Aug 31, 2023 | ENGINEER & COMMUNICATE, Uncategorized
Design Intent Overview
Can we apply the principles of Design Intent to build a better Mouse Trap?
The aim of the Design Intent process is to Get it right – Every time. It may be a product design or process methodology, however the basic principles are the same – Actions and Activities don’t just happen – They Need To Be Made To Happen. Always keep that thought front and center.
In order to Get them right – Every time – there needs to be a very clear Design Intent and focus.
Whilst most progressive companies encourage their creative people to “think outside of the square”
There also a needs to be a very clear strategy and standardized guidelines.
Design Intent Application
The standardized application of Technical Procedures, Methodologies and Process is paramount. It follows that having proven strategic guidelines will provide a much greater chance of a successful outcome.
There is a well known saying that a camel is the result of a horse being designed by a committee – without clear Design Intent
The 3R Philosophy has been designed and developed as a concise and easy to understand system. The core elements of this system can be applied across many disciplines other than Engineering. The 3R Philosophy is free for anyone to use. There is no need for several days of an “in depth” course which provides lots of detail and buzz words but which no one will ever remember and at a cost of mega bucks. Hit this link to Engineering The 3R Way and find “A Better Way”.
Producing a spaceship and all of the ancillary functions needs a very clear Design Intent
You may be a seasoned campaigner or fresh out of university or somewhere in between. The bottom line is that Engineering the 3R Way will either rekindle that dormant knowledge or fire up your desire to learn the tips and tricks for success. Either way its a Win Win.
Design Intent Conclusion
The word Design can have several meanings. However in the context of this article – it is a clear and unambiguous entity which may be an object or process or procedure or methodology etc. The word Intent is the expected end result of an action. Therefore when the two come together they set a clear and unambiguous target.
Not Only – But Also……
When there is a need to take a deep breath and take a break
- Looking for “A Better Way” – Go to – Engineering the 3R Way for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset and link to the full list of topics
- Then Take A Break – With the List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for pages of Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Or check out Engineering Odd Bits for more odd subject matter – including humor and comment
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
Engineer & Communicate – Engineering Trivia Quiz – Engineering Nostalgia – Engineering Odd Bits
Jun 28, 2023 | ENGINEER & COMMUNICATE, Uncategorized
Verbal Instruction – Replace “Like with Like”
Verbal Instruction to Replace “Like with Like” has many traps.
I was working as an Engineering contractor for a large company on a project. I was sitting in on a regular maintenance/project meeting when it was brought up that a concrete plinth which was supporting a motor/pump assembly was falling apart and needed to be repaired. This company outsourced a lot of work to subcontractors and the Maintenance Manager said that this happens on a regular basis with a lot of the pump assemblies in this area and he would organize for a sub contractor to repair it.
Later in the day I was walking through the area and had a look at the plinth in question. Yes – it was falling apart and many of the others were in a similar poor state. As I watched the operators working in the area – it was pretty obvious why.
It was a very congested area and the operators needed to move gear through on hand pallet trucks and trolleys. Because it was so congested – they were continually hitting the concrete plinths which eventually broke down and fell apart.
The operators were clearly not going to change their way of working or “be more careful”.
I gave this issue some thought – then went back to my Manager and suggested that when the concrete plinth was repaired – we could easily fit steel plates around the external sides of the plinth. Then when the plinth was hit again – the steel plate would protect the concrete sides. Very simple and very cheap. My Manager agreed and I designed a very basic set of protective plates which could be fabricated and fitted to all of the “at risk” plinths in the area.
Engineering Drawings For Minor Works – Protective metal plates added to the sides of concrete plinth after being repaired
Cross reference with Engineering Drawings For Minor Works
Not Only – But Also……
When there is a need to take a deep breath and take a break
- Looking for “A Better Way” – Go to – Engineering the 3R Way for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset and link to the full list of topics
- Then Take A Break – With the List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for pages of Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Or check out Engineering Odd Bits for more odd subject matter – including humor and comment
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
Engineer & Communicate – Engineering Trivia Quiz – Engineering Nostalgia – Engineering Odd Bits
Jun 28, 2023 | ENGINEER & COMMUNICATE, Uncategorized
Verbal Instruction – Copy Existing Machine Components
I will briefly touch on another problem which can occur when issuing Verbal Instruction to outside contractors, asking them to copy existing machine components.
I was contracting at a company who ran a production line with several “in line” pieces of precision equipment which had been purchased overseas. Over a period of time – lines of communication with the Original Equipment Manufacturer had evaporated and the company liked to use local contractors as much as possible. Therefore when the parts for the precision pieces of equipment started to wear – A worn part was removed and given to a local Toolmaker with the request to “Make Us Another One Of These”
- Obviously there was no original Engineering Drawing
- It was a worn part – so what were the original dimensions?
- This is a precision piece – What are the required tolerances
- What is the material?
- What heat treatment or hardness requirements?
And of course there are some obvious questions –
How will a new part interact with any existing worn parts which are not going to be replaced
Whilst the toolmaker does the best that they can – there is a lot of guesswork. And hopefully the toolmaker keeps a sketch or similar for their own records.
Hand measuring worn and damaged existing machine component can lead to may negative issues
The part may work – Or it may cause the mating parts to suffer – its all guesswork.
If an Engineering drawing had been created – There would be a record and if certain details were not correct – they could be adjusted in a logical rational manner – with follow up drawings being updated until the design was correct and a satisfactory part could then be manufactured every time.
When this type of situation arises – a second result could be that in the Toolmakers eyes, they now own the design for this component – which has been measured and produced by them. So, the company is pretty much locked into buying more of these from this Toolmaker at their price. The company is not able to get competitive prices from other Toolmakers. Or if the Toolmaker goes out of business or loses the record – It is back to square one. If there is a detailed Engineering Drawing – competitive quotes can also be obtained on a regular basis
Cross reference with Engineering Drawings For Minor Works
Not Only – But Also……
When there is a need to take a deep breath and take a break
- Looking for “A Better Way” – Go to – Engineering the 3R Way for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset and link to the full list of topics
- Then Take A Break – With the List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for pages of Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Or check out Engineering Odd Bits for more odd subject matter – including humor and comment
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
Engineer & Communicate – Engineering Trivia Quiz – Engineering Nostalgia – Engineering Odd Bits
Jun 28, 2023 | ENGINEER & COMMUNICATE, Uncategorized
Verbal Instruction – Fixed Machine Guarding
I was working at a factory which had an old Flexographic printer. A Safety Audit picked up exposed moving parts and Verbal Instruction was given to the maintenance department to fit fixed machine guarding. This was done over a weekend.
However – When the production crew started to run the machine – they discovered that the guard, which was fixed in position, blocked their “line of sight” to an important observation point on the print web as it was running. Although the machine used automatic tracking for the paper – this function was not absolutely foolproof and the operators wanted to see the actual print as it traveled around rollers in order to verify that the tracking was working correctly. Also, certain “change over” adjustment points could not now be accessed and the crew had to use a difficult access point for the change over adjustments.
“Tough” was the response from the maintenance people when this issue was raised with them. “We were instructed to fit a guard and that’s what we have done – you will have to work around any “minor” issues” was their comment
I was brought into the company on a contract basis to work on another project. At some stage I needed to discuss my project with the machine operators and as an ancillary issue – they brought up the problem of blocked vision and access to adjustment points. My manager (who was not the same manager who issued the initial verbal request) was happy for me to look at this problem and I subsequently redesigned the guard in such a way that it complied with all statutory safety standards and allowed “line of site” to verify the print position and gave them back their access points.
Engineering Drawing for redesigned front Guarding on Flexographic printer
Cross reference with Engineering Drawings For Minor Works
Not Only – But Also……
When there is a need to take a deep breath and take a break
- Looking for “A Better Way” – Go to – Engineering the 3R Way for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset and link to the full list of topics
- Then Take A Break – With the List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for pages of Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Or check out Engineering Odd Bits for more odd subject matter – including humor and comment
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
Engineer & Communicate – Engineering Trivia Quiz – Engineering Nostalgia – Engineering Odd Bits
Jun 28, 2023 | ENGINEER & COMMUNICATE, Uncategorized
Verbal Instruction – “In Line” Machine Guarding
I recall one case at a large company when Verbal Instruction was given to the maintenance department to fit a section of guarding to an “In Line” manufacturing process.
The production people needed to access a machine which was part of an “In Line” process – for routine adjustment during “set up” – this was done by “inching” and did not present a safety issue as there were well documented and well understood procedures in place.
However there were exposed moving parts when the machine was in production and it was deemed to be a safety issue.
A Verbal Instruction was given to the maintenance department to fit a guard and a fixed guard was fabricated and installed over a weekend, when the line was not running.
Verbal Instruction for “In Line” machine guarding without consultation with the machine operators can lead to many problems
The production people then found that they could not get access to the machine and ripped out the guard so that they could gain access and of course they left it removed and in a fairly damaged state.
The guard was then repaired and welded on at the next scheduled outage – and again it was ripped out. The maintenance people then decided that it was a waste of their time and just left it.
It was ignored for a long time until another Safety Audit again identified the problem of moving parts and deemed that a guard was required.
However – This time the job was given to the Engineers – Consultation with the production people followed and the result was that an effective hinged guard with suitable interlocks was designed, fabricated and installed.
Cross reference with Engineering Drawings For Minor Works
Not Only – But Also……
When there is a need to take a deep breath and take a break
- Looking for “A Better Way” – Go to – Engineering the 3R Way for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset and link to the full list of topics
- Then Take A Break – With the List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for pages of Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Or check out Engineering Odd Bits for more odd subject matter – including humor and comment
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
Engineer & Communicate – Engineering Trivia Quiz – Engineering Nostalgia – Engineering Odd Bits
