The Importance of Incorporating Manufacturing into Engineering Education

Recently on Forbes.com, contributing writer and president of Harvey Mudd College, Maria Klawe, described the need for incorporating more manufacturing into engineering education.

She cited a recent white paper “Workforce Imperative: A Manufacturing Education Strategy”from the Society for Manufacturing Engineers (SME),that called on higher education to improve its manufacturing courses and programs. The report states, “There are relatively small numbers of manufacturing students and graduates, outdated manufacturing curricula, resource shortages and a lack of emphasis on hiring, preparing and supporting manufacturing educators.” SME recommends attracting more students to manufacturing by showing them that the field can be creative and high-tech; improving the quality and consistency of manufacturing curricula; integrating manufacturing topics into STEM courses and developing more manufacturing faculty.

According to the SME, there is a serious skills gap in the U.S. manufacturing workforce, and the gap ranges from technician to engineer to manager. The SME estimates  that 600,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. went unfilled at the height of the recent recession, from 2009-2012, due to a lack of skilled professionals. Clearly, the lack of a skilled work force is hurting the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Klawe asserts that there are compelling reasons why America’s educational institutions need to invest in their manufacturing curricula. Manufacturing knowledge makes students better engineers, no matter what field of engineering they pursue. Engineers can’t design in isolation; they need to take into account that they are working on products for mass volume production and Six Sigma level quality. In addition, an understanding of manufacturing process can help fast track students into leadership positions.

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O'Neal Expanding Operations

O'Neal is expanding its existing Greenville County headquarters.  The company's $5 million investment is expected to generate 60 new jobs in Greenville, SC.

Founded in 1975 in the Upstate of South Carolina, O'Neal has been successfully delivering industrial capital projects in the automotive, pharmaceutical and biotech, process chemical, manufacturing, energy and pulp and paper markets for four decades.  With operations in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, O'Neal serves Fortune 100 companies from its Greenville, SC headquarters.

Located at 10 Falcon Crest Drive, O'Neal will be remaining in its existing facility situated off of Interstate 385 in Greenville, SC.  Hiring for the new positions has already started.  Those interested in joining the O'Neal team should visit O'Neal's Career page.

"O'Neal has experienced significant growth by leveraging our long term client relationships and remaining focused on our industrial markets.  In 2015, we celebrate our 40th anniversary and this milestone continues to reaffirm our team members' commitment to project delivery.  These are definitely exciting times for O'Neal and its employee owners."- Kevin Bean, President and CEO, O'Neal.  

 "Today, we celebrate the success of one of our homegrown businesses.  Founded nearly four decades ago in the Upstate, O'Neal, Inc.'s decision to invest $5 million and create 60 new jobs in Greenville County is a testament to the strength of our workforce and our business climate and Team South Carolina's progress." - Gov. Nikki Haley 

"We're always excited to see an existing, South Carolina-based company succeed in our state.  Congratulations to O'Neal, Inc. on their latest expansion and the creation of these excellent job opportunities for the Upstate community." - Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

"Engineering is an important driver of Greenville's vibrant economy, and we appreciate O'Neal, Inc. for its continued commitment to grow its headquarters and engineering services." - Dr. Bob Taylor, board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville City Council 

"O'Neal, Inc. has been a member of the City of Greenville business community since the 1970's and we are excited to hear of their new investment and expansion.  We appreciate their long-term corporate presence in the city and their continued commitment to Greenville through the creation of these new jobs and wish them many more years of continued success." - City of Greenville Mayor Knox White

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Delivering Effective Technical Presentations

Delivering a presentation, let alone a technical presentation, can be an arduous and often scary feat. Making sure you get your point across without boring or under-stimulating the audience is something that takes a great deal of practice and understanding. Keys to success are understanding your audience, developing the right presentation strategy, assessing and accommodating your audience, using graphics properly, and effectively delivering a concise message. Further, a key element of presentation success is the ability to combine verbal and visual content in a clear, concise and compelling manner.


Introduction and Objectives

To deliver an effective presentation, you must first understand that the subject matter presents a unique challenge in itself. Your goal is to transfer ideas and information to the audience. Technical information and data is something that can be very easily lost on a person if not “gift-wrapped” properly. People being presented large amounts of data and facts have a tendency to disengage and lose interest. It is up to the presenter to strategize and create interesting ways to communicate that information. Pictures, graphics and even sounds help keep senses and minds from wondering to other thoughts, while also effectively communicating your message.

One of the most common mistakes when preparing for a speech or large presentation is not thinking about the audience. For example, you want to steer away from using jargon if you are speaking to a group of people who are not familiar with your topic. A person would become very frustrated and lost with the “special” terms and eventually stop paying attention. Therefore, researching and understanding your audience and presenting on their level are very important to your success. What does the audience have in common with each other? Why has this particular audience been brought together? Why did they ask me to make a presentation? Do they want me to talk about a specific subject? Understanding why you have been brought to speak will help when it comes to outlining the content of your presentation.


In addition to keeping your audience’s attention span and characteristics in mind, you must also establish a process in which your presentation will flow. Outlining and knowing how one subject matter will flow to the next will not only help with how comfortable you will be, but also help keep the audience on target. Begin by understanding the audience -- what language will you use when addressing them? Outline the content, the aesthetics and the material flow. Also, what other things can contribute to the success besides the content of your message? For example, are there visuals or something other than words that will help relay or reinforce your message?

Further, be sure to review the necessary preparation needed. How much time should you spend practicing and how does that fit into your schedule? Finally, it is important to anticipate what kinds of questions the audience might ask. Having a good understanding and game plan about your presentation will help eliminate the nervousness that comes with being unprepared.


Developing Your Presentation Message

Developing the content can sometimes get a little daunting and at times overwhelming. That is why breaking it down into sections and how you want to come across to your audience is very important. Not only will it give you a starting point, but it will also make you more comfortable with the material.

First, identify the topic about which you feel most comfortable speaking. A successful topic is one for which you have unique expertise or experience and is timely. Also, pick a topic that can be supported with relevant case study examples, research, testing and practical applicable tips. The more comfortable you are with your topic, the easier it will be to make the presentation, which will in turn enable a rapport to be developed with the audience. Also, be sure that your message is perceived as high-level in terms of expertise, otherwise it may appear to be a gimmicky commercial and you will lose credibility.

Building the Presentation

Now it’s time to outline your presentation: Knowing how one point will lead to the next in a logical and coherent flow is key. Start by writing down the main points you wish to discuss. If you are describing a process, write down the steps to the process in order. From there, you will flesh out the subject matter with details, keeping in mind that this is a presentation and not a manual. Be sure to use transferable concepts as they engage the audience. Remember, your goal is to communicate ideas and information. Further, ensure that every minute counts and that there are no wasted opportunities. For example, the first 60 seconds with the audience are critical. It is in those moments that the audience ascertains whether or not this is worth their interest.

While writing, keep in mind the visuals you think of, and see if you can incorporate any of those images into your presentation. Your slides must be engaging, not distracting. The use of pictures, graphics, color and graphs all help in terms of audience comprehension. In certain cases, videos and animated graphics are effective means of communicating with the audience. Use formulas, graphs and charts prudently. Further, since everyone learns differently, having different means of delivering the message through a balance of graphics and words will help convey your message. Graphics should be used to reinforce a verbal point, not the other way around. Graphics and slides can divert attention, but if used effectively, they can give you credibility and authenticity. Do not, however, leave the delivery of information solely to graphics; it is to be used in combination with your narrative.


Building the Presentation

Once the content is outlined, the next step is actually drafting the presentation. Start by thinking of the presentation as a performance. One tip is to think of the technical presentation as a three-act play: beginning (introduction), middle (body) and end (conclusion). Each part of the presentation must be clear and distinct, but the three parts must work as one with the theme or topic holding all three parts together. It is said that the best presentations can be summarized in a single sentence. Keeping this in mind, think of what you want the audience to carry away from your presentation.


Slides should contain bullet points and not a narrative description. People do not want to read a novel on a projection screen. Make clear and concise points and move on to the next. The audience will be too busy trying to figure out what is on the screen and won’t be paying any attention to what you are saying. Bullet points need to be the highlights of what you are going to say because it is your job to flesh that out when talking. To avoid confusion, a brief synopsis of what will take place will help clarify the audience’s expectations.

Ensuring Presentation Success

Thinking beyond the content and structure requires you to prepare for the big day. In order to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible with the content, it is absolutely necessary to practice with passion. It is a good idea to practice with a “rehearsal audience.” This can be made up of family, friends or peers and will aid in alleviating nerves. The will also help you establish the pace of your delivery and get a better feel for timing, transition and balance of your presentation. It is also important to rehearse with props and all equipment that will be used. Ideally, a dry-run in the venue that you will be presenting will help work out any kinks or possible malfunctions.

Being prepared is one of the most important things you can do to ensure success. Studies have shown that practice actually results in spontaneity because you are more comfortable with the information. Practicing with a wide variety of audiences that will constructively critique you afterwards will help you with that comfort level. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you will be.

It’s also a good idea to think about the presentation room logistics. For example, consider the location of the audience, where you will be situated and your equipment will reside, room temperature, and what opportunities you will have to interact with the audience. A connection is possibly one of the most important elements to the success of a presentation. Obviously, if you are in a large auditorium or theater, you are not going to be able to have one-on-one time or dialogue with all audience members. If you are unable to have that close interactive time with participants, it is prudent to make yourself available during breaks or after the session. Handouts can be effective tools for communicating information and reinforcing your messages, but they can also be a distraction. Consider distributing handouts at the end of the presentation.

Follow-up also is very important. It is smart to make your contact information easily accessible and clear to participants. The same goes for contacting the participants yourself. If the presentation host supplies audience contact information, it is best to contact participants within a week to offer additional information as appropriate.


The Presentation: Always be Prepared

Often times, some of the keys to success are overlooked. For example, it is important to know when the host wants you to arrive. Further, it is crucial to ensure you are dressed appropriately. You will not bestow very much confidence on your peers if you are late to your own presentation or show up in jeans and a t-shirt. But, if your audience is dressed casually, a suit may be overkill. Check with the host to find out what is appropriate, but it is always best to be overdressed than underdressed.

The delivery of the presentation is as important as the content itself. The first step is to build rapport with the audience so they can relate to you. You also want to build confidence, trust and credibility. If the audience is unable to understand what you are saying because of an accent or you are speaking too fast or have poor diction, everything you have worked for is a complete loss. Make sure that you speak slowly and concisely. Try to eliminate crutch words and vocalized pauses (uh, um, ah, etc.) or any other nervous habit (fidgiting, fumbling, gestures, etc.) that distracts the audience. And, while ice-breakers or jokes are good ways to alleviate nervousness, keep them clean and light. When used properly, humor can help you build a rapport and engage the audience. Do not target anyone specifically, including yourself. Self-deprecating humor can be funny, but don't make yourself look stupid. Body language and non-verbal communication also has a tremendous impact on the audience. Be sure to stand up straight, lean forward and make direct contact with the audience by making eye contact with different people in the audience.

And, always try to avoid the unexpected. While it is impossible to account for everything that can go wrong, making sure that all computer programs are running correctly during a dry-run will help avoid kinks and malfunctions that might pop up. For example, making sure any instant messengers are closed, Outlook is closed (email notifications), sound checks (microphones and speaker system is working correctly), the projector is working properly and that you have a back-up cd or flash-drive in case something breaks or malfunctions.

Next Steps

By following the aforementioned steps, you’ll alleviate many of the stresses related to making a technical presentation. But, even more important, by making a successful technical presentation, you’ll benefit from the third-party credibility earned through such professional opportunities.

FMI Releases 2nd Quarter Construction Outlook Report

FMI recently released its Second Quarter 2012 Construction Outlook Report. FMI’s forecast calls for 3% growth for construction put in place (CPIP) by the end of 2012 and another 7% in 2013 for a total of $882.4 billion. This is $92.6 billion more than the lows of 2011.

Despite the constant confusion of news from Europe and uncertainty and inaction in the U.S. Congress, there are some positive signs in the economy. As one might expect, improving housing construction is helping to lead the way, especially multifamily housing. However, power construction is another strong point, and even commercial construction will show signs of rising from its slumber. Nonetheless, slow growth may be even more challenging than large market drops or boom times, because it requires improved management, precision market research and creative business development.

Residential construction is coming back lead by 32% growth in multifamily housing. Innonresidential construction,the forecast is mixed with health care and manufacturing showing the most positive signs of growth. Predictions for other markets are as follows:

• Lodging CPIP is expected to grow 4% and rebound somewhat to 7% and 8% in 2013 and 2014.
• Office construction should be 4% by the end of 2012 and improve to around 6% for 2013 through 2014.
• Commercial construction is beginning to grow again. FMI expects 5% growth in CPIP this year, followed by 8% growth in 2013 to around $49 billion.
• Health care construction is expected to only rise 3% in 2012, that will strengthen to double digits by 2015, achieving record highs around $52.6 billion.
• Education construction will have only a 1% increase in CPIP in 2012 and a slight rise of 2% in 2013.
• Religious construction will be flat in 2012, with some revival in 2013 to 6% growth at $4.3 billion.
• Public safety construction will be flat in 2012, but will the grow 6% in 2013 to $4.3 billion.
• Amusement and recreation construction will climb 8% to $17.4 billion in 2013.
• Transportation construction will grow 3% in 2012 and to 5% through 2015.
• Communications construction will experience steady growth of 4% to 6% through 2015 with 2012 ending up around $18.5 billion.
• Manufacturing construction is expected to rise 3% in 2012 and show steady increases to 2015.
• Power-related construction is forecasted to have a 10% rise for 2012 and another 10% in 2013 to $108 billion.
• Highway CPIP will drop 2% in 2012 and grow just 1% in 2013 to reach $77.7 billion or back near 2007 levels.
• Sewage and waste disposal CPIP is expected to be around $23.9 billion.
• Water supply is beginning to grow, but will gain only 2% in 2012 and 3% in 2013 to reach $14.7 billion.
• Conservation and development growth is expected at 2% in 2012 and demonstrate slow, steady progress through 2015.

O'Neal Builds Future

By Dick Hughes, Greenville Journal

If engineers are on the leading edge of upward and downward economic trends, the experience of O’Neal Inc., the Upstate design and construction firm, indicates construction is on the upswing, fueled in part by practical green initiatives.

President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Bean said O’Neal “is starting to see activity pick up, we are starting to see it in the more traditional markets but also in this whole green initiative, energy conservation and alternative materials.”

Bean and Director of Marketing Brian Gallagher talked about “painful” staff cutbacks in 2008, an awakening from a sleepy sense of being immune to economic downturns and the nascent recovery they see happening.

“Because we do both the engineering and the construction, I think we get a good idea when the trends are starting up and then we also get to ride them down,” said Bean.

Bean said O’Neal first felt the recession in 2008 when engineering, which is early in the process of construction planning, went cold and “new opportunities and even current opportunities were being shelved. Luckily, our construction was still very strong for the next 12 months.”

When revenue dried up, Bean said, O’Neal put 50-60 “good people,” about a fourth of its work force of professionals, on furloughs without pay.

As traditionally used, furloughs last for short periods and employees expect to be called back when business improves. When the recession dragged on, so did the furloughs, and some engineers left for other jobs.

“I think it had great intentions, but at the end of the day it was distasteful for everybody,” said Bean.

“We didn’t have any deadwood,” he said. “When the furloughs happened, there were good people we wanted back. Fortunately, we brought back a majority of those people.”

The recession, Bean said, was a rude awakening for O’Neal, a company that took pride in managing growth prudently, generating $100 million annually in revenue consistently, keeping employment “right sized” and not doing layoffs or furloughs “at all costs.”

“We had been very steady,” he said. “That’s what made this downturn so hard.”

But now O’Neal is “seeing an improvement, and it seems to be steady,” said Bean.

In addition to reinstating a majority of furloughed employees, he said, the company has made several new hires, building the staff back to 200, though still below the 250 “where my expectation is.” In addition to headquarters in Greenville, O’Neal has offices in Atlanta and Raleigh, N.C.

What encourages Bean is that increased interest is coming from O’Neal’s historical base – “Fortune 100 and 500 industrial manufacturing clients that have strong balance sheets and don’t rely on financing.”

He said O’Neal has several projects in the planning phase, “a lot going toward getting funded, and about another third ready to execution. That’s promising when it is across all those phases, and that means it is going to be sustaining.”

In addition, Bean and Gallagher said the company is seeing “homespun” manufacturers get into “this whole green initiative, energy conservation and alternative materials,” less out of motivation for LEED certification than self-interest to reduce energy costs and gain other benefits that make sense. He cited and 150-year-old New York manufacturer that is revamping its entire operation focused on energy conservation.

The company recently completed five or six “green” jobs and is finishing a packaging plant in Indiana with LEED certification in mind. O’Neal built a pilot plant in Georgia to turn plant materials into ethanol, and it is working on a plant in Montgomery, N.Y., to produce gas from municipal garbage.

Gallagher said the green movement has spread beyond “its roots in the commercial and educational environment … and has become more main stream for industrial facilities, as well.”

O’Neal is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The company was founded by Paul O’Neal, who remains chairman of the board. Founded as a structural engineering firm, O’Neal added construction in 1996-97 to be able to offer clients a total package – from planning to design to construction.

O’Neal is employee-owned as an Employee Stock Ownership Program or ESOP. Bean said the board sets profit goals above what it takes to run the company and invest in the future with “the balance over this threshold distributed among employees as profit sharing in the form of stock they can get at retirement.”

During 2008 and 2009, Bean said, “there were very few profits to share.” What helped create understanding was the fact that O’Neal shares financial information with employees, and they know “if there’s no money coming in, there’s a limit on what can come out,” he added. 

What To Tweet

Everyone in the AEC industry is interested in jumping on the social media bandwagon. Many have chosen to start “tweeting” without a formal plan or strategy. Social media has burst onto the marketing scene faster then anything in history. The initial adoption of social media, as a marketing tool, compared to the Internet, has been tremendous. I recall developing and launching the first website for Williams Scotsman in 1995- and that was to decades after Al Gore invented the Internet. In the last couple of years alone, social media has dramatically changed the landscape of marketing communications. Before you get started, develop a plan for how you will use social media. Your social media plan needs to be an extension of your overall marketing plan.

Here are a few tips for getting started on Twitter:

Have a plan. When it comes to Twitter, it is best to start with a strategy and plan. Before you start to tweet, I suggest that you start by following leading people in your industry and other industries. Look at their posts and see how the posts relate to building a brand, offering expertise, solving customer problems, providing information (or links to information published by others), or a more direct marketing pitch. Then look at the people you are trying to influence and determine what would be important to them.

Twitter 101. Twitter recenlty added a tool for businesses called Twitter 101. The useful tool provides information on Twitter basics, getting started, best practices and case studies. To view the tool, visit Twitter 101.

Multiple accounts. Consider establishing multiple Twitter accounts. Some people suggest balancing or blending personal and professional tweets. I suggest keeping them separate. At least have one for business use and one for personal use. An important customer probably doesn’t care about your kids soccer game or what movie you saw last night, so separate business from pleasure.

The short and sweet tweet. Since each post can only be 140 characters, tweets must be short. Use very succinct posts with a link to information you post in a blog or on your web site. When providing a link to another site, be sure to provide enough descriptive information.

Keep it tiny. Use TinyURL.com to reduce the size of your links. The service is easy and free.

Brand your Twitter page. Avoid using the standard backgrounds and icons. Create a distinctive look that is consistent with your company brand identity.

Leveraging other social platforms. There are several tools you can use to push your Twitter posts out to your other social media platforms. This can help broaden the reach of your message. In addition, Twitter posts are starting to appear in search engine results pages.

What to tweet. Remember, you want the tweets to be relevant and useful for your followers. For firms in the AEC industry, there are a number of things that you can tweet, including: new projects, completed projects, awards, certifications, new offices, new resources, etc. You can also provide links to articles, news or information that is interesting and relevant. Ask yourself: what is going on in your firm that is valuable to prospects and customers?

Some examples:

-A steel supplier tweeted about a seminar they are hosting on codes.

-An engineering firm announced engineers that have recently achieved LEED certification.

-A construction company tweeted about recently completed projects.

-An equipment rental company tweeted about an upcoming ABC meeting.

-A construction attorney provided a link about a risk management seminar.

-A scaffolding company tweeted about a new safety resource on their web site.

-A small architectural firm announced a speaking engagement.

-An electrical contractor tweeted a link to an article in ENR.

Remember your tweet should be focused on building your brand, establishing thought leadership, offering expertise, solving customer problems, or offering information. Need help in starting or managing your Twitter efforts, e-mail me at BGallagher@LeadingWithMarketing.com.

ACEC-NY Launches Campaign to Promote Engineering as a Career

Launching its first statewide image advertising campaign this month to coincide with the celebration of National Engineers Week, Feb. 15-21, the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) is sponsoring a message to promote the engineering profession to government agencies, policy makers, students, parents, academics and the general public. Half-page ads will run in regional and trade publications throughout New York State, with posters and billboards layered on in select markets. Responding to a 2008 report from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering, ACEC New York’s new “Vision” campaign communicates positive aspects of the engineering profession—creativity, innovation and forward thinking—that have long been ignored or misunderstood by the public.

Developed by Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based marketing and public relations firm Reichman Frankle Inc., the ad focuses on the inspirational nature of engineering by combining an oversized photo of a young person in a hard hat gazing through binoculars that reflect back images of an idealized built environment and a satellite view of the earth with the headline, “Your Vision Can Change the World.” The copy reinforces the message that engineering requires creativity, imagination, and vision, and provides examples of the kinds of cutting edge projects engineers are involved in, such as green buildings and state-of-the-art bridge design. “The goal of our new ad campaign is to get the general public excited about engineering, to interest young people in the profession and to communicate to policy makers and the public the intrinsic value of the profession to society’s well being,” said Hannah O’Grady, deputy executive director of ACEC New York. “Engineers’ work is essential to meeting the great challenges of our times—global competition, technological literacy and a sustainable planet. Greater understanding of the inventive role of the engineer should rightly enhance the perception of the profession and its essential, and often overlooked, contribution to our quality of life.”

“Consulting Engineering—A Career that Matters” is a new flash movie presentation to raise awareness of the profession among students at the college level. Produced as a CD-ROM, this 8-minute movie features video clips of young engineers describing their work across the various engineering disciplines and incorporates real project photos. The video is available at the ACEC NY website.
Source: ACEC New York -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 2/4/2009