Failure is not a parameter
Leslie Langnau
September 01st, 2007.
One of my favorite movies is Apollo 13. This movie details the events that led to the successful return of our astronauts after a crippling explosion damaged the spacecraft’s Service Module two days after launch. For me, the best parts of the movie were about how the NASA astronauts and Mission Control personnel “worked the problem” to bring the astronauts home. Flight Director Gene Kranz is widely viewed as the originator of the phrase “work the problem.” The movie brilliantly showed how those engineers and scientists explored various engineering challenges and how they managed and solved those challenges.
Failure is not a parameter
Leslie Langnau
September 01st, 2007.
One of my favorite movies is Apollo 13. This movie details the events that led to the successful return of our astronauts after a crippling explosion damaged the spacecraft’s Service Module two days after launch. For me, the best parts of the movie were about how the NASA astronauts and Mission Control personnel “worked the problem” to bring the astronauts home. Flight Director Gene Kranz is widely viewed as the originator of the phrase “work the problem.” The movie brilliantly showed how those engineers and scientists explored various engineering challenges and how they managed and solved those challenges.
Stress on the job
John Gyorki
August 01st, 2007.
As an editor and writer, I have the opportunity to interview many engineers in a wide variety of engineering disciplines. I usually make an appointment a few days ahead to set up an interview date and time. But over the past two years or so, I have noticed that more technologists have less time in their schedules for interviews, even when I promise to take less than 20 minutes. In fact, one engineer recently told me that he would “love” to talk to me, but he had no less than 45 items on his to-do list that he deemed were more important. Often, I have to reschedule interviews several times; some never happen. (more…)
Stress on the job
John Gyorki
August 01st, 2007.
As an editor and writer, I have the opportunity to interview many engineers in a wide variety of engineering disciplines. I usually make an appointment a few days ahead to set up an interview date and time. But over the past two years or so, I have noticed that more technologists have less time in their schedules for interviews, even when I promise to take less than 20 minutes. In fact, one engineer recently told me that he would “love” to talk to me, but he had no less than 45 items on his to-do list that he deemed were more important. Often, I have to reschedule interviews several times; some never happen. (more…)
It’s about time
Leslie Langnau
July 01st, 2007.
Sometimes I think Henry Ford should have been shot, but that’s not politically correct, so maybe, at the very least, he should have been run out of town. (more…)
It’s about time
Leslie Langnau
July 01st, 2007.
Sometimes I think Henry Ford should have been shot, but that’s not politically correct, so maybe, at the very least, he should have been run out of town. (more…)
It’s the components, Henry
John Gyorki
June 01st, 2007.
Are you surprised that Toyota sales for the first quarter of 2007 surpassed GM’s? I’m not. In fact, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. The reason I say this comes from my own experience of owning dozens of vehicles since my first car in 1950, a 1937 Chevrolet my grandfather gave me when I was only 12 years old. As a youngster, my automotive engineering uncle and mechanic father taught me how cars were designed, built, and maintained. Later, I became an engineer myself and worked for an automotive component manufacturer that supplied parts to numerous companies around the world. (more…)
It’s the components, Henry
John Gyorki
June 01st, 2007.
Are you surprised that Toyota sales for the first quarter of 2007 surpassed GM’s? I’m not. In fact, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. The reason I say this comes from my own experience of owning dozens of vehicles since my first car in 1950, a 1937 Chevrolet my grandfather gave me when I was only 12 years old. As a youngster, my automotive engineering uncle and mechanic father taught me how cars were designed, built, and maintained. Later, I became an engineer myself and worked for an automotive component manufacturer that supplied parts to numerous companies around the world. (more…)
What’s in your warranty?
John Gyorki
May 01st, 2007.
A friend was shopping for a new desktop computer recently and asked me to recommend a brand she might consider. Of course, I suggested purchasing one of the two computer makers that I use. Then she asked whether she should get the extended warranty plan. I don’t usually pay much attention to warranties, so I wasn’t sure what to tell her. Also, I didn’t know what the original warranty might be on the computer she was considering. So, we went to several stores and various Web sites to look at warranties. I was shocked at what I found. (more…)
What’s in your warranty?
John Gyorki
May 01st, 2007.
A friend was shopping for a new desktop computer recently and asked me to recommend a brand she might consider. Of course, I suggested purchasing one of the two computer makers that I use. Then she asked whether she should get the extended warranty plan. I don’t usually pay much attention to warranties, so I wasn’t sure what to tell her. Also, I didn’t know what the original warranty might be on the computer she was considering. So, we went to several stores and various Web sites to look at warranties. I was shocked at what I found. (more…)
Authors:
- John Gyorki (20)
- Larry Boulden (6)
- Leslie Langnau (6)
- Mike Emich (1)
- Scott McCafferty (2)
