Engineering Management Institute

innovation

TSEC 58: Innovation and Product Testing in Engineering

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In this episode of The Structural Engineering Podcast, we talk to Annie Kao, PE, Vice President of Engineering at Simpson Strong-Tie about innovation and product testing in engineering and why seismic retrofitting is so important in structural engineering.

Engineering Quotes:


Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Annie in This Episode:

  • What would you say makes a good engineering leader?
  • What is your involvement in the research and development sector of Simpson Strong-Tie?
  • You are also responsible for innovation across all product lines at Simpson Strong-Tie. What does that entail?
  • Can you tell us more about the product testing and training that is done at Simpson?
  • What are some of the latest advancements in construction technology that have a direct impact on the structural engineering industry?
  • Why is seismic retrofitting important in structural engineering?
  • What advice can you give young students out there that might consider pursuing a career in the engineering industry?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Innovation and Product Testing in Engineering:

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Healthy Conflict: How Disagreements Spur Innovation

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This is a guest post by Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CSEP

Healthy ConflictFor most engineers, conflict at work is something to be avoided. It’s about as desirable as spilling coffee on your pants before a big presentation or dealing with (yet another) paper jam. There’s an important difference, however, between conflict and most other office challenges: conflict is incredibly important. In fact, almost all innovative products and processes are the result of conflicts at work.

This leads us to two questions. Why is it that conflict is so important for innovation, and how can you approach conflict in a healthy way? In today’s article, I’ll tackle both important questions.

Why Is Conflict Important for Innovation?

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TCEP 124: Technology, Innovation, and Smart Cities – What Civil Engineers Need to Know

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TCEP 124: Technology, Innovation, and Smart Cities - What Civil Engineers Need to Know

In episode 124 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be taking you with me to Philadelphia where we will be visiting the offices of Pennoni to talk to Joseph Viscuso, PE, PLS, ENV SP who serves as Pennoni’s Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Growth. We will be talking about smart cities and specifically about understanding how important it is to embrace technology and to be innovative in your career. Viscuso also elaborates on the next wave of technology which is heavily reliant on the 5G network and also the threats that cyber security has on smart cities. You can also view this episode on YouTube. You don’t want to miss this one!

Engineering Quotes:

Smart Cities

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joe:

  • I know that you spend a lot of your time traveling to different cities and venues to discuss innovation and technology—why do you think that is important for the future of firms like Pennoni?
  • How do you see innovation/technology changing the everyday landscape in the engineering profession?
  • If I gave you a crystal ball, what would you see about the future of smart cities?
  • If I gave you a magic wand, how would you use it to increase smart city momentum?
  • We have heard a lot about cyber security threats – how can this impact smart cities?
  • What are some of the challenges for cities to adopt smart technologies?
  • What can residents do to move the conversation further on smart city solutions?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Smart Cities, Technology and Innovation:

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What Engineers of the Future Need to Know to Succeed

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What Engineers of the Future Need to Know is a blog post by Matthew K. Loos, PE, LEED AP 

Engineers of the Future

The following is an excerpt from The Business of Engineering: A New Mindset for the Engineer of the Future available only through this Kickstarter Campaign.

Engineers of the future will need to possess skills not commonly taught in engineering schools today. However, we can see that the curricula for a majority of engineering schools are beginning to change. Many schools are starting to adopt alternative learning strategies to engage more and more brighter students who may not have previously chosen engineering as a career path. The engineering schools have started to realize that technology is moving at such a rapid rate that they must prepare students differently than they have in the past.

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5 Reasons Why an Entrepreneurial Mindset Is Essential for Business

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This is a guest post by Johanna Cider

entrepreneurial mindset

Note from Founder: Hello this is Anthony Fasano, P.E., founder of the Engineering Management Institute (EMI).  At EMI we are focused on helping engineers become more effective managers and leaders.  In this post, guest author Johanna Cider talks about the importance an entrepreneurial mindset can have when growing a business.  Well, I believe that this mindset can also help you in growing a successful engineering career and becoming a partner/owner in your engineering company.  Enjoy the article, and please consider implementing some of the recommended strategies, whether you’re a student or an owner…

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If you’re starting out in the business world, you might feel a little overwhelmed with all of the information out there. You’ve probably been doing plenty of research, and you might’ve come across the idea of an entrepreneurial mindset, which is, above all, a mindset that will help you to succeed in the world of business. The essentials of an entrepreneurial mindset are, among other characteristics, the lack of fear when it comes to innovation and taking risks, and the ability to take failures into stride. If you consider yourself an entrepreneur, it’s important to know why entrepreneurial mindset is important for business.

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