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Activity 3.1b

Activity:  what do engineers do? Spend 30 minutes (and no more) searching the internet (using your preferred type of search engine) to find an example of an engineering project.

I have chosen to research projects both physical and research only that are currently taking place to try and help aviation fuel efficacy while reducing greenhouse gases. Lots of companies are looking into different ideas and concepts, NASA have shown a lot of interest and discussed ideas around electric flight projects. This is a good future concept but requires a lot of planning.

More simple fixes have been discussed by company’s such as Airbus who have created and started to put there A320neo aircraft into service. The aircraft is an adaption of there A320 model. They contain geared turbofans which means a lot less fuel is burned equally making the aircraft more environmentally friendly but also cheaper to operate. Finally, airlines 4 America signed a contract to create jet fuel from non-food plant oils and have targeted 50% or higher reductions in greenhouse gas per gallon of fuel.

Making changes to the fuel we use during flight has many benefits but to conclude…

-        Sustainable alternatives help to strengthen environmental records.

-        Help reduced price volatility.

-        Enhance energy security.

Interesting Links. 

http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/16/the-airbus-a320neo-arrives-at-spirit-airlines-inco.aspx - A320neo.

https://www.energyglobal.com/downstream/clean-fuels/20092016/jetblue-secures-sustainable-alternative-jet-fuel-deal-4112/ - A4A Fuel.

http://cleantechnica.com/2016/08/08/5-crazy-or-not-so-crazy-green-aviation-concepts/ - Nasa Ideas.

Section 3.1 notes.

Communicating in teams.

·      “Communication skills are Vital, particularly in organisational structures where there is extensive team working.”

·      Team work is required for success.

·      Greater responsibility within a project normally increases an individual’s commitment.

·      Communication doesn’t just mean verbal or written it can include…

- Numerical material, Statistical , algebraic and graphical information.

- Scale Drawings or other pictorial communication.

Knowing what and knowing how.

·       “In order to do engineering you need to able to solve problems”.

·       Modelling cycle often used within engineering. – Model is a tool for thinking with – An abstraction which often helps to solve an engineering problem.

* See attached file for Modelling cycle diagram. *

·       The cycle starts with a problem – the problem being the item that needs to be created for example a bridge to cross water.

·       The second step is the model – This being the original concept or plan, in this case may be a scale drawing of a bridge or idea of material that will be required for the build.

·       The next arrow shows that you should use your model to plan a solution , this may be where your occur problems such as the material required may not be available to the amount of specialised craftsman etc.

·       The final step is the solution, this is where you will fix the problems or adapt the design sp that your earlier problems are identified and minimalised. This will then allow you to have another solution or final product, you can continue to break this down and test your solution until you happy with your final product.

Activity 2.2B.

Helpful Tips

Link: http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/helpful-tips.php

Tips:

• 80% of the result can be gained by concentrating on 20% most important tasks.
• Regularly check study calendar.
•  Highlight textbook areas that require more time / holding you up and revisit them.
• Write out assessment questions , add notes / ideas to them.
• Check rules for your assessment. ( Word count etc.)
•  

Web Page Conclusion:

• Keep on top with upcoming assessments, write the questions down and make notes as and when possible. Refer back to notes at assessment time. Highlight areas of difficulty and come back to them; don’t get stressed. Relax and move on revisit them after another activity.

Activity 2.2B.

Study Goals.

Link:  http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/study-goals.php

Time Management:

• Organising time you have put aside each day, knowing exactly what you plan on studying, for how long and where.
• Be Strict, Stick to plans and keep on track.

Tips:

• Dived work into small manageable chunks. – Break up Large tasks

Planning:

• Set Goals, Both short term and Long term.
• Create a weekly time table.
• Create daily / weekly to do lists.
•  

Web Page Conclusion:

Try making an action plan at the begging of the week, like the example given. Set small manageable goals and also target dates and completion dates.

Exercise 2.1Question: Suggest examples of products that illustrate the difference between ‘craft’ and ‘engineering’ from the following areas of industry

A.)Food

      B.)Furniture

      C.)Transport

Definition of Craft and Engineering production.

 Craft Production: “Craft production is the process of manufacturing by hand with or without the aid of tools.” –

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craft_production

 Production Engineering: “Production Engineering is a combination of manufacturing technology, engineering sciences with management science. A production engineer typically has a wide knowledge of engineering practices and is aware of the management challenges related to production. The goal is to accomplish the production process in the smoothest, most-judicious and most-economic way.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_engineering

 Food – Craft

-       Bakery – Handmade cakes or pastry’s that have been individually crafted and created.

-       Restaurant – individually constructed and designed dishes put together by hand.

Food – Engineering.

-       Sweets made on a large scale by industrial machinery.

-       Farming that uses genetically modified theory’s, or farming that is carried out on a sizeable scale.

 Furniture – Craft

-       Handmade wooden furniture, where hand tools would have been used and items individually produced not on mass scale. Often all different as designed to separate specifications.

-       Hand sewn / knitted blanks / throws – Designed and created by an individual using hand skills and technique.

Furniture – Engineering.

-       Mass produced flat pack for example ‘ikea’ the furniture would have been designed by an engineer and created using machinery on a great scale no hand craft involved.

        Transport – Craft

-       Composite components for example in the Aviation industry. The repair and structures would have been designed by an engineer however a skilled craftsman would carry out the repairs in accordance with the engineer’s theory. Moreover, this is normally carried out by a few individuals by hand involving a lot of skill and craftsmanship.

Transport – Engineering

-       Aviation industry involves engineers every day through production and fleet maintenance. For examples an aircraft engine obviously involves a huge amount of planning, theory, maths and methodology. Engineers are involved from the design process at the very start all the way through the upkeep such as Borescopes and inspections. Additionally, Engineers will continuously research something like an Engine to always find a better more effective way of adapting / creating a new variety of the product.