The Real Economy in Engineering

Through-long and constructive experience in engineering, certain of the pioneer workers are in a position to present useful and constructive suggestions to the radio-and-electronic engineering fraternity. It is accordingly helpful to present the following editorial by a prominent Fellow of The Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), the Chairman of the IRE Handbook Committee, and a radio physicist of recognized standing who argues that the successful engineer is the one who does more than solve just the problem at hand. He is the one who sees the problem as an example of many problems which have something in common. He seeks and finds the solution for this class of problems, then the example becomes easy. The real economy in engineering is the best use of every available aid in arriving at an understanding of the problem and an expeditious solution. Understanding a problem does not require a leisurely period of study and research. It requires concentration, enlisting the aid of the best references and charts, practicing on examples, developing new and simpler formulas and charts, outlining the limitations. Once having arrived at a real understanding, the solution of a few examples becomes almost routine. The engineer who will advance furthest in his profession, who will contribute the most to science and industry, and who will derive the greatest satisfaction in his work, is the one who works hard to find the easy way.