The Difference between Technicians and Engineers.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:07 pm

Here you are . a thread specifically on the subject.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:09 pm

Well - I'm an Engineer, University Degree to prove it! But - in all my career in Engineering, I don't think I used any of the guff they 'taught' me at University.

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:16 pm

is there a difference then

except snobbery

could have opened a can of worms here

Post by **Dean** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:16 pm

Most engineers where I work are called Technical Specialists now as the word engineer and it's ranking have been watered down somewhat.

Apparently you aren't an engineer until you have a degree over in places like Germany. Unfortunately any old Tom Dick or Harry that holds a screwdriver or a spanner can use it over here.

Welcome to the club Bmc, mines a strong 2:1 Manufacturing Management degree..... hard work too doing it and holding down a full time job at the same time!!

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:22 pm

could have opened a can of worms here

Oh I do hope so

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:24 pm

ditto

jobsworth as well

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:37 pm

engineers blue overalls

technicians white coats

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:39 pm

Well - thank goodness mine are all blue - except my Railway Hi-viz orange ones of course!

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:40 pm

Well I have just found this definition

Engineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems, by applying mathematics and scientific knowledge

and

A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field,

and also

Engineering technicians solve technical problems. Some help engineers and scientists do research and development.

So where on earth does that leave me as when I was in toolmaking I was always called an engineer

and wore a white coat........

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:42 pm

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:46 pm

No no - toolmakers are just fitters!!! And they wear brown coats!

Only joking! I have great respect for Toolmakers and the work they can do!! Infinite patience in my experience - whereas I am the most impatient person on earth!

Post by **Judge** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:47 pm

Kevin wrote:... and wore a white coat........

Did it have long sleeves that did up behind your back

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:52 pm

and then they all went to the funny farm

i am a joiner who can do carpentry work as well and i still am, well i was this morning

but also joiners now are computer literate and work cnc machines, but machinists work the older machines and the new machinists work the cnc

but the new breed of cnc joners and machinists come to me for the pracatical skills , which are the old ways, to programme the computer to work the cnc

oh boy gonna lay down got a head ache

Post by **alzax3** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:58 pm

Well I did pattern making/general fabrication and tool making (mostly oily blue overalls) before getting a mechanical engineering degree in later life. So I guess if I could dredge up the maths I could prove why the bit of material I've selected will be strong enough for the job. The youngsters going through the course were generally mechanically clueless - like the one that took firm hold of a spinning milling cutter during a 'workshop experience' week to 'see what it felt like' (painful and bloody I should imagine). It's just a guess, but the German trained engineers (who get an extra two years at degree level) are probably rather better than ours

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:20 pm

Did it have long sleeves that did up behind your back

Well maybe they did where you did your your training but I thought that only applied to those that dealt with Warentee problems as they always had extra excuses hidden up their sleeves

and didnt want to mention it in polite company.

Post by **Sidney'61** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:41 pm

Now this is a very interesting topic as I'm just about to apply to do a mechanical engineering degree course next year

Fun times

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:47 pm

Hi Andy I think the important thing is to make sure you have the right sort of coat or even a range of different ones

Post by **Sidney'61** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:52 pm

Kevin wrote:Hi Andy I think the important thing is to make sure you have the right sort of coat or even a range of different ones

Hmmm, theres a thought, the overalls I usually wear at the moment are my grandads olds ones which are brown

I shall have to find some new ones!

Post by **PSL184** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:01 pm

Hmmm, yes. Brown overalls means you are a pattern maker or tool setter. Green is for maintanence, blue for engineers or apprentices and white for the foreman who stands and watches

Thats how it was when I served my time anyways

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:16 pm

Sidney 61 - run away now - get a decent job NOT in engineering!
Although it's interesting work - there is very poor job security and relatively low pay! Most of my skool mates ended up in boring jobs - but better paid and more secure than I ever was throughout my career. Only exception I would say is Civil Engineering - perhaps with the Railways - they seem to be secure and well paid, although they have to work odd hours of course.