64 Engineering Fundamentals
For example, a manufacturing engineer may be
developing a solution to improve the effi ciency of a
manufacturing fi rm that produces pieces of econom-
ical furniture for distribution to a major chain retail
store. The engineer will look at different ways to
improve effi ciency and make multiple fi eld visits to
different locations to view how other engineers have
solved this challenge. Included in the engineer’s
visits may be other furniture factories with similar
assembly lines to improve their own assembly line’s
effi ciency. Also, the engineer may visit manufactur-
ing businesses that manufacture products other than
furniture, to look at their manufacturing distribution
arrangement. See Figure 4-12.
Engineers will also visit the location where
the solution will be used. Engineers can gain great
insight into a product through an analysis of the envi-
ronment in which the product is used. For example,
mechanical engineers developing new technologies
to improve the land excavating process will visit
work sites to see how their backhoes and other exca-
vating equipment are used. See Figure 4-13. These
visits may be for one small component of a tool or
for a complete redesign of the tool.
Rainer Plendl/Shutterstock.comktttdl/Sh R i Pl
Figure 4-12.
An automotive assembly
line is an example of a site
an engineer may choose
to visit while conducting
research on a potential
solution.
Field visits may include current work sites, where
engineers can see how equipment is being used.
Figure 4-13.
majeczka/Shutterstock.com