OFF TOPIC ENGINEERING PROCEDURES

Anyone , have a link to a site for engineering procedures within a
company, have to write up the engineering dept (ie me) and its work
flow, procedures, document control etc, just need a starting point.

Thanks Mo.

 

You prolly aren't going to find a company's procedures online.
However, here's some pointers I can offer.

Write a general policy SOP that says who has what responsibilities in
the Engineering Dept, then write the procedures that cover the
different areas: Drafting Standard (drawing and model), Source File
Control, Document Control, Revision Control, and Change Control (if
this handled by the Engineering Dept).

Drafting Standard can be something very short that refers to a general
guideline book, such as Genium's Modern Drafting Practices, while
using ASME Y14.5M-1994 as your basis.

Source File Control will be handling procedure for the CAD files, and
this is dependent on which (if any) PDM and/or PLM you are using.

Document Control will cover handling of documents when they are
released and used. If you have a paperless system, this should work
hand-in-hand with your PLM procedures. If you have paper system, then
it should cover your library of drawings and file folders.

Revision Control could be an extention of ASME Y14.35M-1994, showing
how to apply the standard to your company. Or it could be your own
procedure that fulfills the requirements of the standard, but talored
to your company's needs. You may wish to cover Form-Fit-Function
rules in those procedure, or in the Drafting Standard

Change Control will cover the process to change documents. An
approval matrix procedure might also be needed if you have a PLM (and
maybe even if you don't).

If you are using SolidWorks, then a Best Practices procedure could
also be created.

As to what each of these procedures and the SOP should say? This is
highly dependent on the company and industry you are in.

Matt Lorono
http://sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks

 

Check into some of the ISO-9000 & related things.

 

There isn't really a regulation that covers specifics. Even with the
tight rules of the FDA, ultimately it is just a requirement that
everything be under control...leaving much of the what-and-how-to-do-
it up to the company.

Some standards cover specifics, but they are spread out so much across
different agencies that it takes years for most of us to run across
them.

Matt

 

This was in respose to:
[

Check into some of the ISO-9000 & related things.

Cliff
]

Please quote at least a bit of what you are responding to.

It's not an example of "regulation".
It's about starting points to consider.
Were you ISO-9000 you would probably already have a good
grasp on much of it. So consider what ISO-9000 entails in
respect to the subject.

Auicker for some searches to be done than for essays
to be written (which might not well apply anyway), IMHO.

 

Cliff, I didn't say ISO was a regulation, but used regulations as an
extreme example that go way beyond ISO, but still won't give him what
he's asking for. He's asking for the actual procedures. He's not
going to find that in ISO. ISO is just a list of general areas that
require addressing, and overall requirements on how those are
addressed, but still not actual procedures. I do agree that
referencing ISO is good though.

Matt

 

Maybe he is hoping someone will share with the OP the section in their
ISO manual that addresses Engineering Processes and Procedures.
Something that will give the OP general knowledge about the
methodology, layout or even sample procedures and processes he could
edit for his needs.

Tom

 

A web search for same might bring results to think about. Or even
a few books to read?

 

Really appreciate the input guys, yes i am after procedures and
examples which I can edit, web search didn't bring about much in the
way of examples.
I'm currently looking at A-Z ISO 9000 guide, which is proving useful
for understanding what particular areas I have to address.

Any recommended texts?

Cheers Mo.

 

You might search Amazon & read any reviews ..
If you belong to any professional groups (ASME, etc.)
search their data too.