Engineering Communication

Engineering Communication

I left school many, many years ago and was one of a group of 20 new engineering trainees. We spent the first 12 months together, in the company training school learning the basics and getting to know each other and the company culture. I can well remember that the need for good Engineering Communication was continually being hammered into us.

And now – many, many, many years later – That need for good Communication is just as important as it ever was. And sadly is often overlooked.

 

Good Engineering Communication Is Vital

• Keep all of the Key people up to speed and in the loop
• But also – It is important let the “not so key” people know what is planned and that if they have input, it is valued and will be considered within the context of the plan
• Send a copy of “general” emails to everyone – regardless of how remote they may be to the plan
• Hopefully this avoids any future issues along the lines of …. “ well no one told us that this was going to happen”
• Put up hard copy notification on notice boards with drawings, pictures, diagrams etc
• If there is a large group of non English speaking workers – translate into their languages
• Make sure that they understand
• Don’t rely on a document on a notice board
• Typically use a bi lingual person to actually talk to them and make sure that they understand
• Plus – Ensure that any feedback is acknowledged and captured

Example A:

• I was involved in a project a few years ago which involved designing multiple pieces of mobile process machinery for an existing production line
• Existing long conveyors were fixed in place and the new plant was to be installed and removed from existing spaces – to suit the product being manufactured Replacing previous mobile manufacturing plant
• When the time came to install – there was misalignment and major drama
• The operators on the factory floor – with a great deal of smugness – advised that there had always been misalignment with these conveyors
• It had never been picked in the original installation and over the years the operators had learned to live with it and had devised their own “work arounds”
• No one had thought to bring them into project meetings regarding the detail of the new process – all communication had been through the supervisor who had not worked “hands on” on the line – so did not know
• Had we known about the misalignment from the start of the project – it could have been rectified as part of the project
• It did get fixed – but after a lot of extra work

The key message is – Communicate, Cover Your Anatomy (CYA) and keep good minutes of the meetings

See the topics – Minutes all Meetings and Cover Your Anatomy (CYA)

Example B:

•  I worked in a chemicals manufacturing plant which had many smaller filling machines, it was very manual and lots of short runs and changeovers between products
• There was a very diverse group of ethnic workers
• We, Engineers, were always trying to improve productivity and safety
• We would have factory floor meetings with all workers to go over the proposed changes
• We would produce detail drawings, pictures of new plant and chalk it out on the factory floor to scale
• The proposed changes would be carefully explained in multiple languages
• Until there was agreement from all – that they understood
• I can well remember the smiling faces and nodding heads
• And often – as new plant or modification was being installed – I can also remember the anguished look on their faces as they protested that the new modification would not work because ……………..
• And it didn’t matter how many times we said – “but we explained it to you and you agreed”

Sometimes you need to have a thick skin and philosophical attitude and keep trying to improve – as the French say – c’est la vie – such is life

 

Not Only – But Also….

• Open 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
• Regardless of your current status – always ask the question – Is there a Better Way and
  visit the 3R web page for an overview of the 3R Philosophy        Review – Refresh – Reset
• Whenever possible – always follow the KISS Principle
• Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
• Check out Engineering Odd Bits for odd subject matter – including humor and comment