Engineers & the Internet - Global Engineering

by Peter Hubbard and Rob Cleveland

For today's engineers, the paper memo has become nearly as obsolete as carbon copies, the slide rule, and the drafting table. It seems what the copier, fax machine, calculator and CAD-CAM computer previously did to simplify life, the Internet is now doing to revolutionize the way engineers communicate and perform their jobs.

As most in the industry recognize, the global explosion of the Internet over the past three years, and the universal acceptance and accessibility of "real-time" e-mail and other forms of electronic data transmission, is changing forever the way engineers function in the workplace. In fact, most engineers say they believe the Internet, still in its infancy, will create an even greater impact, given the fact that it bundles the capabilities of the Xerox, fax, engineering software and the telephone to accelerate the speed and sophistication of global communication to levels they could only dream of as recently as a decade ago.

As communicating over the Internet continues its rapid development, it's clear the kinds of data that can be sent, as well as the applications provided by this new communication technology far exceed anything previously possible by memo: the simple two-dimensional piece of paper.

From information gathered from engineers working for both manufacturers and several major suppliers with global operations, it's clear engineers and their relationship to the Internet is growing, and will continue to do so, as new applications are discovered almost daily.

Perhaps the best model for understanding the exploding development of the Internet was provided by Andy Boyd, director of advanced engineering for Delphi Automotive Systems. He sees engineers using Internet communication to develop closer relationships on three distinct levels: communication within the company, followed by exchanges of information with OEM (original equipment manufacturer (фирма-)изготовитель комплектного оборудования), then exchanges of information with lower-level suppliers and vendors.

* "Level 1 involves building the internal communication structures within one's own company," says Mr. Boyd, "so the engineering and design functions are well coordinated and all staff members have the ability to communicate with each other globally, within the corporate Intranet."

For OEMs, the Intranet (internal network) level has now expanded to include auto dealerships and their technicians, which broadens the scope beyond simple internal corporate communications. Materials previously mailed or faxed are now sent over the Internet, then followed up with all the repair specifications and technical service bulletins (TSBs) contained on CD-ROM.

"Quite often, if one design staff is backed up with work, it can be sent to another engineering group that has a lighter work load that week, and they can assist with getting it done," says Tony Gennari, a CAE with GE Plastics. "So with the Internet, we aren't constrained by staff workloads, if all we need is a little help with performing some standard analysis that can be done at any of our offices. By being global, we can send a project to Asia, have them crunch some numbers overnight, and have the results back on our desks by the time we arrive for work the next day."

* Level 2, explains Mr. Boyd, involves developing the capabilities to provide and transmit engineering data electronically, from the level of the Tier 1 suppliers to mailboxes inside the OEM's Intranets, for use by their engineering staffs.

Mr. Gennari notes that "sending files over the Internet allows us to transfer all kinds of technical details globally, in real time, that previously had to be placed on a tape and sent by FedEx. Now we can send the same file in about a half-hour, depending on the size of the file."

* "Level 3, as I see it," Mr. Boyd adds, "involves building information bridges between us and our vendors and suppliers." In some ways, the information could be similar to what OEMs receive from Tier 1 suppliers, namely specs required to meet manufacturing or development needs. He notes that, so far, this particular area has been the slowest of the three to develop.

But as modem speeds and sophistication of the Internet have increased, many new password-protected areas of the corporate Web sites are being developed so engineering staffs can transmit data to be downloaded.

"It's been a little tricky at times, however" concedes Paul Klapproth, director of media relations for Siemens Automotive. "We didn't want to get too technical, or give away any trade information that might be used by our competitors. So we had to build the site with those kinds of things in mind. Now we have an area that is password-protected, on which we are able to show more sensitive things."

Speaking of sensitive, Mr. Klapproth notes that the company recently was asked to remove information by one of its suppliers. "It seems one of our Asian suppliers was gravely concerned that some of the information could easily be pirated by some of its less-scrupulous competitors, then used to undercut their business. After some consultation, we agreed to remove the data. This experience helped to remind us just how international the Internet has become, and that sensitive information can be accessed globally -- often in areas of the world where such things as patents and copyrights are not respected."

Speaking about the IT as the means of promoting goods and services onto the market, Internet in general and Intranet in particular drive a significant increase in product sales principally by expediting new item introduction in the critical first 90 days of marketing, verifying market readiness for promotional campaigns, directly reducing chronic out-of-stock conditions that products face in the marketplace. By highlighting in-store conditions, clients are able to focus local representation on remedying the problem and, as a result, optimizing revenues and better managing spending.

Information technologies provide product availability information to fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers and retailers.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31