Quality Control & Six Sigma - ESD

ESD PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE | October–November 2006Importance of Mentoring Young Engineershen successfulpeople are interviewedabouttheir careers, theyare usually asked,“Who has been themost influentialperson in your life?”Besides the obligatory mention of one’sfamily, successful professional peopleusually respond by naming an influentialmentor who helped shape their earlycareer and helped them over rough spots.How valuable is mentoring for a recentengineering graduate just beginningworking life?In a new upcoming feature onyoung engineers in Technology Century,recipients of ESD’s Outstanding YoungEngineer Award verify the importanceof mentoring in their careers. Mentoringcan mean the difference between successand mediocrity, or even the loss of apotentially talented engineer fromthe profession. It is the responsibilityof all of us to take mentoring of newengineering and technical employeesvery seriously. Experience has shownthat placing a young engineer underthe wing of an experienced and encouragingmentor results in the acceleratedprogress and development of newtechnical employees.Those of us with many years ofprofessional experience can easilyremember how much we felt we knewat the completion of four rigorous yearsof engineering classes—and how littlewe realized we knew once we steppedinto the realities of the working world.The outstanding engineering curriculaat our state universities (see “What’sHappening at Michigan Universities”on page 20) provides studentswith excellent knowledge in variousengineering disciplines and of othersubjects through elective courses, butwhat course covers a sensible scenarioin how to deal with a contentiouspersonal situation on a constructionsite or in an industrial plant? Right outof college, most engineering graduateshave little experience in the practicalimportance of company culture, turfwarfare, chain-of-command, managementdemands, office politics and the“Dilbert” view of “how things arereally done around here.”ESD offers a wonderful opportunityto inspire students by becominginvolved as an engineering mentorand technical advisor in its MichiganRegional Future City Competition heldin January. In this very successful teambasedprogram consisting of 7th and 8thgrade students, a teacher, and an engineermentor, the competition challengesstudents to design a fully functioningcity. You, too, can join ESD and otherengineers in helping students learnfirsthand how engineers turn ideas intoreality. More important, as a mentor,you can have a real impact in fostering ayoung person’s interest in math, scienceand engineering.I believe that newly hired youngengineers should be introduced to adesignated company mentor as a matterof corporate policy. Moreover, a recentissue of The Business Journal indicatedthat minority groups are unlikely toreach success at the corporate levelwithout significant mentoring at thebeginning, and consistently throughout,their careers.Experts generally agree thatmentoring has been found to be atwo-way street, where the young engineergains confidence and a sense ofbelonging, and the company mentorfinds his or her supporting role offersprofound personal and professionalsatisfaction in helping a young personfind success.Take a few minutes to reflect on yourown career, and recall those individualswho have guided you along the way…you’ll be surprised.Sincerely,David S. MeynellPresident, ESD Board of DirectorsPresident and CEO, DÜrr Systems, Inc.www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit |