DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS 13
Communication and engineering .
By
D . S ( Vollie ) Brink Pr . Eng . MSAICE , MPMISA
As previous discussed , the candidate engineer ( the engineer who has completed a degree ) must comply with the " Eleven Outcomes ” as required by ECSA , ( ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF South Africa ), to be registered as Professional Engineer .
The candidate must register as a candidate with ECSA and then follow this training program for a period of time which is a certain number of years .
The Eleven Outcomes address critical engineering elements which the candidate engineer must master and comply with and one of these outcomes addresses communication , which is required for engineering work .
Communication in engineering is extremely important because all engineering activities require communication .
This engineering communication is the basis of engineering design and construction .
This communication must be accurate and based on science and engineering technology , knowledge , and competence .
This knowledge and competence comes from the education of the engineer and is the key to the engineering profession .
Engineering communication consists of the exchange of information and providing information , as well as collecting information .
This providing and exchanging of information is communicated by means of the following :
• Drawings ,
• Specifications ,
• Instructions ,
• Work specifications ,
• Materials specifications ,
• Equipment specifications ,
• Meetings ,
• Minutes of meetings ,
• Programs ,
• Inspections ,
• Tests ,
• Quality control ,
• Financial management ,
• Community participation ,
• Handover of works and all the requirements that go with it ,
• Closing of the contract ,
• Compliance with all legal requirements and competence , and many other elements of communication for the design and construction and installation of engineering projects .
It is extremely important that all communication shall be " in writing ” only .
It is also extremely important that the engineer have the following skills and competences : 1 . Writing skills . 2 . Presentation skills . 3 . Management and Project Management and knowing how to manage meetings . 4 . Technical competence to operate the equipment for presentations . 5 . Skill to transfer knowledge and how to work with people . 6 . It is important that people must always be treated so that they always retain their dignity . 7 . Your environment “ communicates ”, be careful what you say and how you talk to people . 8 . Knowledge of how to handle difficult people or difficult situations and the protocol of meetings .
Communication has changed drastically over the last three years and we have to adapt .
Teams meetings and Zoom meetings have become the new norm for much of our communication . However , communication is still the backbone of engineering from design to construction .
Some government projects now require that the leader engineer of any discipline must be a Pr . Eng . registered engineer and have at least 10 years ’ experience .
Some projects have failed due to poor communication and poor information and poor competence .
It is extremely important that the engineer and the artisan not accept work for which he or she is not competent and unfortunately this is happening in some cases .
The training of the engineer after the tertiary qualification and then the eleven outcomes , is extremely important for the Pr . Eng . registrationon . PA
Vollie Brink is one of the industry ’ s longest-serving wet services engineers . He continues to serve on SABS committees and has been involved in the Green Building Council ’ s Green Star rating system . Brink continues to consult for various organisations while enjoying a wellearned retirement .
“ It is extremely important that all communication shall be " in writing ” only ”
July 2022 Volume 28 I Number 5 www . plumbingafrica . co . za