Interactive training model of TRIZ for mechanical engineers in China

Abstract： Innovation is a process of taking an original idea and converting it into a business value, in which the engineers face some inventive problems which can be solved hardly by experience. TRIZ, as a new theory for companies in China, provides both conceptual and procedural knowledge for finding and solving inventive problems. Because the government plays a leading role in the diffusion of TRIZ, too many companies from different industries are waiting to be trained, but the quantity of the trainers mastering TRIZ is incompatible with that requirement. In this context, to improve the training effect, an interactive training model of TRIZ for the mechanical engineers in China is developed and the implementation in the form of training classes is carried out. The training process is divided into 6 phases as follows： selecting engineers, training stage-l, finding problems, training stage-2, finding solutions and summing up. The government, TRIZ institutions and companies to join the programs interact during the process. The government initiates and monitors a project in form of a training class of TRIZ and selects companies to join the programs. Each selected companies choose a few engineers to join the class and supervises the training result. The TRIZ institutions design the training courses and carry out training curriculum. With the beginning of the class, an effective communication channel is established by means of interview, discussion face to face, E-mail, QQ and so on. After two years training practices, the results show that innovative abilities of the engineers to join and pass the final examinations increased distinctly, and most of companies joined the training class have taken congnizance of the power of TRIZ for product innovation. This research proposes an interactive training model of TRIZ for mechanical engineers in China to expedite the knowledge diffusion of TRIZ.     

Here Comes the Judge—Duties and Responsibilities of Design Professionals When Deciding Disputes

Frequently during the progression of a construction project, the design professional is forced into the role of a judge of project disputes between the owner and contractor. These disputes generally involve substantial claims for extra compensation or extra time and have significant impact on the owner and contractor’s financial position on the project. The architect or engineer will be pressured by the owner, who controls whether the design professional gets paid. The contractor, however, may threaten to pursue legal claims against design professionals if they make the contractor’s job more expensive or fail to give it the appropriate time extension. In many cases, design professionals must admit or deny whether their services were defective in some nature. In addition to these pressures, the design professional is not necessarily trained or comfortable with acting as a judge and interpreting the meaning of contract terms. Generally, when an architect or engineer performs this judicial function, they are immune from any liability for the results of decisions. However, the design professional must make the decision in good faith and with impartiality. In addition, design professionals must only decide those matters that their contract obligates design professionals to decide. This paper will address the nature of the designer’s role as judge and the limits of the designer’s immunity with respect to the designer’s contract obligations and good faith and impartiality requirements.     

简析造纸业上市公司2002年业绩及前景

简述了2002年各纸业上市公司的主要业绩，并对其发展前景进行了简要分析和展望。     

环境工程专业实习教学改革探讨

新时期"卓越工程师教育培养计划"(简称"卓越计划")对高校工程人才培养提出了更高的要求。河南理工大学环境工程专业的实习教学开展多年,积累了丰富的经验,同时也存在诸多不足,涉及学生、教师、企业和学院各方面的问题。在"卓越计划"人才培养目标的指导下,通过环境工程专业实习教学改革,将生产实习拓展为企业的参观认识、仿真实验、岗位锻炼和环境监测4个环节,注重工程实践与创新能力的培养,以实现高校、企业和学生的多方共赢与发展。     

Planning a Countryside for Life

The paper demonstrates that organizational landscapes play a central role in planning processes, and presents an analysis of the complex interrelationship between organizational structures and political, economic, and social factors. Using the redevelopment of the Toronto waterfront as a case study, the paper explores how organizational conflicts among levels of government and their agencies led to a fragmented redevelopment process and a planned environment that failed to meet public expectations. The narrative also highlights the generally unpredictable nature of organizational effects, often resulting from the dynamics of self-interested organizations. The final conclusion is that organizational crafting plays an essential role in the achievement of planning objectives, despite difficulties in predicting and controlling its long-term consequences.     

地方院校应用型卓越工程师人才培养——以临沂大学制药专业“卓越计划”为例简

“卓越计划”是我国实施的高等工程教育重大改革项目,本文以临沂大学制药专业“卓越计划”为例,介绍“卓越计划”实施原则、人才培养模式改革、课程体系构建、教学方式方法创新和师资队伍建设方面的一些探索和做法,以期对地方院校工程人才培养改革提供一些思路和借鉴。     

基于“卓越工程师培养”的分析化学课程教学改革研究

如何使工科大学回归为工程师的摇篮,如今已成为世界各高校普遍关注的课题。湖南工程学院作为全国"卓越工程师教育培养计划"首批试点高校之一,有必要对工科专业分析化学进行有效的教学改革。文章从分析化学课程的地位出发,对改进分析化学教学内容和教学方法提出思考和建议,使其能够适应于本校"卓越工程师"培养的要求。     

电气工程师在工程中的管理

电气工程直接关系到安全运行、节能效果及使用功能。电气工程师应细致地搞好电气工程的技术、质量、签证、进度、安全等管理工作。电气工程师要有全面的专业知识,不仅要掌握施工规范,还要有丰富的现场施工知识和经验;还必须熟悉各种有关的设计规范、有关主管部门的规定。     

Model for Predicting Performance of Architects and Engineers

Certain attributes of an architect or engineer (AE) may be used to predict his performance. These attributes may be categorized as “hard” or “soft” attributes. Hard attributes include an AE’s cognitive ability, job knowledge, task proficiency, and job experience. Soft attributes include an AE’s conscientiousness, initiative, social skills, controllability, and commitment. The purpose of this study is to identify those attributes that affect an AE’s performance, and to construct a model to predict his performance in design build (DB) projects. Twenty five attributes were generated using the hierarchy tree. The importance of these attributes was tested with designer/ builders who select and hire AEs, using a standard questionnaire. A statistical test showed that 24 of these attributes are significantly important. Thirty AEs were evaluated by experienced designer/builders (experts) who have worked with them in completed DB projects. Besides giving a global performance score of the AE (dependent variable), each expert also evaluated the AE on the degree to which they exhibited the important attributes (independent variables). Based on these ratings, an optimum multiple regression performance prediction model was obtained. To validate the model, another group of experts used the optimum model to evaluate 18 other AEs. The resulting performance score as calculated by the model was compared to the global performance scores awarded by the designer/builders. This validation process showed the model to be robust. The results of the study reveal that an AE’s performance can be predicted by using just three attributes: AE’s problem solving ability and project approach, AE’s speed in producing design drawings, and the AE’s level of enthusiasm in tackling a difficult assignment.     

Relationship between Personality Traits and Performance for Engineering and Architectural Professionals Providing Design Services

One of the prominent trends in business organizations today is the attention placed on individual personality traits as a means of predicting job performance. As such, the current study investigates the relationship of personality traits with critical success behaviors in the engineering and architectural professions’ project design services. The four project service categories measured are: conceptual design, contract documents, construction administration, and firm management duties. The measuremnt of the individual personalities is accomplished through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This research found that those possessing a preference for Intuitive data collection (MBTI, N) and Perceiving structure (MBTI, P) outperformed individuals with preferences for Sensing and Judging, in both planning and construction. However, professionals with a personality favoring Judging (MBTI, J) outperformed in the duties associated with the design phase. Contrary to predictions, the decision processes captured in the Thinking/Feeling dimension (MBTI, T/F) did not influence the performance in any of the four service categories. The implications of the results of this research are discussed.