Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Residential Technical Engineer????

OK, so, rather than working on technical drawings and engineering matters with Flowserve week-on-week, my role has evolved to become more of a fixer, working in their office one day a week and kicking people’s backsides there (as well as in Aberdeen) accordingly.  It’s certainly interesting seeing their side of the story and their frustrations and I’m not shy in telling people where they are delaying the project (and strangely this does all seem to working) but I’ve effectively promoted myself to consultant rather than getting stuck into the roots of engineering which was the plan.  Far from ideal, but it looks to be opening some mechanical engineering opportunities (and it needs to do so quick!).  These opportunities are currently quite limited, but as follows:

• Working on the Lube Oil System (LOS) skid with WG PSN in Aberdeen – still yet to happen but hopefully get a handover this week.  Good stuff.
• Develop the NDT procedures and ensure they’re in line with BP’s engineering technical practices (ETPs).  OK stuff
• Continue to gain an understanding of the manufacturing processes.  Not-great stuff, but interesting.
• Develop a quality action plan with the BP Technical Authorities (TAs) – something that we “definitely need”, but no-one knows what it looks like (and it still isn’t a definitive A and B competency filling tick, although I’m sure I’ve seen it mentioned in UK SPEC somewhere).  Generic project management stuff.

Meanwhile, I’m still progressing the three TAR jobs that need constant attention to be ready for offshore execute in July – lots of details that no-one thought to mention earlier!  Imran’s starting on the Bruce bearing access platforms (chuckle chuckle) that stagnated with both Ish and I due to lack of interest from BP management.  However, the programme lead (1-up) for these is now Kerry Scott who seems to have a bit more of an inclination to progress the project than her predecessor did, so he should get somewhere…

In a completely different engineering role (but maybe good point-scoring come Review), Imran and I got ourselves “Primary Engineer” qualified at a one-day training event last month so we can now go into schools across the UK to help primary school teachers do some hands-on engineer stuff with kids.  Once this thesis is finished I’m going to find a school and get myself well and truly stuck in.  “Primary school children are the engineers of the future and it’s important to enthuse them at this young age if we’re going to sustain our role as a great engineering nation”.  Having chatted to some of the IMechE honchos at the annual dinner in Glasgow and at a Young Members’ Panel meeting in Aberdeen, they’ll absolutely love that at Review…

And you know when you’ve changed when you’re in the KLM lounge sat opposite the free bar, there’s a taxi in Aberdeen to take you home and you’re doing work.  Hold on a second – how much work can I really get done in 30 minutes…