Continuing education is important for engineers so that they keep pace with developments in technology and with their own career progression. What skills or areas of knowledge are there where you feel you could do with some topping up, and how do you propose rectifying these gaps?
Studying Mechanical Engineering when I did, one could reasonably expect it to equip one for a career as a Mechanical Engineer. Now, in order to be equipped for today’s multi-disciplined world, I wish that I had studied Chemical, Electrical, Electronic, Civil and Control Engineering as well! But then how could I ever afford all of the Institution fees?
Andy Brown, Stonehouse, Gloucs
One size does not fit all. I have been Chartered for over 30 years, so I know there are lots of things I don’t know - and probably never will. I also know how to find out things when I need to; CPD courses rarely satisfy this need and are disproportionately expensive for the information gleaned.
Alan Drake, Clevedon, Somerset
The ability to take in lots of new information, sort, analyse and act on it. The pace of development means relying, more than ever, on engineering principles to develop new ideas which frequently come from many diverse sectors. Failure to spot those opportunities when they arise and exploit them is more critical than ever before.
Andrew Marsh, Evesham, Worcs
Clairvoyance is a much under developed skill for the modern Engineer, I’ve considered a satanic pact to rectify this but unfortunately due to the revised terms of my pension agreement I am and required to continue working for a further 18 months after my demise.
Brendan Canavan, Belfast
Most continuing education has to be self driven – normal work regimes and responsibilities do not allow for study time… and there is a potential loss of earnings to consider!
For career progression it’s best to move or change jobs, and get the broadest experience possible – good CV material matters.
Barry Durrant, Harpenden, Herts
This is not going to be positive, for the following reasons:
I am 60, FIMechE, FMM, FIET, FCMI, with post graduate degree in Computer Simulation, a degree in Mech Eng, and a Degree in maths.
I have completed a trade apprenticeship done ONC, OND, got Institute of Linguists grade I in French and German, have extra curricula studied Fortran, Algol, Cobol, Pascal, Basic, Visual Basic, C, C++, See Why, Witness. I have studied TPM in Japan under Professor Hajime Yamashina chief auditor of JIPM, and professor of Mech Eng at Kyoto University. I have worked in dozens of counties and perhaps a few hundred companies, delivering no late or overspent projects.
I am self developed out, and CPD for me is going to get personal, and focussed on how to keep my memory, faculties, and mobility.
Maybe your next topic will be more relevant.
Brian Burgess, Selby, Yorkshire
As a project manager, dealing with low complex but high value contracts, I need more Accountancy Skills. At present I can take a simple spreadsheet, and see Income, Cost Margin, CPI; but the wider implication to my company’s performance is sometimes lost on me.
To meet this skill gap I intend to push for advanced commercial skills within my company’s training set-up.
Sandy McKay, Annan, Dumfries-shire
When you get close to retirement age but carry on working, it's because you think you know it all - or at least enough. Then I read PE or talk to young engineers, and realise that I do need a 'top up'.
However, short term memory loss cuts in and I really wonder just how much more I can squeeze into my brain!
Alan Constable, Derby
Whilst now approaching retirement I feel I have been hampered throughout my career by inadequate communication skills which have left me with an inability to persuade non engineers that “The laws of physics apply here”.
Tom Heath, Fortrose, Black Isle
I work in material science and structures R&D and spend a considerable amount of time reading into new subject areas and keeping up with developments. I achieve this primarily through reading journal articles, dissertations and text books, attending seminars and through networking with academia (universities). But the more you know the more you know you don't know - it's never-ending.
Tony Smith, Keynsham, Somerset
Answering this question is like declaring your New Year’s resolution. For the rest of the year, friends are asking “so… have you started yoga classes yet?”
One of most rewarding and challenging aspects of engineering projects is that there’s always something new to learn.
Andrew Causton, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Continuing Development and Education is key to any person’s job success or progression. The rapid change in Design and Modelling packages is always at the forefront of “new skills”, the only problem is the cost for SME’s to cover this. Larger companies used to take ages to introduce new packages due to the infrastructure, but not anymore. As soon as they do, there’s mass training for all those “relevant” individuals. Solution – How about a bit of “Free Education”? That would be good. How about it LibLab or ConLib or whatever the Government now is!
Chris Tague, Derby
I’ve been a project engineer with a large energy company for 13 years and have worked on many different energy technologies with new challenges and learning all the way. I’m now working on new nuclear and despite my experience in the energy industry, I feel like I’m starting again and it’s great! I hope to spend the next 25 years continuing to learn mainly by drawing on the experience of colleagues through formal courses, secondments or by working alongside them.
Chris Pearce, Birmingham
I'm looking for a training course that helps to manage a depleted and demoralised workforce operating ageing plant, whilst continuing to work within the constraints of a negligible budget.
Any help?
Chris Hewson, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
My career has migrated towards software development and so my knowledge is always out of date! It's a constant battle to keep up (with Microsoft), but to keep you on track the qualifications you gain from them expire if you don't maintain your skills. Either keep up to date or get re-booted!
Scott Cameron, Derby
I can only give a generic response to this question. Each person should follow their heart and continue their training in a direction that genuinely interests them. In this way people will enhance their skills where their strengths lie and their productivity and satisfaction will be maximised.
Alan Holbrook, Thakeham, West Sussex
After more than thirty years in the nuclear industry, I'm more focussed on the need to pass on my knowledge to others than topping up my own skills. It's a sobering thought that, with design lives of 60 years being mooted for the next generation of power stations, anyone involved in their construction and commissioning will be dead or, at best, extremely infirm when the time comes to retire this plant. Knowledge transfer is essential in any field where the end product will outlive those involved in providing it, and I'm not sure it's always done very well.
Brian Rowney, Manchester
Leadership – to engage more with the teams I work with – to raise my visibility, encourage dialogue and to lead and promote the drive for continuous improvement.
Alan Fairhurst, St Helens
Questions like this can make you feel quite inadequate. What skills and knowledge need topping up? Too many to list - and too little time to rectify the shortfall. But it won't stop me trying.
Bob Cuthbertson, Preston, Lancs
As all the manufacturing roles seem to be heading east, my next personal development area will be improved knowledge of Indian and Chinese cultures.
I will achieve this objective initially by increasing the number of take-away meals I eat weekly...
Peter Anthony, Ystrad Mynach, Mid Glam
Continuing education should be a given, like quality in a manufacturing environment, but all too often companies fail to support individuals seeking to keep up to date. Recently I’ve been taking evening classes to learn CAD skills, not because I will use them in my job, but it’s a fast moving field and I feel the need to understand it better.
Andrew Gledhill, Didcot, Oxfordshire