JS-Kit/Echo comments for article at http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2010/03/quote-of-day-engineering-edition.html (16 comments)

  Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.

jsid-1267974702-927  Ken at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:11:49 +0000

Happens elsewhere too. Sooner or later you have to freeze the specification and start swinging hammers (or collecting data, or whatevs).


jsid-1267975304-690  Mostly Cajun at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:21:44 +0000

Oh, yes, but being somewhat of an engineer myself, sometimes, I wanna just step back and say "Okay, smartass!  YOU make it work!"

MC


jsid-1267980497-242  pascal fervor at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:48:17 +0000

There's a Challenger in the making.


jsid-1267980724-819  Borepatch at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:52:05 +0000

We have a saying that eventually in the software release process, you'll decide that QA found that particular bug after you shipped.  Even if you haven't shipped.

We have another saying that "shipping" is an outstanding feature for a software product to offer.


jsid-1267980803-376  TheSiliconGraybeard at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:53:24 +0000

Dang, Kevin.  You're almost reading my mind lately. 

As the Graybeard, I tell the younger engineers (my padewan learners) basically that quote.  Engineering is fun and we always want to wring out that last dB of perofmrance, but the reality is that we're in business.  If we don't turn the crank on the production line we don't ship radios and we don't make customers happy. Not to mention that selling the product pays our salaries.

The art is figuring out when it's time to let go (shoot the engineer and ship the radio).  


Bob


jsid-1267983588-896  Mikee at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:39:48 +0000

I was a process engineer - the one that made my little part of the factory work. The idea there is that we should be able to do the same thing again and again and again forever without any changes in output, even as we constantly change inputs (i.e., scientifically cut corners) to reduce cost, increase throughput, and implement new technologies.

My favorite people were maintenance guys, who would tell me I could make a change to our production protocols, it would just ruin their existence because they'd have to clean up the mess after the factory cratered.


jsid-1267987381-350  tjbbpgobIII at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:43:01 +0000

A lot of times, the chief draftsman needs to put the breaks on their checkers too. Otherwise details will be redrawn for days and weeks. Especially when dealing with an experienced draftsman whose drawings are near perfect. Changes made just for changings sake ruins the lead time for a project.


jsid-1267988056-977  John Venlet at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:54:17 +0000

Kevin, my brother Mort, a Journeyman mold maker and chief figure it outer when an engineer designed mold does not work the way it should, says engineers should only drive trains.


jsid-1267989286-830  GrumpyOldFart at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:14:46 +0000

Oh, yes, but being somewhat of an engineer myself, sometimes, I wanna just step back and say "Okay, smartass! YOU make it work!" 

When I was a copier/fax/computer tech a common joke was that the engineers can tell you how it's supposed to work, but it takes a technician to tell you how it's going to work. Personally I think it's because engineers keep trying to make things foolproof, even when they know they quality of fools is an upward trending curve.

jsid-1267989913-929  khbaker at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:25:13 +0000 in reply to jsid-1267989286-830

Yup, They Keep Making Better Fools!


jsid-1267998884-13  DJ at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:54:44 +0000

"The art is figuring out when it's time to let go ..."

Otherwise, you get DOS.


jsid-1268003557-265  mkfreeberg at Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:12:37 +0000

Short life expectancy in movies:

1. Scientists in Bond movies
:
:
(bunch of other stuff)
:
:
(more stuff)
:
:
2. Fornicators, druggies, chicks with big hooters in teenage slasher movies
:
:
(more stuff)
:
:
3. Guys with red shirts on Star Trek

Yes, of course you kill the people who know how things work. It's been a fundamental rule since the Pharoahs built the pyramids.

It just makes sense.

(And that's an engineer talking.)


jsid-1268014838-679  Linoge at Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:20:38 +0000

Yeah... but first the engineers shoot the scientists... 


jsid-1268034888-348  Guest (anonymous) at Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:54:48 +0000

No, no, no. It seems to have gotten condensed over time, and lost some important bits.

"There comes a time in the history of every project when it becomes necessary to take it away from the R&D group, give it to the Manufacturing Engineering department for a fresh start, who will take it through a pilot run, and then be given the door for embarrassing the Real Engineers(TM), who will then monitor production.


jsid-1268053765-834  Guest (anonymous) at Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:09:25 +0000

Personally I strongly suspect engineering departments the world over would be turning out some amazing things.... if only the sales and accounting departments weren't allowed any say in what they do.


jsid-1268194310-822  sixbarspur at Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:11:50 +0000

How about we just begin production and assign the engineers new projects....cuz I shoot back...


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