Information Technology Applied To Manufacturing Engineering - Assignment Example

RUNNING HEAD: Information Technology Student Name Name of Institution Course Code Date of Submission Introduction Information technology refers to computational data processing, business software, and decision support. Over time, Information technology has been useful in transforming all fields of engineering such as manufacturing engineering, civil engineering, electrical and telecommunication engineering, and graphic designing, among others. Since introduction of technology in the era of industrial revolution, Information Technology has come a long way, undergoing various changes and advancements that have made engineering works more simplified than ever before. Information Technology has revolutionized the way in which the organizations run their businesses and their general operations (Tianbiao, 2012). Information Technology along the field of engineering involve the use software to improve efficiency and the effectiveness of design and manufacturing of products. For example, mechanical energy and civil engineering have long been improving design through the use of AutoCAD and CAM to come up with desired designs and to enhance analysis of structures. Information Technology is primarily utilization of electronic computer software and hardware for successful storage and retrieval of information necessary in steering the design and a completion of engineering works. Data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, design of software, as well as the overall administration and management of the IT systems are among the recently introduced desire for information technology in the entire field of engineering (Tianbiao, 2012). This paper seeks identify the key information technology tools applicable in the field of Mechanical Engineering through individual experience, interview with senior staff working in Mechanical Engineering related fields, and through literature review. Information Technology and Overview of My Field of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) Having done my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Saudi Arabia, I subsequently worked as the Quality Control/Quality Assurance Engineer at parts production parts Ltd. Mechanical Engineering is among the key branches of engineering that involves generation as well as the application of the heat and energy used in the design, production, and other machines and tools in the mechanical field. It is one of the oldest branches of engineering that is wide in scope and broad in its applications (Tianbiao, 2012). Mechanical Engineering calls for a strong understanding of the concepts of mechanics, machine dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, material science, heat, and mass transfer among others. However, just like any other branch of engineering, Mechanical Engineering is brokendown to some divisions that include Production, Quality Control, Designing, Mining, Automobile Engineering, and Aeronautical engineering (Tianbiao, 2012). Mechanical Engineering entails application various techniques used in designing parts and analyzing the various manufacturing plants, heating and cooling units, waterways, aerodynamics, aircraft designing, medical equipment, and various machineries across the globe. Information Technology (IT) is quite important in ensuring the success of Mechanical Engineering. IT is necessary for ensuring that project planning, designing and drafting, production planning and execution, quality control and assurance, and delivery of the end products. Having worked at Production Parts Ltd., I have experienced application of Information Technology at various levels as described below (Nikolay, 2010). Planning and Scheduling: At Parts and Production Ltd, planning is conducted with the help of Enterprise Resource Planning for planning and scheduling the work orders. This helps in tracking down the current orders and work in progress. IT Support team: Parts and Production Ltd has a well constituted IT support department that helps the company in handling the activities related to its Information Technology. This facilitates the company’s activities and productivity. Accounts and Finance Department: Just like any other company, recording and tallying of financial information is facilitated with the use of a Tally software. Design Section: AutoCAD 2011 and Prokon software are useful for designing as well as analyzing the details of parts to ensure that they fit various needs and details. Designs and drawings accomplished with AutoCAD and Prokon are then printed out with Laser printer then posted to production department. For the purposes of analyzing stress, strain, and bending moments of parts designed, ANSYS software was useful (Pradeep, 2003). Production Department: The production department utilizes the designs and drawings brought forward by the design section to manufacture parts that meet end user specification and requirements. Quality Control and Assurance: Being the company’s Quality Control Engineer, I could utilize CAPE software. The X-ray as well as the spectrograph techniques were used to identify any form of deformations that would be identified in the parts produced. This also was useful in identifying minute cracks in the parts. A report based on the X-ray and spectrograph tests was then prepared. This would help the company’s survey team to certify the parts as fit for use. Microsoft (MS) Project: MS Project was useful in tracking down any manufacturing project in progress and ensuring successful finishing and delivery of certified parts within a certain period agreed upon between the client and the company. The IT support department was useful in keeping delivery logs that facilitated the delivery of finished parts by the company’s dispatch department (Pradeep, 2003). Having considered all the above points and application of Information Technology in Parts and Production Ltd., it is evident that Information Technology is quite important in facilitating the activities of the company. Interviews A one on one telephone interview with two people was conducted to assess the importance and need of IT in Mechanical Engineering. Among those I interviewed include one individual of Engineering Background and another individual of Management Background. Although the interviewees were busy in their respective position, the following interview transcript shows the response. Of Person of Engineering Background: I decided to contact an interview with an individual involved in the design department of their company. Mr. Peterson has amassed a wide range of experience as a Design Engineer. The telephonic interview held between the two of us was aimed at assessing the importance of Information Technology in the design department. Contact Details Question 1: Hi Mr. Peterson, this is Mr. Mesfer Aldawsari. How are you? Answer 1: I am doing fine. How are you? Question 2: I am doing fine too. Peterson, I am in Saudi Arabia and am doing my individual assignment on the importance of Information Technology (IT) in Mechanical Engineering. I would be pleased if you tell me the various IT tools used in your company? Answer 2: Mesfer, several IT tools are quite applicable in several companies today. However, just to mention a few, the key IT tools include the MS Office, ERP, AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2009, AutoCAD 2011, Prokon, PRO-ENGINEER, SOLIDWORKS, and CATIA among others. Furthermore, there are different useful software used for analysis. Such software includes ANSYS and MS Project. Additionally, the company’s financial and accounting department uses TALLY software to manage its finances. Furthermore, the company utilizes the Microsoft Office 2010to conduct its basic activities. Mainframe server developed by Hewlett Packard (HP) is used to link the company’s computers to enhance high speed connectivity and facilitate communication. Question 3: Thank you Peterson. I would also be happy if you shed more light on the design software used in your Design Department and how such software facilitates the overall performance of the company. Answer 3: That is a good question Mr. Mesfer. In your previous question, I mentioned AutoCAD, PRO-ENGINEER, SOLIDWORKS, and CATIA among other software as useful in aiding design works. However, I am very happy and pleased to inform you that we have acquired a license from AutoCAD, particularly AutoCAD 2011, which is our main software for design. AutoCAD 2011 is more efficient as it is more user-friendly and comes with more improved features. The latest version of AutoCAD has made the design and analysis of details a lot easier than how it used to be with the former versions. The latest version has also minimized the time used in design and analysis, thus making productivity highly improved. Therefore, these versions of design softwares have improved the company’s productivity and reduce costs of production. Question 4: What steps are followed in the designing part with respect to the Information Technology (IT) tools? Answer 4: The company’s Design Department is a main player in the designing as well as drafting Parts. The design and development of the parts is mainly done through Design Softwares which are already installed in the department’s computer systems. As soon as the management completes signing of an order, it sends end-user specifications and requirements to our department to execute the design and detailing. Depending on the specifications of the client, the Design Department then design the parts with the help of the aforementioned softwares, and are printed out with the help of a printer, and the designs are then passed on to the manufacturing department by a third party surveyor. Once, the designs are passed by the surveyor, the drawings are sent to the production department for the manufacturing of the parts. Question 5: Thanks, Peterson. It was nice talking with you regarding the IT tools used at your workplace. I greatly appreciate your response. Answer 5: Thank you, Mesfer and welcome. Person of Management Background To gain a greater insight on the managerial aspects of IT, I decided to carry out a telephonic interview with Mr. Peter, who serves as Accounts Manager at Saudi Finance Ltd., Saudi Arabia. He was useful in explaining the importance of Information Technology (IT) tools in management. Contact Details: Question 1: Hi Peter, this is Mesfer, how are you? Answer 1: I am fine, thank you. How are you? Question 2: Fine. I am Peter and I am calling from Saudi Arabia. I wanted to have a brief interview with you about the IT tools used in your firm with regard to management, as a part of my report on Information Technology (Managing Information Technology in Mechanical Engineering), as part of my masters program in Engineering. It is my request that you tell me the various IT tools used in Saudi Finance Ltd. Answer 2: That is great Mesfer, there are many IT tools being utilized within the company to enhance various activities and functions within the company. Saudi Finance is largely involved in the stock brokering as well as for Stake purchases and sales in the stock markets all over the country. From the top management to the customer care desk, all employees of the company are connected by way of computer servers. Microsoft Office is useful for the basic operations of the Computer, which includes applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, and Outlook among others. The company also boasts of an excellent email and Instant Messaging (IM) system which facilitates the forwarding of important documents needed by an employee. Some of the crucial information on financial transactions and employee complaints are best discussed during a joint discussion board (Pradeep, 2003). Saudi Finance Ltd also uses the MBT Light wave software for the forecasting as well as for preparation of the graphs for the comparison of the stock markets with the figures of the previous years. This helps the company forecast various changes that may arise within prices of bond in the market. Time management software is also useful in the management and tracking down of effective sales and purchase of stock within the stock market. This is important for the company since it largely deals with large amounts of monetary transactions. Hence, we have installed in a highly secure firewall, which constantly monitors our network connections, prevents spam, protects against potential threats from Trojans and other viruses, as well as it also protects against the attempts to hack our systems. Question 3: Thank you Peter, I would like to know about the importance of these innovations in IT to your company. Answer 3: The IT tools used in the company has helped improve productivity and save us time. This has driven the company’s need to update its system with daily improvements in Information Technology. The latest IT tools have saved us a lot of time and money. Early on before the installation of new technology and systems, the time taken to sale and purchase the stocks was more and moreover, it took time before we could finalize any deals. It has now become so easy that with the click of a mouse, now, we could sell or purchase the stocks of a certain firm, depending on the nature of stock market and the prevailing. Question 4: Thank you, Sir. Am grateful for your contribution about the importance of IT tools applicable to your company. I wish you nice moments. Answer 4: Thank you and welcome again. Information Technology Tools and Resources in Mechanical Engineering: Sr. No. IT tool Method of Application Usage Type of Knowledge Work Reference source 1. FLOW 3-D, ANSYS CFD Software Used for calculating CFD. Calculative CFD Online 2. AutoCAD, PRO-E, SOLIDWORKS. Software Design Analytical IEEE Xplore, ASME, ASTM 3. Microsoft Project Software Project Planning Managerial EBSCO, SCOPUS 4. ANSYS, SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, GASP, SLAM Software Analysis (FEA). Analytical Science Direct 5. Cost estimation (SEER) Software To analyse expected speeding of a project Forecasting EBSCO 9. Office computing (Microsoft Office) Software For the basic computing applications such as preparing notes, balance sheets, presentations, etc. Basic computing knowledge, know how about the functionalities of the computer. Microsoft Office Blog 10. Printers Hardware Making hard copy drawings and designs Plotting, knowledge about the appropriate positioning. HP online support. 10 Autodesk 3D Software Helpful in 3D engineering designs Analytical Audodesk Online 12 SciLab Software Solving and analysing high level engineering calculations Culcualtive Analytical CeCILL 13 FORTUS 900mc Hardware Printing 3-D Appropriate positin Plotting CAPINC online 14 SolidACE Software Steel design Analysis CAPINC online Literature Survey Technology adoption, product design, and process change: a case study in the machine tool industry by Greis, Noel P. et al, August, 1995 The experience of that come along with technological advancements indicates that manufacturing organizations are reexamining their entire manufacturing processes to attain flexibility and efficiency in regard to financial and environmental needs. The adoption of new technologies, especially advancements that facilitate effective use of resources and minimizing waste is an important step of an organization. This calls for organizations to rethink their design and manufacturing process (Segre et al, 2007). Changes resulting from technological improvements are causing remarkable changes in the way products e designed and manufactured thus affecting the supply chain of products. Through a case study of the machine tool industry, Noel et al explores the most crucial impacts of organizational adoption of technological advancement in the design and manufacture of specific metal parts. The paper examines the costs of adopting technology, its technical advantages, and the importance of adopting technology in environmental compatibility. In this regard, technology is viewed as saving raw-materials, waste disposal, and effective management of environmental conservation. The paper also explores the importance of technological adoption in part and process of designing parts. Impact of Information Technology on Organizational Transformation; by Verner M. Kiernan, March 3, 1995 It is with no doubt that organizational transformation is highly influenced by information technology. Most authors and researchers argue out that technology certainly is pivotal among the key elements in shaping the future of an organization. The model applied by Parts an Production Ltd for instance, is typical when in identifying technology as quite useful, along with strategy, people, and manufacturing processes. The importance of this technology is evidenced in the proper interconnectivity of such elements such as people, organizational strategy, and manufacturing processes (Sabo and Egui, 2009). This is important since no single element can change or transform without consideration of the others. Although arrival and adoption of new technologies can change or alter structures within the entire organization, it should not be an issue that should be considered to overlook the impacts of technological adoption in organization. A transformation takes place also through changes in the manufacturing process and business changing the way the organization generally operates. More specifically, adoption of information technology facilitates organization’s transformations resulting to changes in factors such as job design, employee relations and autonomy, physical layout or location, internal and external cooperation, and formation of work teams. Virtual workplace is one of the most recent transformations that is seen to be taking shape. The basic reason behind this idea of virtual workplace is the point that employees need to work independently with an improved access to information. This article argues that information technology helps employees get information concerning their required work assignments anywhere and anytime and must not be tied down to an office. This has even brought up the idea that even most companies are undergoing radical transformation towards zero office space. However, adopting such transformations would largely depend on the nature of the work to be accomplished with high considerations of the supervisory implications. There are cases where employees should have to be highly supervised and need close monitoring to ensure successful work completion. Finally, it is also important to consider that work assignments should be subjective and goal oriented and should consider the ability of the employee to accomplish the assigned task within the specified or predetermined time frame. Analysis and Synthesis The general purpose this paper was to analyze the importance and application of Information Technology in the field of Mechanical Engineering. Since the revolution age, Mechanical engineering, just like other engineering fields such Electrical and Telecommunication, has undergone various rapid changes resulting from new changes in technologies and the ever continuing research and innovations going on in this field. Mechanical Engineering has utilized technology such as the use of AutoCAD and Prokon to facilitate improved designs and make manufacturing more effective and efficient. The use of such technology has seen organizations save quite a lot of time and greatly reduce their production costs while maximizing profitability. The use of technology also resulted in more developed machinery that are of improved durability and efficiency. Summary As mentioned earlier, Information Technology has been playing a major role in transforming all fields of engineering ranging from Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering among other fields (Pradeep, 2003). At the present time, almost every single field of study and research involve the usage of Information Technology. All international universities for instance have embraced an online teaching medium, which is a highly pronounced application of IT in the broader field of education. This is just a single field that can be used to identify the fact that IT plays a major role in almost all fields of study. Mechanical Engineering being my field of study, I would like to strongly point out that the application of Information Technology this field of study (Mechanical Engineering) is largely pronounced and speaks for itself. This is evident with the range of Information Technology tools applied in the field of Mechanical Engineering. The most common tools discussed above as being playing an important role in Mechanical Engineering procedures include various software like AutoCAD, Pro-Engineer, CATIA, ANSYS, Visual Basic, and hardware like printers, scanners, USB, GDU, LCD monitors, and high speed servers among other important tools (Segre et al, 2007). Having discussed all these tools, it is evident that Information Technology is of much importance in facilitating design and manufacture works undertaken in Mechanical Engineering. Reference List Imre, J 2009, Towards Intelligent Engineering and Information Technology, New York, Springer. Nikolay, A 2010. Modelling in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics: Towards Autonomous Intelligent Software Models. NY: John Wlley & Sons. Pradeep, C 2003, Engineering and Technical Education in India. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. Sabo, S & Egui, Z 2009, Frontiers in Computer Education, New York, Springer. Serge, T et al., 2007, Advances in Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering II, London, Apres. Tianbiao Z 2012, Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Wahun, Sprimger. Read More