PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AGAINST UK-SPEC

A1. Maintain and extend a sound theoretical approach in enabling the

introduction and exploitation of new and advancing technology, and other
relevant developments.
I have been very pro-active in bringing in new technology into my company.
This is especially true in areas like 3D CAD, and inite !lement Analysis.
Also in managing the change "rom predecessor methods. I strive to improve
my own technological capability by reading #ournals, practise in the use o"
so"tware, and specialist courses. I have introduced many kinds o" technical
so"tware to the company, where a need is identi"ied, and there was potential
to improve product analysis, per"ormance, and increase the e""iciency o" the
design process.
A2. Engage in creative, and innovative development of engineering
technology, and continuous improvement systems.
As I work "or a development company, a ma#or part o" my role concerns the
development o" new products, and product improvement. This includes
development o" products to appeal to a large market, and development o"
products to meet a customer$s particular re%uirement. &uch o" this work
involves special mining e%uipment, and mechanical power transmission
systems. I have carried responsibility "or mechanical design o" very large "ully
mobile mineral si'ing plants, with a mass o" around (,))) tonnes, and a value
o" around *) million pounds. As an e+ample o" my innovative work, I have
designed a device to split power transmission e%ually between two paths, and
a patent covers this design. As an important part o" my company$s %uality
system, I have developed a system to monitor, and chart complaint data, "rom
products in service, to evaluate design process per"ormance and check the
e+tent to which the drive towards continuous improvement is being achieved.
B1. dentify potential pro!ects and opportunities.
I work "or a company that operates in a competitive market, in an industry
which is depleted in many areas, and has no signi"icant ,- market. The
company has a "undamental need to o""er ever-improving products "or its
survival. The search "or new products and product enhancement is
continuous. An e+ample o" identi"ication o" a product introduction opportunity
is the development and introduction o" a chain tension device, This product is
an optional e+tra, "or tensioning chains on chain conveyors, by using a small
hydraulic motor and utilising the mechanical advantage o" the main drive
gearbo+.
B2. "onduct appropriate research, and underta#e design and development
of engineering solutions.
The most e""icient design solutions can be obtained by collection o" design
data by research and measurement, then using this date to complete the
design. I have designed a large gearbo+ .*/ tonnes0 "or a rock crusher
transmission, which is now entering service. The "irst step in this design task
was to evaluate relevant data. This was used to produce representative
design, loads and a design speci"ication. The e+ercise presented many
design problems, but the initial research made the provision "or the design to
be carried out, and then reach an e""icient solution. I have undertaken other
pro#ects re%uiring research, to reach engineering solutions. 1otably, I had key
involvement with a hydro transport device "or oil sand, and I have designed a
shock damping system "or stone "eeders used in mining. I have involved
universities "or assistance in specialist research into speci"ic design problems.
B$. mplement design solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness.
As a part o" the %uality system which I operate in my department, design
planning, design review, veri"ication are important components o" it. 2lanning
makes provision "or review, veri"ication and validation. 3eri"ication is the
process which as "ar as practically possible checks that the design will
"unction, per the design intent. This might involve modelling and testing, but
more usual is modelling the relevant situations using computer so"tware or
calculations techni%ues. 4eview is a tool used to look back at the design
input and the re%uired outcomes in the speci"ication. In this way the outcome
is evaluated against the original speci"ication. 3alidation usually takes the
"orm o" a site visit which will be a general check, inclusive o" the customer$s
opinion that the design has completely met the original re%uirements.
"1. %lan for effective pro!ect implementation.
As my role includes overall responsibility "or mechanical, I write, or have key
involvement in the planning o" design pro#ects. This will usually include5
Identi"ication o" important "eatures
4esource planning
Identi"ication o" special resources
6chedule in"ormation
Design methods
3eri"ication planning
&anaging work
4eview arrangements
I" the design pro#ect concerns development, and a particular customer is not
involved at that stage, then I am o"ten re%uired to draw up a design
speci"ication, "or the design team to work with. 7n occasions I have also
been involved with negotiation o" technical design issues. or instance, load
cases with customers, and8or their representatives.
"2. %lan, budget, organise, direct and control tas#s, people and resources.
In my working role I o"ten write some o" the company$s technical procedures,
which "orm an important part o" the %uality system. These procedures cover
aspects o" design, and %uality standards "or manu"acture. I am involved in the
planning pro#ect schedules, but whilst I have written some o" these mysel"
they are usually constructed by others using appropriate so"tware.
7rganisation and leading o" work teams usually involving engineering design
is a key area in my role. This aspect is normally carried out in a meeting or
discussion. 2roviding concessions and problem solving through recti"ication
procedures when manu"acturing problems o""ice, is another key area o" my
responsibilities. In the %uality system I am a point o" "eedback on issues like
assembly problems, or e%uipment per"ormance issues. I update procedures,
recommend and implement re%uired changes.
"$. &ead teams and develop staff to meet changing technical and
managerial needs.
&y company has o""ices worldwide, some o" which employ their own pro#ect
engineers, usually #oining the company at graduate level. 9hen they #oin the
company, they sometimes come to my department "or training, A"ter initial
discussion, I draw up training plans and they work through the plan under my
supervision.
This is an indication o" how you can write a report to demonstrate you have
met the pro"essional competencies. 2lease re"er to our web site,
www.ied.org.uk to see the "ull list o" ,- 62!C pro"essional competencies.