Communication in Engineering

Communication in mechanical engineering, or any form of engineering is very important. Engineers need to be able to effectively share their ideas and innovations to be able to develop and solve a spectrum of problems that face civilization as a whole. These problems can range from making automobiles more fuel efficient to improving the quality of life for the general public by finding ways to reduce air pollution in industrial settings. Communication is imperative as engineers create and present these solutions to other engineers and to the general public. While most engineering remains technical in nature, it is important to be able to relate to the greater populations so that these engineered solutions are marketable, understandable and practical.

Engineering solutions are generally portrayed by presenting the innovation through technical publications in scientific journals. When the innovations is widely accepted by engineers, it is phased into the general public by presenting commercials and news stories about what the engineered product does and why it is beneficial. For example, a new zero-emission vehicle can be presented in a television commercial to spark interest among people interested in reducing their carbon footprint.

To be the most effective, engineers need to be able to share their ideas with a broad audience. Communicating with other engineers allows room for many technical details, but can sometimes come across as a foreign language to people who do not have similar technical backgrounds. By simplifying what engineers need to say, they can share their solutions with business people to better implement these ideas. The ability to simplify while not losing the gist of the idea is a skill that is important to acquire for all engineers who want to reach beyond the laboratory and more effectively change the world.