Do Engineers Have A Clue?

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Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

I have a very strong feeling that she picked the right name for herself when she registered.

She is not "sweetie", or "darling", or any of the other names we sometimes use, she is a "lady" and sometimes she can be a "tough lady" if the situation demands it but she will always be a lady. I have been reading her posts since she signed up and I would bet that I am right.

I agree, I believe she would be a pleasure to work with but don't call here "--" (you fill in what ever your favorite slang word for woman is). :D
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

Paul-

You forgot the final catch phase, "and in accordance with local codes." We had equipment recently that had to be reworked because the local code did not allow non-metallic liquid tight or non-metallic enclosures. The local agent, who we rely on for this information, didn't bother looking in the spec because he had a good relationship with the EC. The EC assumed that everyone knew the additions and exceptions the local municipality had to the NEC.

I had to deal with an EC's hired gun PE who also had a Juris Doctorate degree. Talk about double speak. After that incident if one lawyer on the bottom of the ocean is a good start then a lawyer with a PE is twice as good ;)

Tony

[ December 23, 2004, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: tony_psuee ]
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

Originally posted by kpepin:
You engineers have to realize that people bid the project based on your drawings. If there is an error and the person bidding it doesn't catch it but the guy in the field does, who is supposed to pay to make it correct? I've seen a lot of purses slam shut when we point out potential code problems. [/qb]
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Yeah, but again contractors do that same thing. I've seen them want me to ok installations during the punchlist time, just because they forgot to add things that were on the drawing. Then they make excuses like, "hey it will still work". Well give me some money back for skipping equipment I told you to install. Sorry kpepin, but it works both ways! :)

[ December 23, 2004, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: lady sparks lover ]
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

Sandsnow, thanks for the kind words. I'm good at what I do, but you know what I'm not perfect. I just want to do my best because I don't want my name going on something built incorrectly. I've made my share of mistakes, but I'm responsible enough to take care of them, and to rectify those I can fix. :)

[ December 23, 2004, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: lady sparks lover ]
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

OK, you want to know what the REAL problem is? At least as far as I see it?

I've been registered for 20 years. 7 years ago, I started my own firm. We're doing pretty well now, I've hired some people and I've cut back to about 55 hours a week.

But what I see is that we rush, because EVERYBODY wants everything yesterday. And of course, when we rush, we miss stuff. This is our biggest quality problem - not mistakes ("errors"), but things that are left out ("ommissions"). It's hard to see things that are not there. Or things that we should sit back and think about, like how is the Contractor really going to install this, that we don't seem to have the time to. Or having the time to revise the ratings of the provisions in that panelboard schedule.

When business was ramping up, I used to think to myself that we are not a dry cleaner - we don't have 24 hour service. But I was trying to build the business, and keep clients happy. Now I say it out loud. Some clients go elsewhere, and I'm just as happy that they do. I'd much rather work with clients who appreciate the service they are getting and understand that it takes time to do it right.

And, we don't have a drive up window for stamping plans either.

I will now step down off of my soapbox, and go back to typing proposals...
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

You know what Iggy2,

Get right back on your soap box because I am in complete agreement with you. The pace that's not only expected but demanded of us, in my opinion, (not IMO), is constantly at work causing huge numbers of mistakes.

And the people cracking that whip care only that it has been done that fast once before by specially designed mutants under ideal test conditions and that makes it the daily standard that will be met.

We can't even make a light bulb that works anymore. :(

Now I'll climb down off of my soap box.
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

Originally posted by iggy2:

But what I see is that we rush, because EVERYBODY wants everything yesterday. And of course, when we rush, we miss stuff. This is our biggest quality problem - not mistakes ("errors"), but things that are left out ("ommissions"). It's hard to see things that are not there. Or things that we should sit back and think about, like how is the Contractor really going to install this, that we don't seem to have the time to. Or having the time to revise the ratings of the provisions in that panelboard schedule.
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That's some of the issues I see as well, we do that in this office all the time....rush, rush, rush without quality control. I've often told myself, did I really put this on a plan. I thought it was only me... :confused:
 
Re: Do Engineers Have A Clue?

I do not look at this original post as an insult to engineers, but rather as an example of kpepin's ignorance. To post something like this shows the lack of education and common sense and lack of professionalism on kpepin. I am an engineer but I do not claim to be perfect, but I am good at what I do. I did not have any experience in the field, which I recommend to anyone studying to be an engineer. However I am not afraid to ask an electrical contractor for his opinion on matters and encourage them to call me with suggestions they may have for doing something differently as I have shown. Usually in cases like this we have a good line of communication and the project goes smoothly. There are also times that I show things on the drawing that at first doesn't make sense to the electrician, however if he calls I usually explain why I did something and we both end up learning something. Working on projects with contractors with kpepin's attitude usually leads to headaches because they are close minded and assume they know it all. I beleive this business is a two-way learning but working with kpepin wouldn't be successful from the sounds of his rants.
 
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