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Engineering Managers

1) An engineering manager is an engineer who applies engineering principles to business practices and manages complex projects, employees, and clients. 2) Engineering managers perform tasks like operations research to improve efficiency, supply chain management, and technology management. 3) They also develop scientific, market-driven and technical goals for projects, supervise employees, and act as project managers and liaisons between clients and engineering teams.

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Nick Genese
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29 views

Engineering Managers

1) An engineering manager is an engineer who applies engineering principles to business practices and manages complex projects, employees, and clients. 2) Engineering managers perform tasks like operations research to improve efficiency, supply chain management, and technology management. 3) They also develop scientific, market-driven and technical goals for projects, supervise employees, and act as project managers and liaisons between clients and engineering teams.

Uploaded by

Nick Genese
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Engineering Managers: What They Do

and What They Know


An engineering manager is an engineer whose job requires him or her to apply the
principles of engineering to the practices and practicalities of business. Ideally suited
for a person who is skilled and knowledgeable in the technical, mechanical and
technological aspects of engineering but who possesses the planning abilities and
people management skills of a leader, an engineering manager is a problem solver for
many levels of people.

It goes without saying that these types of managers are a rare breed of person with a
very specific and far-reaching skill set. From supervising other engineers and
managing complex projects to working with clients and offering consulting services,
the engineering manager’s job is a changing and complex one. Here is a closer look at
some of the many jobs and tasks they perform, as well as what they need to know to
perform well.

Operations Research

This area of an engineering manager’s job deals with quantitative models that explore
and predict any of a number of complex operations that affect workflow, productivity,
supply chains, transportation and the like. These models assist in decision-making and
can be used in any sector, field or industry. Operations research is interested in
uncovering and discovering the processes that might enable work to be done more
efficiently.

Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is a process that oversees and implements the planning and
management of work flow, goods, services and communication that take a product or
service from its origin to its point of consumption. From the transport and storage of
raw materials to inventory in process and the finished product, supply chain
management keeps track of the many necessary connections between work, process,
people, procedures and materials. These days, supply chain management requires the
integration of logistics, procurement, operations management and IT.

Technology Management

Technology increasingly affects more and more sectors of contemporary work and
life, and engineering management is no exception. From managing innovation and
updates to keeping pace with technological change that affects operations and people,
managing technology is taking up more and more energy and time within all types of
projects.

The Development of Scientific, Market-Driven and Technical Goals


Engineering managers must see the bigger picture across a number of different
spheres so that targets are met in what is usually a complex project. Through research,
testing and modeling, goals are established that satisfy scientific, technical and market
metrics. The engineering manager either establishes or helps establish these goals and
follows through on implementing all the measures required in order to make sure that
those goals are met.

Supervise Employees

Employee supervision is the part of the job where an engineering manager must
exercise good interpersonal diplomacy and directness in addition to the practical
application of knowledge and skill. Most of the time an engineering manager is
overseeing other engineers on a project, and so he or she must have a vast knowledge
base in order to help guide the team. From making sure employees are meeting goals
in a timely fashion to keeping morale high when problems arise, supervising
employees is one of the more subtle and important parts of the job.

Project Management

One of the most important roles an engineering manager can play is that of project
manager. Project planning, creating timelines, maintaining timelines, overseeing work
with contractors and clients, checking in with different parts of the project and
keeping an entire team on track is not for the unfocused. Because engineering projects
tend to be quite large, oftentimes there are multiple engineering managers working
together to ensure the project stays on task and within budget.

Working With Clients

Acting as a go-between for clients and those doing the work is another vital role that
an engineering manager can play. From identifying a client’s desires and needs to
communicating those desires and needs to the team, acting as a mediator who
understands both sides of the project process is essential.

Engineering managers have complex jobs. From organizational skills that track
multiple layers of long-term projects to being able to work well with people in the
application of intricate technical and mechanical knowledge, engineering managers
streamline complicated processes so that difficult jobs can get done.

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