Functions of the Engineer in the Organization
Specifically, the functions of engineers encompasses the following areas:
RESEARCH - where the engineer is engaged in the process of learning about nature and codifying this knowledge into
usable theories.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT – where the engineer undertakes the activity of turning a product concept to a finished
physical items. Design for manufacturability and value engineering teams are charged with improvement of designs
and specifications at the research, development, and production stages of product development.
TESTING – where the engineer works in a unit where new products or parts are tested for workability.
MANUFACTURING – where the engineer is directly in charge of production personnel or assumes responsibility for the
product
CONSTRUCTION – this is where the construction engineer (civil engineer usually) is directly in charge of the
construction personnel or may have responsibility for the quality of the construction process
SALES – where the engineer assists the company’s customers to meet their needs, especially those that require
technical expertise.
CONSULTING – where the engineer works as consultant of any individual or organization requiring his services.
GOVERNMENT – where the engineer may find employment in the government performing any of the various tasks in
regulating, monitoring, and controlling the activities of various institutions, public or private.
TEACHING – where the engineer gets employment in a school and is assigned as a teacher of engineering courses.
Some of them become deans, vice presidents, and president.
MANAGEMENT – where the engineer is assigned to mange groups of people performing specific tasks.
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
Engineering Management Defined
Engineering management refers to the activity combining “technical knowledge with the ability
to organize and coordinate worker power, materials, machinery, and money.”
It is a specialized form of management and engineering that is concerned with the
application of engineering principles to business practice.
Engineering management is the discipline where engineers combine management
skills with technical expertise to coordinate work in various technical fields such as product design,
development, and manufacturing.
Management Defined
Management may be defined as the “creative problem solving process
ofplanning, organizing, leading, and controlling an organization’s resources to achieve its mission
and objectives.”
Management must seek to find out the objectives of the organization, think of ways how to achieve
them, decide on the ways to be adapted and the material resources to be used, determine the human