The Engineer and Industry

This paper is directed to the engineer just beginning his career in an industrial firm. Information regarding the organization of such firms and how the engineer fits into it is covered. His typical reactions observed over the years are shown. The importance of co-operation, human relations, and trust in others is emphasized. The time required between the birth of an idea and a product is reviewed in narrative form. The importance of the engineer in society is given. There have been many discussions of the technical requirements of an engineer, but not enough has been said about the other parts of an organization into which an engineer must fit. This paper is intended to explain some of the reactions of an engineer in industry, and to present the views of both the management and the engineer.