Virtual design environments and collaborative work structures are exerting a strong positive influence on the engineering profession, according to the 2007-2008 annual report of ASME.

The recently issued report also says the urgency to preserve the global environment, improve health conditions worldwide, and develop sustainable energy sources will create opportunities for engineers to serve humanity and make a lasting impact on future generations.

In summarizing the social and business issues and trends that are bringing change as well as opportunity to the engineering profession, the 2007-2008 ASME annual report cited the contribution of virtual design to speed and efficiency throughout the product development process.

Collaborative work environments and partnerships, says the report, also are playing a strong role in the profession, enabling efficiencies in such areas as sales forecasting and just-in-time manufacturing. ASME said, “In industries from healthcare and telecommunications to automotive and aerospace, success today is based on the ability of business partners to collaborate successfully by sharing resources and jointly developing new products and services.”

For engineers, continues the report, the collaborative enterprise will create exciting opportunities to innovate and contribute value to organizational goals.

Engineers also must embrace the environmental mandate, according to the annual report, and “develop solutions that foster a cleaner, healthier, safer and sustainable world.” Opportunities exist in water management, environmental remediation, food production, and other areas focused on meeting the needs of people and improving the quality of life around the world. “Engineers must become the facilitators of sustainable development,” says the report, borrowing a quote from Bernard Amadei, Ph.D., the founding president of the humanitarian group Engineers Without Borders-USA.

The ASME annual report is available online at  http://www.asme.org/about/Annual_Reports_from.cfm.

— John Varrasi