Last Word

________________________________________________________________________________________

American Council of
Engineering Companies
(formerly the American
Consulting Engineers
Council)

Volume XXII, Number 16
July 20, 2001

1015 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7474
Fax 202-898-0068
www.acec.org

E-mail acec@acec.org

Francis George, Editor
___________________

GA Report

This week's edition:
July 20, 2001


 ACEC Means
Business

Managing Cadd Work Flow

In what sequence will the project CADD work be performed? … Who will be permitted access to the project documents during the project work? … What level of access will be permitted and at what point in the project’s life will they have this level of access?

These are tricky questions and the answers will be complex.

Current technology makes it possible for the user to post all project files so that every project participant can access them at any time and change or delete them at will (or even insert new files into the sequence). But few would want to manage a project in such a manner because of the potential for chaos.

Technology lets system administrators control access to project files, but access should be managed in the context of an overall plan for producing the project documents.

Establish a flow chart to plan the execution of the project CADD work. This chart should indicate the sequence in which the work is to be performed, or indicate when parts of the work can be performed in parallel.

With a well-designed plan for project work flow, each participant will have all prerequisite materials and information before beginning his/her own portion of the work.

A well-designed work flow plan can also help system administrators plan user access to project data files.

Following are some useful guidelines:

• Staffers who are not project team members should not have access to project files.

• Not all project participants need to have access to all project files.

• Some participants need to be able to view some of the project files, but they should not be permitted to edit the files.

• Some participants need to be able to read project files during most of the life of the project and need to be able to edit the files only during certain portions of the project work.

A project production plan must include provisions governing: who should have access to which project files, what level of access they should have, and when their file access level should change.

Excerpted from Effective Computer Systems Management for Design Firms, by Mike Ingardia and John Hill. This book is available for sale through the ACEC Bookshop (#LW-302), $49 members, $69 non-members, $4 s/h. Orders should be sent to ACEC, FAX (202) 789-7220, publications@acec.org, or purchase the book online at www.acec.org. Please include your Mastercard, Visa, or American Express number with the expiration date, contact name, firm name, street address, phone number, and e-mail address.

 

Engineers Tackle Educational Restrictions on International Practice

During recent meetings by the Washington Accord and the Engineering Mobility Forum (EMF) in South Africa, engineers were able to further the international cooperation between the institutions that establish the educational qualifications and registration of engineers in their various countries.

The Washington Accord is the mechanism for recognizing substantial equivalency in educational qualifications. The EMF-sponsored agreement, which was signed by institutions from Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea, establishes the International Register of Professional Engineers and the signatories of each country will maintain their own register.

ACEC is a member of the United States Council for International Engineering Practice (USCIEP), which signed the agreement, along with The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). By signing the agreement, ACEC members can relocate personnel on global projects with greater ease, have a simplified method to gain assurance that foreign engineers are qualified, and ensure faster transfer of documentation between countries for acquiring cross-border licensure and registration.

For more information on the agreement, click on the following link: http://www.acec.org/happen/forum.doc.

ACEC Fall Conference in Orlando Features All New Format

ACEC’s 2001 Fall Conference is less than two months away and the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) Host Committee, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, is putting the finishing touches on what promises to be an incredible meeting. The conference will feature an all new format, with separate days devoted to ACEC/PAC, leadership, education, and market opportunities. Highlighted speakers include Florida Governor Jeb Bush (invited), former NASA Mars Exploration Program Manager Donna Shirley, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" gameshow winner Kevin Olmstead, Ph.D, and trends analyst Roger Herman. Another notable attendee at this year’s conference will be Former Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater, who will be this year’s recipient of ACEC’s Distinguished Award of Merit.

Mark your calendars to attend the Private Sector Markets Conference on Saturday, September 22, at the Fall Conference. Three panels comprising representatives from industries that are experiencing growth and expansion will describe their specific business plans and strategies to accomplish growth. Valuable insights can be gained into what’s happening now and in the next few years and how to position your firm for future success. Janice Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief of ENR magazine, will be a panelist. Moderator for this conference is Roger Herman, CEO of the Herman Group, Greensboro, NC.

Donna Shirley, former manager of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program and the leader of the team that built the Mars Sojourner Rover, is the Keynote luncheon speaker on Friday, September 21. In her career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Shirley drew upon her skills and talent as engineer, entrepreneur, adventurer, strategist, manager, spokesperson, cheerleader, and bureaucratic warrior.

Optional functions include a tour of Celebration City, a behind-the-scenes look at the Walt Disney World® Resort, and of course, Local Color Night, consisting of a Rock-n-Roll Beach Party at Pleasure Island, Disney’s nighttime entertainment venue.

Pre-register on-line at www.acec.org, or call the Meetings Department at 202-347-7474 by August 31, 2001, to receive the $625 discounted rate. Hotel reservations can be made directly by calling Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts at (407) 934-3372. ACEC conference attendees receive a discounted room rate of $179 single/double, if reservations are made by August 20, 2001.

Now Available-San Antonio Convention Cassettes

Audio cassettes are now available of the sessions from ACEC’s Annual Convention held in May in San Antonio, TX. Click on the following link to access the cassette order form: click here. If you have any questions about the cassettes, contact Convenient Cassette Service at (504) 885-3596 or e-mail guyccs@aol.com.

 

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