Time is one of our most valuable non-renewable resources. There is a reason that books are written with titles like "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity" and "The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time." After the age of down-sizing and the birth of the "lean" organization, we are all doing more with less and looking for ways to save time while still maintaining high quality output.
So what can engineers do to save time and continue providing excellent service to clients with innovative solutions to commercial building challenges?
1. Seek out industry products seminars and training opportunities. While adding another thing to your "to do" list may seem counter-intuitive, the truth is that adding to your knowledge base can help you streamline your design process, reduce the possibility of costly mistakes and make you look good to your clients. If you know why including a variable frequency drive can work better for a project or why an innovating LPD Y-strainer can save energy, you can better serve your clients. Take advantage of every learning opportunity to keep your skills sharp.
2. Don't just copy and paste all your specs. You probably don't do this...but some engineers have! Once again, it may make sense to do what we've always done and continue incorporating the same equipment into your design specs. After all, you've already done the math! In fact, just the opposite is true. You know as well as we do that every single project is different. If you simply keep using the same equipment without reviewing different or new things on the market, your projects may suffer in the long run and it will cost you time to re-design if problems arise on site. And, your clients will appreciate it if you do small things like exchange a galvanized cooling tower for a fiberglass tower to increase the lifespan of the equipment. The result of taking a little time up front to review the latest equipment options will help you design efficient buildings and contribute to your client's satisfaction. And your innovative solutions will just keep them coming back for new building designs!
3. Utilize online resources. We live in a wonderful age of technology! There are so many online tools to help engineers to do their jobs better. Try online calculators like CalculatorEdge, engineering resource guides like The Engineering Toolbox and useful manufacturer's tools like TACO Comfort Solutions' Hydronic System Solutions.
4. Develop a relationship with a local manufacturer's rep. You may think that manufacturer's reps are just out there to sell products. But many of them have experienced sales engineers who are experts in not just hydronic HVAC equipment but also in commercial HVAC systems. They've been involved in hundreds of commercial building projects from start to finish and know about problems that may crop up with a variety of system design. It can save you a lot of time and headache to sit down with them at the beginning of every project to toss ideas around about equipment that will work best for your building and your client's best interests.
Saving time is something we're all concerned about. And if you can save some time, gain some knowledge, develop professional relationships and wow your clients all at once, then you've definitely got a plan for success!
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