History of Engineering Technology: Organizational Structure and Industrial Team

The Organizational Structure and the Industrial Team

  • The organizational plan establishes decision-making duties and details how team members interact through organizational charts or diagrams.

  • Technologists must differentiate between line and staff functions within an organization.

  • An industrial team requires an organizational strategy to function properly, particularly in medium to large corporations.

Competition vs. Teamwork

  • Competition should be directed toward external rivals rather than internal members of the firm to ensure survival in the global market.

  • Teamwork is the primary business approach of the 21st century, utilizing multidisciplinary teams to make decisions on equipment, production, and finances.

  • Engineers and technicians must cooperate with others as those who prefer to work in isolation are less sustainable in the modern industry.

Professionalism and the Technologist Field

  • Professionalism is defined as a way of thinking and living, requiring specialized education and a motivation to serve humanity.

  • Unlike law or medicine, technology lacks a personal practitioner-client relationship; technologists typically practice as members of managed teams.

  • Technologists are responsible for managing resources including people, materials, and finance.

  • The field progresses through pioneering work, where even failures lead to a greater understanding of how to avoid future errors.

Professional Technologist Licensing

  • In some jurisdictions, the title "Professional Technologist" is legally defined and protected by government bodies.

  • Licensed/registered Professional Technologists have the authority to sign and seal (stamp) official technology documents, such as reports, designs, and calculations.

  • This seal signifies the assumption of legal responsibility for the specific project or study.

Quality Management and Service

  • Quality management is essential for global survival and comprises three components: quality control (QCQC), quality assurance (QAQA), and quality improvement.

  • It focuses on both product quality and the processes used to achieve consistency.

  • Preventive strategies involve improving work procedures and utilizing systematic solution methods to resolve quality issues immediately.

  • Routine inspections and active quality assurance aim to meet customer satisfaction and prevent project delays.