Engineers: Prove your worth

Not only does the automation engineer need to do his own job, but he needs to do the chief executive's job, too. Or so it seems, said Invensys’ Peter Martin, vice president performance management during the Foxboro User Group meeting in Boston Monday.
You’re an engineer. You make sure the automation and control systems run on time, the product goes out the door, so that the money comes in the door. That’s not enough anymore.
You have to make sure the CEO, the COO, and the CFO know that you are something besides a number on the expense side of the balance sheet.
Executives used to be able to figure this out on their own, Martin said.
“Executives are facing tremendous difficulties. Difficulties flow down hill, so you’re in trouble,” Martin said. “Twenty-six percent of CEOs are fired in their first year. They have very little time to prove their worth.” In most cases, the CEOs need to improve the company’s margin now.
One of Invensys/Foxboro’s primary business directions is toward service and information technology tools that enable deep vision into manufacturing costs. Dashboard technologies and key performance indicators are examples of such information.
“Realize your worth,” Martin said, “you provide more value to your organization than you know.”
Martin encourages engineers to take the skills they apply to control loops, plant floor engineering, and supply chains and use them in measuring business performance, asset performance, and enterprise success.
“Don’t be relegated to the cost side of the sheet. Show your benefit line, too,” Martin advised.
‑ Nicholas Sheble