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Welcome to the fifth part of our set of tutorials on the filling of the (Professional Engineer) Summary Statement document for Engineers Australia Migration Skill Assessment. Today we will talk about the fifth element of the document.
Section 1.5: “Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.”
Before we start describing the individual indicators of attainment for this element, let’s try to “decode” its title first. The “contextual factors” are all of those things that are coherent or relevant to the engineering discipline. Engineering disciplines are: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering etc.
So, applicants can think of it this way: a contextual factor for Electrical Engineering could be a set of safety precautions relating to electricity hazard prevention. A contextual factor for Civil Engineering could be the national earthquake regulations, choice of suitable technicians to work on raised platforms, or even the accounting of weather conditions during the mixture of cement.
There are five indicators that can be used to fill the fifth element and those are:
a.) Identifies and understands the interactions between engineering systems and people in the social, cultural, environmental, commercial, legal and political contexts in which they operate, including both the positive role of engineering in sustainable development and the potentially adverse impacts of engineering activity in the engineering discipline.
Example on “cultural” context: To develop a shift plan of maximum efficiency for my project, I took into account the praying time intervals for Muslim workers.
Example on “environmental” context: To achieve a minimum disposal of polluting heavy metals into the ground of the site, I subjected the effluent water to an electrowinning / precipitation (CEP) process.
Example on “legal” context: I visited the Urban Planning office to get informed about the legislative requirements that I had to respect in my designs.
b.) Is aware of the founding principles of human factors relevant to the engineering
discipline.
Example: I designed the monitor and control panel interface to be ergonomic, in order to minimize errors. I also placed the screen at the median eye-sight height of the four operators.
Example: For the design of the new production line, I took into account the good in-work environment climate and adequate air-flow, ensured intense lighting in all areas, and provisioned the placement of noise stoppers and vibration absorbers around the machines. This secured a pleasant working environment for the workers.
c.) Is aware of the fundamentals of business and enterprise management.
Example: I planned the project schedule, organized the execution of all tasks, coordinated employees, and controlled the outflow of the project’s financial resources.
d.) Identifies the structure, roles and capabilities of the engineering workforce.
Example: I asked the workers to fill in a form about fear of heights and use of medication before I selected the scaffolding technicians.
e.) Appreciates the issues associated with international engineering practice and global
operating contexts.
Example: Knowing that my reports and technical manuals could be widely used to help technicians that use the equipment around the globe, I decided to write them in English.
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