Engineering Management Institute

TEQC - The Engineering Quality Control Podcast

TEQC 19: Quality Control Explained (For Young Engineering Professionals)

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Young Engineering ProfessionalsIn this episode, we talk to Kenneth James Taylor Jr., PE, a licensed Professional Engineer and a Senior Project Manager/Civil Engineering Group Leader at Verdantas about quality control for young professionals and how engineering managers can ensure their staff uses the correct quality control procedures in their projects.

Engineering Quotes:

Young Engineering Professionals

Young Engineering Professionals

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Kenneth:

  • As a young engineering leader, why is quality control important to you in your career?
  • What is the outlook of a young professional on quality control?
  • How has your involvement with professional associations helped grow your engineering career?
  • Verdantas was created as a part of private equity acquisitions and they used a different approach to develop their quality control procedures. Can you tell us more about that and the procedure you use for quality control?
  • What technology are you using across your team to assist with quality control?
  • How can engineering managers ensure that young professionals are using the correct quality control procedures in their projects?
  • What suggestions would you have for someone who would be considering a career similar to yours?
  • What is the best way to connect with you should someone want to get in touch or learn more about what you are doing in your career?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Quality Control For Young Engineering Professionals:

[Read more…] about TEQC 19: Quality Control Explained (For Young Engineering Professionals)

TEQC 18: Quality Assurance vs Quality Control: What’s the Difference?

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

quality assuranceIn this episode, I talk about the differences between Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) and how management and expectations play their role in defining these terms at your firm.

Engineering Quotes:

quality assurance

quality assurance

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

[Read more…] about TEQC 18: Quality Assurance vs Quality Control: What’s the Difference?

TEQC 17: The Interaction Between Project Scheduling and Quality Control on Projects

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Project SchedulingIn this episode, we talk to Mamadou Diallo, EIT, a technical project manager in industrial machine automation about the importance of project scheduling and how it can affect the quality control on projects.

Engineering Quotes:

Project Scheduling

Project Scheduling

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Mamadou:

[Read more…] about TEQC 17: The Interaction Between Project Scheduling and Quality Control on Projects

TEQC 16: How to Maintain Consistent Project Quality Across Your Engineering Projects

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Consistent Project QualityIn this episode, we talk to Andrew Bennett, P.E., Regional Vice President at Pennoni Associates, about quality control on projects and how he maintains consistent project quality across his teams and projects.

Engineering Quotes:

Consistent Project Quality

Consistent Project Quality

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Andrew:

  • Can you tell our audience about yourself and what you do daily?
  • Getting to know key individuals and the purpose for buying out small companies is part of the acquisition process, but does it bring about its unique challenges?
  • The land development realm is highly diverse and it is difficult to change the way people are taught to do things. Is it good to be open to change and not have the way you do things set in stone?
  • You are responsible for client service and business development across many different offices. How do you manage and ensure consistent project quality across these offices and is there any technology you use to assist with quality control?
  • Do you always go back to your first document in a project?
  • With business development comes reputation. As a vice president, what systems have you implemented over the years for CAD standards or expectations?
  • What advice would you have for someone working toward becoming a “vice president” for a company?
  • What is the best way to connect with you should someone want to get in touch or learn more about what you are doing in your career?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Maintain Consistent Project Quality Across Your Engineering Projects:

[Read more…] about TEQC 16: How to Maintain Consistent Project Quality Across Your Engineering Projects

TEQC 015: How Engineering Professionals Can Work Alongside Difficult People

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Difficult PeopleIn this episode, we talk to Eric Williamson, author of the book, How to Work with Jerks: Getting Stuff Done with People you Can’t Stand, about how engineering professionals can work alongside difficult people at their firms, and how engineering leaders can motivate and retain their staff and continue getting the maximum productivity out of them.

Engineering Quotes:

Difficult People

Difficult People

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Eric:

  • What is your book: “How to Work with Jerks: Getting Stuff Done with People You Can’t Stand,” about and what would you like people to take from it?
  • How can engineering leaders attract and retain top talent during the Great Resignation?
  • How can leaders create a climate of collaboration and effective communication during disruption and uncertainty?
  • Can you provide our listeners with a few tips on how they can learn to work with “jerks” on engineering projects?
  • What is the best way to connect with you should someone want to get in touch or learn more about what you are doing in your career?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How Engineering Professionals Can Work Alongside Difficult People:

[Read more…] about TEQC 015: How Engineering Professionals Can Work Alongside Difficult People

TEQC 14: A Review of the I-35W Bridge Collapse: Probable Causes and Future Prevention Tips

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

I-35W Bridge CollapseIn this episode, we review the I-35W Bridge Collapse in Minnesota that occurred because of a quality control error that ultimately resulted in the collapse of the bridge in 2007, killing 13 and injuring 145 people. We talk about some of the probable causes and how engineers can prevent this from happening in the future. Please note the information in this episode is meant for educational purposes only and none of the information should be utilized for any other purposes.

Engineering Quotes:

I-35W Bridge Collapse

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the I-35W Bridge Collapse: 

[Read more…] about TEQC 14: A Review of the I-35W Bridge Collapse: Probable Causes and Future Prevention Tips

TEQC 13: How to Ensure Quality Assurance Across a Large Firm

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Quality AssuranceIn this episode, we talk to Brendan Smith AIA, LEED AP BD+C, CDT, a licensed architect, an Associate Director of Quality at Cannon Design, and an AIA National Codes and Standards committee member, about how architects coordinate with engineering partners, and how he ensures quality assurance across a large firm with multiple offices.

Engineering Quotes:

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Brendan:

  • How do you, as an architect, approach quality assurance and coordination with engineering partners?
  • How do you manage to monitor and ensure quality across a large firm with multiple offices?
  • How has COVID and remote work affected your work?
  • Do you have any advice for engineers?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Quality Assurance Across a Large Firm:

[Read more…] about TEQC 13: How to Ensure Quality Assurance Across a Large Firm

TEQC 12: All You Need to Know About Quality Control on Transportation Projects

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Transportation ProjectsIn this episode, we talk to Steven M. Rienks, P.E., PMP, Director of Engineering at American Surveying & Engineering, about quality control on transportation projects and some of the challenges you might have to deal with on large transportation projects.

Engineering Quotes:

Transportation Projects

Transportation Projects

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Steven:

  • What do quality control and quality management for engineering documents mean to you?
  • What challenges have large transportation projects presented as it relates to quality control?
  • As director of engineering, what systems have you implemented for producing high-quality documents? How have your systems evolved and where do you see things going?
  • What advice do you have for someone working towards becoming a “director of engineering” for a company?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Quality Control on Transportation Projects:

[Read more…] about TEQC 12: All You Need to Know About Quality Control on Transportation Projects

TEQC 011: Producing High-Quality Engineering Project Proposals

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Project ProposalsIn this episode, we talk to Raymond Gradwell, P.E., PMP, about quality control and management of project proposals, contracts, and specifications. Raymond also provides some great tips on producing high-quality project proposals.

Engineering Quotes:

Project Proposals

Project Proposals

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Raymond:

[Read more…] about TEQC 011: Producing High-Quality Engineering Project Proposals

TEQC 010: The Hidden Cost of Copy and Paste in Structural Engineering

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Copy and PasteIn this episode of The Engineering Quality Control podcast, we talk to Jason McCool, P.E., licensed professional engineering and project engineer at Robbins Engineering, PLLC, about the hidden cost of copy and paste and how it can negatively affect your productivity at work.

Engineering Quotes:

Copy and Paste

Copy and Paste

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Wayne:

  • For the past several months, you have had articles featured in Structure Magazine that outlined nine things you have noted in your career that could be categorized as a lot of things but many relate specifically to the finished quality of the design drawings. Can you give our listeners an overview of these concepts?
    1. Jason McCool’s professional career overview
    2. Reusing past work
    3. Inapplicable details
    4. Contradictory specifications
    5. “Just get something on paper!”
    6. Incomplete connection information
    7. Vague drawings
    8. Misuse of AISC tables
    9. Uncoordinated details
  • What do you think we as engineers need to do to be better to not fall trap to these things?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About The Hidden Cost of Copy and Paste in Structural Engineering:

[Read more…] about TEQC 010: The Hidden Cost of Copy and Paste in Structural Engineering