RE: RE: TIRADE

From: <Christopher>
Date: Mon May 14 2001 - 14:49:00 EDT

>Why, for
>example, should we blame CAD if inexperienced youngsters (like me?) are
>assigned responsibilites that they are not ready for. Would the problem be
>solved if we trained them to use drawing boards instead?
I don't think anyone's blaming CAD--the tone of the thread is critical of the notion that CAD software makes anyone into a competent designer. This notion is fairly stylish at a certain level of management, and results from ignorance and wishful thinking: Ignorance of the design proces and wishful thinking about salary levels and personnel requirements.

CAD is a tool, nothing else, and tools don't make the engineer. I'm sure all us stone agers remember at least one 'designer' with a great battery of drafting tools--compasses of all sizes, Leroy lettering sets, dozens of ship curves all in a beautiful velvet lined wooden chest--who couldn't put together an efficient design because they didn't realize that a picture isn't a design.

>Maybe you guys would do good by spending your
>years before retirement on that, instead of complaining. (Or maybe there's
>consulting potential for you in that after retiring ;-))
Don't patronize until you know what you're talking about. Engineering did work like that in the US, but mentoring went out when the MBA's walked in. Most engineers simply don't practice actively past age 40 because 'success' means 'taking the management track,' unlike the situation with the law and medical practice. Lawyers can practice actively well into their 70's, as can physicians and in doing so they act as teachers. Between lay-offs, early retirements and the simple desire to make a little money, few engineers do much mentoring. The sprogs are on their own--They'll have to learn from their own mistakes.

Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant from <a href="/group/PipingDesign/post?postID=mHfTSqXVs9aoWK0AAtkBSwqkgAlKaMh590GNoSAJ20wSBvYfkIV2jZRysk3jvELshwBzCvSH2iNz6Q">chrisw@skypoint.com</a> | this distance" (last words of Gen.

___________________________| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania 1864)

<a href="http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw">http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw</a> Received on Mon May 14 14:49:00 2001