesign…”

8. Working in Teams (Section 3.8) very important to you.

“Group: A number of people who come together at the same place, at the same time.

Team: Individuals cooperating to accomplish a common goal.”

Team must set ground rules and establish its purpose, process, and method of measuring progress.

            Discuss:

Ground Rules

Decision making

Communication

Roles

Participation (i.e. what happens if a team member is sick?)

Values

Outcomes

Accountability: Team members can rate one another’s contributions/peer

evaluations

Focus on behaviors (teammate’s actions) instead of your opinions about them

Comprehensive Assessment of Team-Member Effectiveness (CATME) measures five behaviors with one of three ratings- exceptional, acceptable, and deficient.

Contributing to the Team’s Work (effort, quality, and timeliness of work)

Interacting with Teammates

Keeping the Team on Track

Expecting Quality

Having Relevant Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities       

9. Project timeline (FYI We are going to learn how to make a WBS and a Gantt Chart for your major project)

Step 1: Create a project timeline.

            Consider the due date.

            Working back from the due date, assign each task, decisions, or purchase     

            its own due date.

            Meet consistently (same place and time each week)

Step 2: Create a responsibility matrix (pictured below; source: Thinking Like an Engineer)

            Equal distribution of effort.

Make sure another team member checks each task after it is completed.

            Step 3: Consider team dynamics

                        Communication

                        Trust and Respect (be honest about your thoughts and progress in work)

                        Nothing is carved in stone (be flexible; the timeline and responsibility   

                        matrix can be changed)

                        Have fun!