Summary of Interview Notes

Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
Cascade pilot 06-10-08 HR, Eng Program manager, Product engineer,
Design engineers, Process engineer,
Tooling Eng, Materials Eng,
RD group (materials and metrology). acoustics lab
Manufacturing engineers, system engineers,
data engineers, elec engineers.  		Mold flow analysis, simulations from CAD drawings, CAD design, Multiple CAD* programs, MS Office tools, word, outlook, powerpoint, excel how to use/manipulate complex spreadsheets, FEA software, send CAD to toolshops. Try to use particular packages but may need to use IGES to translate. Homegrown DB for monitoring manufacturing process. QID, Manufacturing Pro, Pilgrim QS software, MS Project, GANT charts ?recording -     Understand principles and how to apply them.
-     Work in cross-functional team; ability to speak many 'languages.'
-     Conversant with tech; function well in team environment
-     Ability to conceptualize in 3 D 
-     Ability to actually draw
-     Increasing sophistication of data management (supply chain management)
-     soft skills are crucial
-     Sustainable, renewable energy. Elec eng, Environ eng
-     New applications for plastics/metal before.  Improve existing products (auto, furniture, new materials.) 
-     How to get carbon footprint of product
-     "designing for the environment" DFE

*Listed specific software programs

Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
DASI Solutions 06-18-08
The company represents variety of software, doesn't make it 		president -     Training engineers, so need engineers on staff. Mech Eng.
-     Technical trainer; needs to have very good knowledge of software capabilities. Always have to get industry certification
-     Application engineer: sales.  Understand customer process and how to align his tech with customer needs 		CAD solid works. Cosmos - fluid flow analysis, thermal. PDM Works enterprise. Product life cycle technology.
3D Via: tech comm. Tool for tech publication.  Create assembly instructions for products. 		  -     communication skills
-     Need to communicate with non-engineers (MBA) to sell
-     In past 3 years, no recent grads coming to his training. Doesn't think people are hiring recent grads without particular skills.  Number of interns is in decline.
-     Ability to learn tech more important than actual tech skills
-     Database
-     Contact management
-     collect data, organize and present 		-     schools to give opportunity for industry certification
-     communicate value
-     project based learning
-     Move towards small eng. consulting
-     Material development. Nano tech; chemistry to get more out of materials. Ceramics
-     More simulation: plastic, heat flows. Design validation.  Manufacturing simulation. Simulating business model.
-     software customizing
-     Programming. 


             
Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
Symmetry Medical   Customer focus team: project engineers.  understanding of materials, design, manufacturing -can talk with customers.
Production: manufacturing engineers, not all degreed.  Generally specialty training, ISSO, etc.
Designers, typically CAD tech.
Forge simulation: process simulation packages are critical for their. 
CAD: unigraphics shop
FEA or FEM: design, analyitical package. 
CAM: CAMtool, master CAM, others.
PDM, PLM: software collaboration tools.  Relatively new.  Getting more important.  Started as product data management tool to share information and manage data including MS office files.
intranet to communicate internally 		  -          understanding of databases as concept
-          familiarity with any CAD package (2 and 4 year engineers)
-          review 3 D data
-          Designers - to use the CAD package
-          electronic collaboration-abstractions are stored in software
-          concept understanding, not particular tool.
-          Problem solving, analysis, which tool to address problem 		 
             


Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
Bordener Eng Production engineer; chemical engineer lab technician Excel, Enterprise Resource Services (ERS) database, Visio, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word.
-     engineering specific software outsourced, data sets imported into Excel, the ERS database, and Visio for manipulation and reporting then analyze, design, model
-     MS Office and Intranet skills important  - both obtainable at LCC 		  soft skill development
problem solving, information management, knowledge management, communication, and critical thinking 		entry level engineers/undergrads who lack or have limited ability to use computational tools/software to aid problem solving, meaning making/dot connecting, critical thinking, and communication


             
DEQ **
government agency 		  Engineers and analysts
Professional Licensure required to be a District Engineer.
Analysts-college degrees
  • Knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite (word, power point, excel.....).
  • Managing large volumes of data and keeping the database updated (Access is used for this task).
  • Use of air quality modeling software (e.g. AIRMOD, ISC 3....)
  • Hydrogeology software-legislation on ground water impact.
  • MATHCAD-for verifying design calculations
  • engineers and analysts write their own code for computation expediency.
  • Electronic communication and web technology
  • Relative to computational skills non-specific to LCC
   -     staying current with technology and regulations.
-     Good communication skills
-     Organized and be able to multi-task
-     Have a desire to work with the public, other government agencies and consultants
-     Problem solving skills
-     Be able to look at the big picture, break it down and work out solutions
-     Manage limited financial resources
-     big picture, problem solving rather than specific computational competencies 		Electronic communication and web technology (growth area)

**Do hire interns and job rotation is encouraged---suggested that we talk to the HR director Vicki Miles
Suggested we talk to Greg for additional information about computational skills and software used.

Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
MDOT Eng, HR Civil Engineers (four year degrees) Civil technicians (associate degrees)
Some Electrical, Mechanical and Agriculture Engineers 		-     Web based applications, automation
-     Oracle
-     Data transmission, data security.
-     Microsoft Office suite
-     Spreadsheet applications (especially for techs)
-     email
-     Microstation
-     GIS applications
-     LCCA and the role of economics in eng.
-     Discipline specific design, surveying, simulation and modeling software
-     Statistics and related software-very useful for Quality Control and Assurance
-     Technicians manage complex data sets, prepare for analysis and quality assurance testing 		  -     Eng need to stay current with transportation delivery models; technology; the state of the art; what others are doing.
-     Project management (particularly knowledge of critical path)
-     Technical writing and communication skills
-     Curious/open minded
-     Be open to reading journal articles, reports etc.
-     Contract law
-     Technology and automation=increased productivity with a reduced workforce. 
-     However, emphasis on understanding the system and validate/check (by hand computation) design calculations. 		-     Virtual office
-     Increase in voice activated systems
-     Understanding of environmental impact across all disciplines
-     Increase capacity without increasing environmental impact


Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
GEMA Eng, HR Electrical Engineers (difficult to source)
Mechanical Eng
computer science/IT side. 		-     PLC (Program Logic Controller)
-     Excel. PLC software. Minitab.  Microsoft suite
-     auto-cad 		  -     People skills, analytical skills, exploit current technology, problem solving
-     Able to use all available technology
-     understanding of control (PLC)
-     exposure to building it, hands on
-     knowing how to read the data from the plant floor 		-     Data mining


      -       -     -    
Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
Hemlock Eng, HR chemical eng, Mechanical eng
Electrical Eng
structural eng 		-     Data Collection
-     Data Analysis. Excel very important, custom calculations-home grown.
-     Process simulation tools
-     Statistical data Analysis
-     Heat transfer calculations
-     Kinetic transfer calculations
-     "Distributed Control System- interphase between the human and the process (represents different computational level)
-     Programming. Control system configuration
-     Business process platform.
-     Microsoft Office
-     Excel
-     Control system (runs the process) experts mostly homegrown software platforms are proprietary
-     Higher level of capabilities with excel -     Increase in sophistication of the current applications.


Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
DOW Chemical Eng engineers everywhere -     Design Elements
-     Database/ advanced spread sheet (Excel). F.ex. flow rate calculations.
-     Operational level: Statistical tools Six-sigma tools (management improvement projects).
-     Microsoft Office.
-     Process control software, (programming to an end result)
-     JMP statistical software 		  -     Common computational language-working globally across cultures, geographies
-     Process control software, (programming to an end result) 		-     Develop new products from technology that we don't have today. next big generation of technology
-     People interested in doing engineering operational in nature (in the plant), execution, project management.
-     Data mining
-     Schools-most stimulating learning environment.


Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
GM Eng controls engineer - hires from electrical, mechanical and systems eng -     4-year engineers-Excel and Matlab and related modules.
-     2-year technicians-Unigraphics.
-     modeling of physical elements (increased understanding of crash dynamics without having to crash so many cars) 		-     modeling physical systems with high fidelity and speed -     modeling physical systems with high fidelity and speed
-     high level of complexity
-     define fidelity at each level
-     meet federal regulations and safety requirements in a traceable way
-     requirements management at the vehicle level
-     system minimization
-     knowledge of microcomputers and associated devices
-     understanding of physics and/or information flow
-     mechanical aptitude
-     "hands-on"
-     team work
-     communication
-     understanding of vehicle dynamics 		-     need tools that can track requirements management and workers who know how to use the tools
-     requirements engineering is not typically emphasized in school.
-     Increase use of tools for finite element analysis.
-     blend control systems to have a higher level system (increase the "smartness" of individual systems cost-effectively)
-     Requirements from a variety of sources and forms, need to be translated to the design of a system.
-     Hires with a generic skills set to be high level dynamic problem solvers.
Interview Who Eng related positions Key computational aspects of the job Software that changed the nature of eng job Important Will need/want
TARDEC Eng -     Technicians usually as detailers, run test equipment, physical simulators in labs
-     4 year eng and scientists-most of technical work 		-     Visualization techniques, VB, C++, Matlab
-     Workflow management 		  -     broader experience in R&D
-     understand full life cycle
-     experience with computer modeling and simulation
-     develop (product) from requirements to concept and performance analysis before begin to assemble prototypes
-     Understanding of business process
-     Constant updating of skills
-     Track and manage data in virtual environment
-     ability to learn, communicates effectively
-     Computation to accelerate design decision process and assess risk
-     right skills sets to evaluate the models and use tools 		-     Schools to produce people with skill sets that meet current needs


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