Competence and Commitment of Incorporated Engineers

NOTE:  In this document, the ‘task’ can be  ‘to develop’, ‘’to produce’, ‘to install’, ‘to maintain’, ‘to construct’, ‘to commission’, ‘to operate’ (etc)

Incorporated Engineers must therefore be competent, by virtue of their initial formation and throughout their working life, to:

A.              Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to apply existing and emerging technology.  This includes an ability to:

A1.     maintain a sound theoretical approach to the application of technology in engineering practice.  The Incorporated Engineer:

A1.1    identifies limits of personal knowledge, understanding and skills, and strives to maintain currency in new applications by accessing and exploiting relevant sources.

A1.2    broadens knowledge base through the internet, the media, journals, attendance at professional seminars and networking.

A1.3    deepens knowledge base systematically, by focussing on the understanding of new applications and techniques.

A2.     use appropriate scientific and engineering principles.  The Incorporated Engineer:

A2.1    interprets and analyses the requirements of clients, based on engineering principles and know-how, for the provision of engineering products, systems and services;

A2.2    plans, monitors and evaluates the operation of engineering plant, fleets, projects and systems, against expectations of best practice and based on appropriate engineering principles and know-how;

A2.3    applies scientific and engineering principles and know-how to the provision of engineering advice and professional opinion.

A3.     use a sound evidence-based approach to problem solving and quality enhancement.   The Incorporated Engineer:

A3.1    reviews current methods and operations, to arrive at a valid diagnosis of faults and explanation of problems;

A3.2    uses market intelligence and knowledge of technological developments to improve the effectiveness of engineering products, services and systems;

A3.3    uses evidence from best practice to improve the effectiveness, reliability, maintainability and economy of engineering products, systems and services;

A3.4    evaluates and develops quality management systems.

B.              Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to design, develop, manufacture, construct, commission, operate and maintain products, equipment, processes, systems and services.  In this context, this includes an ability to:

B1      develop, review and select techniques, procedures and methods to under-take engineering tasks.  The Incorporated Engineer:

B1.1    develops a review methodology.

B1.2    reviews the potential for enhancement of engineering products, processes, systems and services.

B1.3    establishes an action plan to implement the results of the review.

B2.       contributes to design and development.  The Incorporated Engineer:

B2.1    contributes to the determination of  design and development requirements for engineering products, processes, systems and services.

B2.2    contributes to the specification of implementation methods and procedures to achieve design requirements.

B2.3    obtains the resources required for implementation.

B2.4    schedules activities to implement the production of engineering products, processes, systems and services.

B3      identify problems, evaluate options and formulate solutions; taking cost, benefits, safety, quality, reliability, appearance and environmental impact into account. The Incorporated Engineer:

B3.1    identifies problems and evaluates possible engineering solutions

to meet clients’ needs.

B3.2    formulates effective engineering solutions that meet all relevant criteria.

B3.3    evaluates the chosen engineering process.

B4      determine evaluation criteria and monitor and assess operations against these criteria.  The Incorporated Engineer:

B4.1    determines the task requirements of engineering products, processes, systems and services.

B4.2    resolves task problems with engineering solutions.

B4.3    monitors the task processes.

B4.4    evaluates the task processes.

C.              Provide technical and managerial leadership.  This includes the ability to:

C1    plan, implement and co-ordinate activities against objectives.  The Incorporated Engineer:

C1.1    develops objectives for projects to meet clients’ requirements.

C1.2    plans the delivery of tasks to complete a project.

C1.3    obtains the resources required to achieve project objectives.

C1.4    specifies and co-ordinates the engineering activities required to achieve project objectives.

C2    assist in the preparation and control of budgets, and operate within the financial and commercial constraints of an organisation and the overall statutory framework.  The Incorporated Engineer:

C2.1    sets and implements work objectives and priorities, including time, resource and cost estimates.

C2.2    manages tasks within identified financial, commercial and regulatory constraints.

C2.3    monitors and evaluates tasks to ensure that they are performed within financial, commercial and regulatory constraints.

C3    use people management skills and provide leadership in the working environment, supporting and developing team members and managing work groups and projects.  The Incorporated Engineer:

C3.1    develops and improves teams through planning and activities.

C3.2.   identifies, reviews and improves development activities for individuals.

C3.3    sets and updates work objectives for teams and individuals.

C3.4    plans activities and determines work methods to achieve objectives.

C4     Manage continuous improvement processes. The Incorporated Engineer:

C4.1    promotes quality throughout the organisation and its customer and supplier networks.

C4.2    develops and maintains operations to meet quality standards.

C4.3    works to appropriate quality standards and contributes to the evaluation of proposed changes to services, products and systems.

C4.4    implements and evaluates changes to services, products and systems.

D.              Utilise effective communications and interpersonal skills.  This includes an ability to:

D1      work and communicate with others at all levels.  The Incorporated Engineer:

D1.1    establishes and maintains effective relationships with colleagues.

D1.2    establishes and maintains effective relationships with clients.

D1.3    advises and informs others.

D1.4    responds effectively and efficiently to all received communications.

D2         effectively present and discuss ideas and plans.  The Incorporated Engineer:

D2.1    clarifies objectives, identifies main purpose and selects appropriate medium for communications.

D2.2    prepares reports and publishes papers at a professional level.

D2.3    selects appropriate methods of communication using words, images, audio and visual, as appropriate.

D2.4    communicates fluently in written and oral expression at an experienced professional standard.

D3         build teams and negotiate.  The Incorporated Engineer:

D3.1    identifies collective goals and responsibilities.

D3.2    works towards effective goals.

D3.3    creates, maintains and develops effective working relationships to enhance performance.

D3.4    issues clear and accurate instructions, as appropriate.

D3.5    undertakes negotiation, conflict resolution and counselling.

E.               Make a personal commitment to live by the appropriate code of professional conduct, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment.  In order to satisfy this commitment, they must:

E1      comply with the Codes and Rules of Conduct.  The Incorporated Engineer:

E1.1     places responsibility for the welfare, health and safety of the workforce and wider community at all times before responsibility to the profession, sectional interests, or other engineers.

E1.2     complies with Codes of Conduct.

E1.3     applies professional skill in the interests of employer or client, for whom he/she acts in professional matters as a faithful agent or trustee.

E1.4     gives evidence, expresses opinions or makes statements in an objective and truthful manner and on a basis of adequate knowledge.

E2      manage and apply safe systems of work.   The Incorporated Engineer:

E2.1     takes account of professional risks and liabilities, and accepts responsibility for them.

E2.2     implements appropriate occupational health and safety requirements.

E2.3     investigates community safety requirements and acts to solve any incipient safety problems.

E2.4     takes appropriate precautions when dealing with hazardous operations.

E2.5     takes account of disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery methods.

E3      undertake their engineering work in compliance with the Codes of Practice on Risk and the Environment.  The Incorporated Engineer:

E3.1     takes a systematic, balance, disciplined and comprehensive approach to risk and environmental issues.

E3.2     promotes the wise use of non-renewable resources through waste minimisation, recycling and the development of alternatives wherever possible.

E3.3     strives to achieve the beneficial objectives of engineering work with the lowest possible consumption of raw materials and energy, and by adopting sustainable development practices, having due regard to risk issues.

E3.4     takes account of total life-cycle implications of products and projects in relation to risk and the environment.                     

E4      carry out the continuing professional development necessary to ensure competence in areas and at level of future intended practice. The Incorporated Engineer:

E4.1     undertakes professional development to enhance technical and management competence.

E4.2     sets goals to achieve personal and organisational objectives

E4.3     prepares and maintains a career action plan.

E4.4     maintains records of professional development activities.