Specialty engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on the design and implementation of systems with specific requirements, such as high reliability, maintainability, safety, and security. Specialty engineers work with other engineers to ensure that these systems meet their performance and operational requirements.
Here are some examples of specialty engineering for product reliability, maintainability, safety, and security:
- Reliability engineering: Reliability engineers use a variety of methods to design and build reliable systems. These methods include failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and reliability testing.
- Maintainability engineering: Maintainability engineers design and build systems that are easy to maintain and repair. This includes designing systems with modular components and providing easy access to critical parts.
- Safety engineering: Safety engineers design and build systems that are safe to operate and maintain. This includes identifying and mitigating hazards, and designing systems with safety features such as interlocks and redundancy.
- Security engineering: Security engineers design and build systems that are resistant to cyber attacks. This includes implementing security features such as encryption, authentication, and authorization.
Processes to Ensure Specialty Engineering
The following processes can help to ensure that specialty engineering is done effectively:
- Requirements gathering and analysis: The first step is to gather and analyze the system requirements. This includes identifying the specific reliability, maintainability, safety, and security requirements.
- Design: Once the requirements are understood, the specialty engineers can begin to design the system. This includes selecting the appropriate components and technologies, and designing the system to meet the performance and operational requirements.
- Analysis: Once the system is designed, the specialty engineers will analyze it to ensure that it meets the reliability, maintainability, safety, and security requirements. This may involve using tools such as FMEA, FTA, and reliability testing.
- Implementation: Once the system has been analyzed and approved, the specialty engineers can begin to implement it. This may involve working with other engineers to build the system, and to develop and implement maintenance and support procedures.
- Testing: Once the system is implemented, the specialty engineers will test it to ensure that it meets the reliability, maintainability, safety, and security requirements. This may involve performing reliability tests, safety tests, and security tests.
System Deployment
System deployment is the process of installing and configuring a system in its operating environment. This includes site preparation, system installation, system checkout, user training, and support engineer training.
Site Preparation
Site preparation is the process of ensuring that the operating environment is ready for the system to be installed. This may involve tasks such as preparing the physical space for the system, installing power and network connections, and configuring the security environment.
System Installation
System installation is the process of physically installing the system in its operating environment. This may involve tasks such as unpacking and assembling the system, connecting the system to power and network, and configuring the system software.
System Checkout
System checkout is the process of verifying that the system is installed correctly and that it meets all of its requirements. This may involve tasks such as running test programs, verifying system functionality, and correcting any problems that are found.
User Training
User training is the process of teaching users how to use the system. This may involve tasks such as developing training materials, providing hands-on training, and answering user questions.
Support Engineer Training
Support engineer training is the process of teaching support engineers how to maintain and repair the system. This may involve tasks such as developing training materials, providing hands-on training, and answering support engineer questions.
Product Support
Product support is the process of providing support to users after the system has been deployed. This may include tasks such as providing technical support, fixing system bugs, and releasing new software versions.
Maintenance
Maintenance is the process of keeping the system in good operating condition. This may include tasks such as performing preventive maintenance, fixing system failures, and replacing worn-out components.
Logistics Support
Logistics support is the process of obtaining and delivering spare parts for the system. This may involve tasks such as maintaining an inventory of spare parts, working with suppliers, and shipping spare parts to customers.
Disposal
Disposal is the process of disposing of the system at the end of its useful life. This may involve tasks such as recycling the system components, disposing of the system in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Conclusion
Specialty engineering is an important part of designing and building reliable, maintainable, safe, and secure systems. By following the processes outlined in this paper, organizations can help to ensure that specialty engineering is done effectively and that systems meet their performance and operational requirements.
