In any company, quality management is essential to ensure a good product or service to the customer/client. For engineers, in particular, quality is at the top of the list. But you'd be surprised how many poor project quality practices I've seen. Does your organization display any of these? Dependence on inspection and rework Reliance on trial and error Rewarding … [Read more...]
If you're a manager interested in increasing the bottom line, you can't afford not to investigate Six Sigma. The benefits are indisputable, as witnessed by the infamous Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, who claimed Six Sigma was directly responsible for $1 billion in yearly savings. But should you implement Six Sigma? Here are six things you should expect from … [Read more...]
Six Sigma is a technique used to reduce defects in the manufacturing process. Although it was originally developed for the manufacturing industry, it can be used to improve any business process by using data and statistical analysis to reduce mistakes, rework, and waste. I've found that my six sigma certification (black belt) has helped me to reduce quality issues at the … [Read more...]
Six Sigma is a hot buzzword these days, but what is it and how does it really work? In this article I will give you a quick overview and get you grounded in the basics. In reality it takes a week long intensive course to get all the concepts, and requires several months of hands on experience if you want to become a green or black belt. Therefore, this is definitely a … [Read more...]
The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a great way for project managers to organize and prioritize tasks. PERT charts are a central part of any project management course. They are quick to draw and intuitive to use. How to Draw a PERT Chart There are two rules: Tasks (activities) are represented as arrows Milestone dates are nodes PERT charts … [Read more...]
At the engineering firm I founded, we've recently seen an increase in RFP's (Requests For Proposal) that include project management as a consultant selection criteria, in one form or another. Not just as a "nice to have" criteria, but as one of the scores that factor in the selection of the consultant. Now, more than ever, engineering consultants need to include … [Read more...]
Every year, CE News publishes the "Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For." Since the award began in 2001, hundreds of outstanding civil engineering firms have received the award. Being on the list attracts good employees and good clients. Results are obtained from a survey of the employees by CE News. For 2013, the Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For … [Read more...]
In the SI (metric) system of units, kilograms are used for mass, and newtons for weight. There is no confusion as the units are different. However, in the US system, pounds are used for both mass and weight. Confusing? You didn't think it was going to be easy did you? To differentiate between the two, I have developed the following … [Read more...]
The void ratio is the ratio of the volume of voids (open spaces, i.e. air and water) in a soil to volume of solids. $$e = \frac{V_v}{V_s}\newline\newline =\frac{V_g + V_w}{V_s}$$ Where: e = Void Ratio Vv = Volume of voids (m3 or ft3) Vs = Volume of solids (m3 or ft3) Vg = Volume of air (m3 or ft3) Vw = Volume of water (m3 or ft3) The void ratio is thus a … [Read more...]
Recently I watched the latest documentary, called The Experts Speak Out, from the 911 Truth Movement. Truthers, as they are called, believe that there is evidence that the World Trade Center buildings were most likely brought down by controlled demolition rather than weakness from the airplane's impact. Apparently over 2,100 architects and engineers have signed a … [Read more...]
