The Engineering Process
An engineering process is an order of operations that engineers commonly follow to solve issues. It is highly iterative, and some parts of the process could be repeated multiple times within one project. The specific framing and articulation of the steps repeated will differ.
The first step is research. This includes identifying requirements while locating data and understanding the constraints. It is a vital part of the engineering process, allowing engineers to determine the most effective solution to the issue.
Once researchers have collected enough information, they can begin brainstorming solutions to the issue. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, and is the place where the engineering imagination truly flourishes. This is also a stage where ideas are analysed and evaluated. This could involve simulation studies, creating decision matrixes or even building prototypes to test.
This step involves students selecting the most appealing idea and then putting together the plan of its creation. Students then construct the prototype using the materials specified and then test it to make sure it meets their performance criteria. Students may have to retest their prototype, and possibly revise it to ensure that it is functioning as intended.
This is a great way to teach the importance of problem solving and iteration. Engineers are known to come up with a solution to a problem, test the solution and then discover a new issue. The process is repeated until the engineer comes up with a solution which meets their expectations.