Why the engineering sector needs to embrace technological advances to become more efficient
Inspections invariably occur in the context of tangible infrastructure, such as machinery, buildings, vehicles, trains, roads, and so on. These assets, and the inspections on them, are often viewed as being in the domain of "engineering", however the inspection cannot be seen in isolation from the pre-inspection preparation and administration, nor from the post inspection data processing, reporting, and escalations that may occur.
It's only when this collective of activities, the complete inspection life cycle, is a considered as a business process, that one is able to apply process improvements, and for information technologies to be applied, and for efficiencies to be achieved. This is not a matter of the engineering perspective vs. the business process, but rather to apply the appropriate mind-set when it comes to looking for improvement opportunities.
Embracing new technologies isn't a matter of innovation for the sake of innovation, it's a matter of sustainability and survival. In that context, if appropriately applied, information technologies will make the business better, faster, and make more profit.
An often overlooked aspect is that in the application of technology there is much opportunity for creativity, obstacles are overcome, shortcuts are discovered, and excitement is stirred up amongst all those that are involved, whether directly or indirectly. It fosters employee engagement.
The business imperative of deploying information technologies to all aspects of business for survival is moot. Conversely, creative application of information technologies will usher in new paradigms of business, and levels of effectiveness and efficiency that were previously not even conceivable. For example, Computer Assisted Design (CAD), and related technologies such as Computer Assisted Manufacturing (CAM), revolutionized various sectors, engineering being an obvious one. These technologies ushered in high levels of engineering improvement, e.g. precision, mathematical modelling of designs, and much more.
Importantly though, these technologies also significantly changed the engineering business practices. For example the role of drafting, vs. the role of a designer, the speed at which design is done, standardisation and reuse of designs. This highlights the multi-faceted impact of information technologies. The inspections domain, which is closely associated with engineering disciplines, is set to undergo a similar revolution. This will not only result in improvement at a business level, i.e. cheaper and faster inspection life cycle turnarounds, but it will have a significant impact at a technical level. Inspections will source and retain more appropriate, consistent, reliable, and accurate data, which in turn will enable new depths of analysis that will have a significant impact on maintenance practices, to name only one area of influence.
If we begin to consider why industry professionals are reluctant to make use of modern technologies, it can prove very difficult to tie an answer down. At a strategic level though, adoption of information technologies involve change in its widest sense, and as such is potentially expensive, traumatic, and difficult. If business leadership do not perceive clearly stated value propositions, they will not mandate the change.
An underestimated and often hidden barrier to change is corporate politics. Non-strategically minded managers make up the majority of the typical corporate structure. They often have a hidden vested interest, which make them territorial, protective, and fearful. Not only do they stand in the way of change, their politicking delays the change that the organisation desperately requires.
Perhaps this is the greatest challenge that engineering professionals and leadership face; to be proactive about change, consider all potential opportunities for change impartially, and to only consider the holistic business perspectives when making change related decisions.
It is important to remember that it is not technology per se which is beneficial, but it's the appropriate application of technology, in a specific context that is potentially beneficial. Information technologies offer the potential for "better" because they are able to, in a specific context, unlock both effectiveness and efficiency, which translate to doing the job better, and faster, which in turn can be translated to monetary terms.
This potential for improvement can be seen in a micro sense, but especially in a macro sense. Putting the man on the moon was only possible because of computing technology, i.e. information technologies. The banking sector today is unrecognisable compared to just 30 years ago when auto tellers (ATM) became pervasive. Modern cars, airplanes, trains, mobile telephones, and the Internet, to name a few, are mission critically dependant on information technologies.
Alex Croote is CEO of Inspection Toolbox, a new online application that enables business to manage inspection life cycle for maintenance, health & safety and compliance.
