Summary Notes on Design Principles: The Engineer's Contribution to Society by James H. Armstrong, Royal Academy of Engineering, London, UK.

[Dr. James H. Armstrong "is a member of several professional bodies, and Past President of the Institution of Structural Engineers. He has played an active role in monitoring and developing educational policies in professional education, he acts as coordinator for the work of The Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professors in Principles of Engineering Design and chaired the Academy committee considering design matters in engineering from 1993 to 2001. … His career has been predominantly as a consulting engineer. He retired in 1989 as a partner in the Building Design Partnership, where he was responsible for planning and designing such major projects as the Channel Tunnel Terminal Works, the Falkland Islands Airport, and the University of Surrey. … He is particularly interested in the development of design abilities, in multidisciplinary design-team projects, and in the philosophy of professional practice. He was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to education and to engineering."]

 

Summarized by J. T. P. Yao, 5/9/02

"The Royal Academy of Engineering's Visiting Professorship Scheme in Principles of Engineering Design appointed skilled and successful practising engineers to contribute to the teaching and development of undergraduate courses. … Engineers contribute considerably to the quality of life in society…"

"The four objectives of the Corporate Plan of The Royal Academy of Engineering for the years 2001-2004 can be summarized as: … Recognizing the engineer's responsibility for leading debate and action on a wide range of important issues of national interest and importance which have an engineering dimension... To support engineering education and training at all levels… To work towards greater cross fertilisation between industry and academe… To promote the importance of engineering nationally and internationally; to improve the quality of advice to parliament and ministries; to promote greater understanding and interest in engineering;…"

"A broader role for engineers in decision-making

Any engineering project involves a complex decision-making process-design-the success of which is measured in the effectiveness of the project. Engineers need to play a major part in the early stages of decision-making. An understanding of basic design principles helps to ensure success.

… The importance of engaging engineers in the early decision-making processes of a project is frequently not appreciated, and major decisions are left in the hands of the non-engineering professionals-the politicians, lawyers, accountants or marketing experts. … Engineering decisions have an enormous impact upon the quality of life in the global community. … It is essential… that engineers play a full and significant role in ordering the affairs society, not merely as technicians carrying out the instructions of others. It is a major objective of The Royal Academy of Engineering to help engineers become more aware of the contribution that their abilities can make to primary decision-making activities…"

"Role of design

Clearly, at the core of decision-making in any technical project is the design strategy. … It is important that practising engineers and engineering students understand the synergy between engineering design and high-level decision-making. …"

"Design principles

An awareness of fundamental design principles enables engineers to engage in the highest level of decision-making - to which they can then bring their professional skills and training. … These principles may well be known to experienced designers, but may not have been communicated to students, yet understanding them is essential if design decisions are to produce desirable results. …"

"Statements of principle

Engineering design encompasses three key stages of realisation.

·        NEED - all design begins with a clearly defined need

·        VISION - all designs arise from a creative response to a need

·        DELIVERY - all designs result in a system, product or project that meets the need"

 

"Some case studies

… The examples chosen represent a wide range of engineering designs from single specialty products to large-scale projects…:

·        An intelligent prosthesis developed by Chas A. Blatchford & Sons;

·        The Tsing Ma Bridge designed by Matt MacDonald;

·        An asthma inhaler developed by IVAX Pharmaceuticals;

·        The Trent aero engine developed by Rolls Royce."

[Readers who are interested in this 26-page booklet are encouraged to read the original version in its entirety. Other summary notes on civil engineering education are available on the Internet at http://lohman.tamu.edu under the heading "Summaries of Papers ..."]