Key Takeaways
- The root cause of engineering failures often lies in the accumulation of smaller decisions and compromises made over time
- Current engineering systems are good at preserving outputs, but poor at preserving the intent and reasoning behind decisions
- The lack of preserved engineering intent can lead to significant costs and consequences, including repeated mistakes and decreased innovation
- Digital engineering solutions, such as those offered by Authentise, can help preserve engineering intent and improve collaboration and decision-making
Introduction to the Hidden Cost of Lost Engineering Intent
The recent UPS MD-11 engine separation incident on Flight 2976 has brought attention to the importance of understanding the root causes of engineering failures. While the investigation will focus on the immediate cause of the incident, experienced engineers know that failures are often the result of a series of smaller decisions and compromises made over time. These decisions, assumptions, and trade-offs can be individually reasonable, but collectively significant, and can ultimately lead to a visible problem.
The Challenge of Preserving Engineering Intent
Despite the investment in digital engineering, modern organizations are surprisingly inconsistent at preserving the intent and reasoning behind decisions. Requirements are documented, CAD models are version-controlled, and simulations are stored, but the rationale behind decisions often lives in informal channels, such as design reviews, supplier conversations, and institutional memory. This can lead to a loss of critical knowledge and context, making it difficult for future engineers to understand the reasoning behind past decisions.
Comparison of Engineering Intent Preservation Methods
| Method | Description | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Documentation | Requirements, CAD models, and simulations are stored | Good for preserving outputs, poor for preserving intent |
| Design Reviews | Informal discussions and meetings | Good for preserving intent, but limited by institutional memory |
| Digital Engineering Solutions | Solutions like Authentise that preserve engineering intent and rationale | Excellent for preserving intent and improving collaboration |
The Cost of Lost Engineering Intent
The lack of preserved engineering intent can lead to significant costs and consequences, including repeated mistakes, decreased innovation, and increased risk. According to Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise, "We built systems to record engineering outputs, but what we didn’t really build were systems that preserve engineering thinking – the rationale, assumptions, and trade-offs that explain why something happened in the first place." This can result in a loss of critical knowledge and context, making it difficult for future engineers to understand the reasoning behind past decisions.
Conclusion and Recommendations
To address the hidden cost of lost engineering intent, organizations should invest in digital engineering solutions that preserve engineering intent and rationale. These solutions can help improve collaboration, decision-making, and innovation, while reducing the risk of repeated mistakes and engineering failures.
Bottom Line
The hidden cost of lost engineering intent is a significant challenge facing engineering organizations today. By understanding the importance of preserving engineering intent and investing in digital engineering solutions, organizations can improve collaboration, decision-making, and innovation, while reducing the risk of engineering failures. With the right solutions in place, organizations can ensure that critical knowledge and context are preserved, and that future engineers can build on the knowledge and experience of their predecessors.