| Due to the nature of engineering, there are | | | | not design a plastic beam for a blast furnace |
| numerous solutions for each engineering problem. | | | | application, nor a mild steel pipe for a salt water |
| Quite often an engineer is given the freedom to | | | | system. These are very obvious examples, but |
| provide their own solution, but you need to be | | | | sometimes the influence of the environment can be a |
| certain that your design matches the client's | | | | lot less obvious so great care should be taken to get |
| requirements. | | | | a full understanding |
| If, for example, you take something as simple as a | | | | Regulatory limitations. |
| steel beam designed to support a certain load. This is | | | | Depending on what industry your client is in, the |
| a very basic engineering problem, yet there are | | | | regulatory requirements will be different - i.e. a food |
| almost limitless theoretical possibilities of designs that | | | | industry application will have different regulations to |
| will work. Whilst all of these designs will work insofar | | | | the mining industry for a design that is technically the |
| as they can support the required load, not all of them | | | | same. |
| will suit the client's requirements - due to physical, | | | | Site Specific Requirements. |
| environmental, regulatory or site specific limitations. | | | | Every site has different rules that are specific to that |
| These are all criteria you need to be aware of | | | | site or company. For example, there could be a site |
| before you start any project to avoid any design | | | | wide requirement that all flooring is mesh instead of |
| changes (and costs) later on, or worse - a design | | | | plate, or handrails are tube design instead of bar |
| failure. Below is a bit more detail on these factors. | | | | design. Another factor that can be considered site |
| Physical limitations. | | | | specific is budget. There is no point designing a beam |
| This category includes properties such as weight and | | | | from titanium if your client only has the budget for |
| length. In the beam example, you need to | | | | mild steel. |
| understand what the beam will be connected to, and | | | | The categories mentioned above are in no way |
| can it support the beam's mass? Is it going to be | | | | exhaustive, but are a good starting point when |
| installed in a small chamber with limited access, so | | | | developing your customer requirements specification. |
| therefore needs to be made of smaller sections? | | | | This requirements specification is something that you |
| Environmental limitations. | | | | should be doing with your client at the start of every |
| An understanding of the installation environment is | | | | engineering job. If you get in the habit of doing this, |
| crucial to a successful design. Exposure to heat, | | | | you will find that you get the design right the first |
| corrosive materials, heavy equipment etc can greatly | | | | time. |
| reduce the life of a design. For example, you would | | | | |