Engineering a better life for society

Prof. Ir. K.S. Kannan (PhD, FIEM, FAshrae), of the Board of Engineers Malaysia, gives an overview of one of the leading professions in Malaysia.

Engineering is considered by many to be the number one career choice in Malaysia, and statistics support this. Four fields of engineering, namely mechanical, civil, electrical and electronics, are listed among the top 10 career choices in the country by the Manpower Department.

The engineering profession is the backbone of a country’s economic growth and sustainable development. In Malaysia, engineers form the largest professional group. As of 31st December 2010, the number of engineers registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia stood at just below 69,000, excluding foreign engineers. Of this figure, about 15,000 are registered as professional engineers.

Understanding the Profession

Engineering is the discipline, art and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social and practical knowledge to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realise solutions to the needs of society (Wikipedia).

The engineer is a problem solver – and a creative designer. Using mathematics as a tool and science as one of the factual or theoretical basis, the engineer is interested in the useful application of scientific principles to create functions, devices, systems and processes that enhance the wellbeing of mankind.

Major Engineering Disciplines and Career Prospects

With the rapid growth of the construction industry and the increasing prominence of the manufacturing sector, the giant strides in information technology and the globalisation of business ventures, it has become imperative to categorise the basic engineering disciplines into various sub disciplines.

For example, electronics and telecommunication engineering emerged from electrical engineering. Similarly, construction engineering emerged from civil engineering. The basic engineering disciplines are now giving rise to new fields of study.

Chemical Engineering

A chemical engineer differs from other engineers in his special knowledge of chemistry. He/she utilises this knowledge to make products on a commercial-scale from chemists’ discoveries.

Through R&D, design, production and marketing efforts, the chemical engineer brings products to consumers. Chemical engineers are largely responsible for the production of petroleum and gas, purification of water, processing of food and milk, and the making of plastic, paper and textile products, among many others.

Chemical engineers can find employment in numerous industries, including heavy chemical, petrochemical, fertiliser, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, metallurgical, textiles, leather and plastics. They are also employed by design and fabrication companies, as well as those engaged in pollution abatement and control.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering involves the analysis, design, construction and maintenance of buildings, water supply systems, bridges, dams, tunnels, pipelines and transportation systems (including highways, airports and ports). Civil engineers are also engaged in areas such as housing and urban development, planning and management of construction projects, water resource development, public health and sanitation.

The practice of civil engineering encompasses one of the broadest mixes of sub-disciplines within the engineering profession, and the civil engineer works on projects which take into account a variety of complex technical, economic, social and environmental factors.

A civil engineering graduate may become involved in projects such as earthquake-resistant design of structures in seismic zones, environmental-impact assessment, construction and installation of offshore platforms used for oil and gas recovery, and the design and management of solid or liquid waste treatment plants.

There is a wide range of career opportunities in the civil engineering profession. Jobs are available in the government (the Public Works Department is a major employer of civil engineers), the construction sector, industries such as mining and forestry; and, consulting engineering companies, including those specialising in structural, environmental, municipal and geo-technical engineering.

Electrical Engineering

The electrical engineer is concerned with the generation, transmission and utilisation of electrical energy; industrial control and industrial electronics; and the application of electronics in diverse fields such as communications, computers, instrumentation, medicine and automated control.

Because electrical engineering is a diverse field, opportunities are available in virtually every phase of industrial activity and government service. Electrical engineers are in demand in manufacturing, mining, transportation, construction, utilities, communications, oil exploration and product development.

For those with an interest in computer hardware or software, the increasing use of micro-computers and microprocessors in instrumentation, medical and diagnostic services, signal processing and industrial process control has led to challenging opportunities. After extensive experience in any of these fields, an electrical engineer may offer his services as a consultant.

Electronics Engineering

A major driving force of the IT revolution is the development in electronics engineering. Advancements in micro electronics, satellite, optical fibre, analog and digital technology in communication techniques have resulted in the development of complex electronics devices, circuits and equipment capable of implementing fast and efficient telecommunication systems. Real-time transfer of audio and video signals is now possible with recent developments in broad band technology. The penetration of electronics has revolutionalised other areas like health care, instrumentation, automation, remote sensing, signal processing, etc.

Electronics engineers have opportunities in the public and private sectors for the installation, operation and maintenance of electronics equipment and systems. Defence, space and other large research organisations employ electronics engineers for the design and development of complex devices and systems for signal processing and telecommunication.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the most diverse fields of engineering. Mechanical engineers are involved in all aspects of the design and development of such diverse objects as space vehicles and satellites, aircraft, robot, automobiles and heavy machinery. They use knowledge of scientific principles, particularly applied mathematics and physics, to design complex machinery and equipment. In fact, mechanical engineers have a role to play in the development of most manufactured items used today.

The job opportunities for mechanical engineers comprise an unending range of opportunities. All of the traditional manufacturing industries, such as automotive and aircraft, employ mechanical engineers not only to design products, but also as production engineers to develop efficient manufacturing techniques. Research and development is another area in which mechanical engineers are increasingly finding employment.

Today’s Engineers

The challenge for engineers today is to work seamlessly with their colleagues from other fields to improve the quality of life of society.

In this respect, engineers should acquire good interpersonal skills. In the past, engineers were so concerned about technological development that they ‘forgot’ how to develop good people skills. Society needs well-rounded engineers who are more outspoken, and who possess good public speaking and soft skills.