What role do mechanical engineers play in construction? Many people think of mechanical engineers as the engineers that design things like vacuum tubes, aircraft, and power generators. While mechanical engineering has come a long way over the years, there is still a lot to be done. So, what are the main roles mechanical engineers play in construction?
The Role of Mechanical Engineer in Construction? As a mechanical engineer job description, the main role of the engineer is to find the best working conditions for the workers they are training. It may sound like a simple thing, but the people who actually do the digging, building, and maintenance are the ones that will benefit most from good working conditions. So how do you find them? It's simple: by hiring them!
You've probably heard the term civil mechanical engineering before, right? The reason it's important today is because we use civil engineering in everything from road construction and bridges to aircraft and space shuttles. Civil engineering involves the application of science to building things that can make people's lives better, or at least easier (like cars and bridges). If civil engineers are doing the work that you need them to do, why wouldn't you hire them to build your road construction or tunnels?
How Do Mechanical Engineering and Road Construction Affect Each Other? Good working conditions are essential to all mechanical engineers. In fact, most engineers would say that without good working conditions, the entire construction process wouldn't be successful. That's why I stress the importance of civil engineering to construction today. Without the correct engineering practices and equipment, the roads we drive on today would not be as smooth or as safe as they are.
You've probably seen some examples of how mechanical engineers can help a construction project succeed. Take a look at any bridge or tunnel construction project you've been involved with. At some point during the job, there will be skylights. Without skylights, you would have to manually open them every time you wanted to get a good view of the ground below. Or you could spend all day repairing damage to windows or doors. Without the correct safety equipment, these workers would be doing just that - repairing and replacing windows and doors.
So how do you ensure your crew have the best working conditions possible? One way is to put them on call. Mechanical engineering professionals should always be available to the construction crew, even on days that don't fall within their working hours. Having mechanical engineers available that can come and go from project to project, will prevent your crew from having to endure bad working conditions for any length of time. Not only is this unethical, but it could prove to be extremely dangerous.
How can your construction job description be more specific? Another way is to make sure that your mechanical engineers have an extensive amount of experience in your industry. The truth is, the vast majority of qualified HVAC professionals don't have any experience whatsoever in your type of business. They might know someone who works in your industry, but that person could very well be completely inexperienced in HVAC and might not understand the challenges your business has to face. If you want your team to be safe, you need to make sure they're properly trained and prepared before they're asked to work with you.
Lastly, let's talk about education. Unlike many other professionals, HVAC engineers need to have a comprehensive understanding of building codes, mechanical engineering principles, and safety regulations. Not only do these laws change frequently, but they're constantly changing. You can't simply hire any random engineer out of a construction company and expect them to know your building codes.
