TEAMWORK FOR MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEERS

Audio: Teamwork for mechanical design engineers

Teamwork is an inevitable part of a mechanical design engineer’s job. Most companies prefer job applicants with the ability to work in teams, and understanding and being able to work in a team could give you leverage in your career. In this article, we will discuss the importance of teamwork, what types of teams you could work in, the characteristics of successful teamwork, and what tools you can utilize to improve teamwork.

Introduction

A team is a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal or objective. In your professional life as a mechanical design engineer, as in any other profession, the possibility for you to work alone, completely isolated from others, is slim to none. Of course, it could happen for some entrepreneurs that they are on their own, but for those working for someone, there will always be a team working, even if that means you and your boss are the only two employees.

Working in a team with different people is not always the most pleasurable experience. We all have different natures, and we are different people. Some team members do not know how to control their emotions, so they always have emotional outbursts. Others cannot separate private from professional life, so they yell at you because they got in a fight with their spouse. And some will spread negative energy and suck all will to live from the room.

On the other hand, you will have team members that are positive and funny all the time; some will be supportive and cheering, and others will be highly knowledgeable and wise. Some will be good listeners and will always make you feel good. And you will also encounter a mix of all of the above. So however you turn it, wherever you have few people working together, there will always be positive and negative emotions coming with it.

When we add the technical and creative complexity of mechanical design engineering jobs to the mix of different people, it is crucial to learn how to handle teamwork for success in our jobs.

Importance of teamwork

We cannot avoid interaction with other people even if we would want to. In every aspect of our life, there will be some type of interaction with others, and when we add work to it, we get an environment that could be highly chaotic from time to time.

But achieving anything significant without the right team is impossible. And that leads to the most important thing about teamwork. Working in a team allows us to work with people with different knowledge, experience, and background that we do not possess.

Mr. I can do it all

Imagine that you have to develop a medical product that will be sold in 15 000 pieces a year. It would be practically impossible for one person to do it. Even if possible, it would take 10x more time than for a small team to do it, and the chances for mistakes are much higher.

To develop a product that would be sold in that quantity, you first have to understand what the customers need. So, you have to do market research, talk with prospective customers, specify customer needs, and develop the concepts. Then you have to build the prototypes, get the customer feedback, update the prototypes, get the input again…

Furthermore, you would have to develop mechanical and electrical hardware, write the software, validate and verify it, get the governmental approvals, set up the supply chain, buy the manufacturing equipment, build the fixtures and jigs, and then, in the end, assemble and ship each device yourself.

But wait, there is more!

You have to create user manuals, develop the training if needed, and handle customer complaints, finances, sales, repairs, etc.

Now look at all the aspects of new product development and spread it to different teams.

For example, people who are marketing experts will take part in the communication with customers, the design team will develop the product to meet the customer needs, and manufacturing will take care of producing the product and distribution/installation of it. Each of these teams will be supported by other departments as needed and leverage the experts from finances, sales, legal, repair, etc.

Now imagine a challenge to develop and build a commercial flight airplane.

Wrapping up the importance of teamwork

The above-stated is the main reason why we work in teams and why we must learn how to utilize teamwork. You cannot know everything, and you have to rely on other people to do their job for you to do yours. And they have to rely on you to do your job for them to do their job.

So here are a few bullet points on the importance of teamwork:

Diverse Skillsets: Teamwork allows for a more diverse set of skills and knowledge to be applied to a project. Each team member brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table, which can be leveraged to overcome challenges and find creative solutions.
Improved Efficiency: An effective team can accomplish tasks more efficiently than individuals working alone. With a team, members can divide tasks, share responsibilities, and leverage each other’s expertise to complete projects faster. New product development projects can be resource-intensive, and using resources efficiently is essential. When team members work together, they can identify and eliminate redundancies, streamline processes, and optimize resource utilization. This leads to cost savings and increases the project’s overall efficiency.
Higher Quality Output: When working in a team, members can review each other’s work and provide feedback. Effective teamwork can improve product quality during new product development. When team members work together, they can identify and address potential issues before they become problems. Collaborating on design decisions, testing, and troubleshooting can produce a higher-quality output that meets or exceeds the client’s expectations.
Improved Communication: Effective teamwork requires effective communication. Effective communication is essential during new product development. When team members work together, they can share information, ask questions, and provide feedback. This leads to fewer misunderstandings, more effective problem-solving, and better decision-making.

Team types

As a mechanical design engineer, you could work within different teams depending on the company structure you are working for. Here are some teams that you could work in:

Project teams – mechanical design engineers often work in teams dedicated to completing a specific project or task. Project teams typically have a clear set of objectives, timelines, and deliverables, and members are chosen based on their skills and expertise relevant to the project. Project teams are often temporary and are disbanded once the project is completed.
Cross-functional teams – cross-functional teams bring together members from different functional areas within an organization to work on a specific project or task. For example, mechanical design engineers may work in cross-functional teams with members from marketing, operations, or finance to develop a new product or improve an existing one. Cross-functional teams bring diverse perspectives and expertise to a project, which can lead to more innovative solutions.
Virtual teams – virtual teams are geographically dispersed and use technology to communicate and collaborate. Mechanical design engineers may work in virtual teams with members from different locations, countries, or time zones. Virtual teams can offer flexibility and access to diverse talent pools but require strong communication and collaboration skills.
Research and Development teams – research and development (R&D) teams are focused on developing new products, processes, or technologies. Mechanical design engineers may work in R&D teams to design and develop new products or improve existing ones. R&D teams often have a high degree of creativity and require a deep understanding of the latest technology and industry trends.
Quality improvement teams – quality improvement teams are focused on identifying and addressing quality issues in products or processes. For example, mechanical design engineers may work in quality improvement teams to identify design flaws or improve manufacturing. Quality improvement teams require a strong understanding of quality assurance principles and problem-solving skills.
Continuous improvement teams – continuous improvement teams focus on identifying and implementing process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce waste. For example, mechanical design engineers may work in continuous improvement teams to identify opportunities to streamline design processes or optimize manufacturing processes. Continuous improvement teams require a strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles and data analysis skills.

Remember that it is normal to work in different team types simultaneously.

Characteristics of successful teamwork

Let us look now into what makes successful teamwork:

Clear goals – a successful team needs to clearly understand the project goals, timelines, and milestones. This helps to keep everyone on the same page and working towards the same objectives.
Plan of action – a plan of action provides a framework for coordinating tasks and activities and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goal. It helps prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and allocate resources to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Clearly defined roles – team members should have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. This ensures that everyone knows what is expected of them and can work together more efficiently.
Clear and open communication – communication is critical in any team, and effective communication is even more important in mechanical design engineering. Team members must communicate ideas, feedback, and concerns clearly and concisely. The team should have multiple channels for communication, such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and email. Encourage team members to ask questions, seek clarification, and provide feedback.
Behavioral ground rules – trust and respect are critical elements in building an effective team. Team members must have confidence in each other’s abilities, trust each other’s judgment, and respect each other’s opinions. Building trust and respect requires creating a safe and supportive environment where team members can express their thoughts and ideas without fear of criticism or retribution.
Defined decision process – a clear and structured approach for making decisions within a team is crucial. The “hierarchy” of decision-making should be defined and communicated to the team as early as possible. For activities where decisions need to be made collectively, everyone should have an opportunity to provide input, and the decision should be made objectively and fairly.
Flexibility and adaptability – mechanical design engineering projects can be complex, and unexpected challenges can arise. A successful team must be flexible and adaptable to overcome these challenges and find creative solutions.

Tools for better teamwork

The success of teamwork for mechanical design engineers heavily depends on effective collaboration and communication. Fortunately, there are several tools, methods, and technologies available to facilitate communication and collaboration within teams, including:

Daily or weekly stand-up meetings – short, daily, or weekly stand-up meetings can be used to keep team members informed about project progress, discuss any roadblocks, and provide updates on individual tasks. These meetings can help keep everyone on the same page, ensure everyone is aware of project status, and encourage accountability.
Team building activities – team building activities, such as team outings or workshops, can help to build trust and collaboration within the team. These activities can allow team members to get to know each other better, identify each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and learn to work together more effectively. One of the most effective team-building activities I witnessed included good food and beer.
Brainstorming sessions – brainstorming sessions can be used to generate ideas, solve problems, and encourage creative thinking. These sessions can be conducted in a group setting or individually and can help to create new ideas and approaches to product development.
Project post-mortems – after a project is completed, a project post-mortem can be conducted to review project successes and failures, identify areas for improvement, and capture lessons learned. This process can help to promote continuous improvement, facilitate team learning, and help to prevent future mistakes.
Clear communication guidelines – establishing clear communication guidelines, such as the preferred communication methods, response times, and communication expectations, can help minimize miscommunications, reduce misunderstandings, and ensure everyone is on the same page.
Project management software – project management software can be used to manage and track project progress, assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and monitor project milestones. Project management software allows teams to collaborate and communicate effectively, ensure that everyone is on the same page, and ensure the project stays on track.
Video conferencing tools – video conferencing tools are essential for remote teams to communicate effectively. These tools enable teams to conduct virtual meetings, collaborate in real time, and share ideas, regardless of their physical location.
Cloud storage and file sharing tools – cloud storage and file sharing tools, such as OneDrive, allow team members to store and access files from anywhere and collaborate on documents in real time. These tools are handy for remote teams, enabling members to access and work on files from different locations.
Instant messaging platforms – instant messaging platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, provide teams with a centralized location to communicate and collaborate in real time. These tools allow teams to share information quickly and efficiently, ask questions, and receive instant feedback.
Virtual whiteboarding tools – virtual whiteboarding tools, such as Miro, allow teams to brainstorm, collaborate, and visualize ideas in real-time. These tools enable teams to collaborate visually and share ideas more effectively, regardless of their physical location.
CAD collaboration software – CAD collaboration software, such as Autodesk Fusion 360, allows mechanical design engineers to work collaboratively on CAD models and drawings. These tools enable teams to work on the same CAD model simultaneously, review changes, and provide real-time feedback.

Closing words

Teamwork is an inevitable part of the mechanical design engineering job. Navigating through the challenges of teamwork is not always easy, can be frustrating, and from time to time, disappointing. On the bright side, working with people with diverse knowledge, skills, and experiences can be extremely rewarding. Other people can motivate you and lift you up so that your personal and professional growth is exponential.

If you just found a job and are anxious about what to expect from your team, hopefully, this article was helpful to you.

To make it easier for you to find related posts, check the “Further reading” chapter below. Do you have any questions or need something to be clarified better? Leave the comment below, and I will give my best to adjust the post accordingly.

Do you like what you read? Then, share it with your friends, colleagues, and on your social media channels. And if you want to become a part of the Newtonians, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter!