“Knowledge is power” – Sir Francis Bacon. Engineering knowledge can take many different forms. It can be knowledge of why a design or equipment acts as it does, a common …
Inspiration and Talent
Sometimes a significant amount of up-front engineering is required to get to a simple solution. Sometimes the solution is beautiful in itself, such as the safe completion of an automotive …
Understanding Machines
One of the most powerful instruments for engineering is a fundamental scientific understanding of the phenomena behind the operation of a machine. Knowing how something really works allows us to …
Champions of Sustainability
Engineers have an influential position within society for championing sustainability. In some cases this means reusing materials, but it may also mean designing a device so that it is suitable …
Simon Fraser University Invites Martin Fandrich as Guest Lecturer
The experience of Bannerman Consultants in formal risk assessment and safety engineering is the impetus for two lectures in Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University. Martin Fandrich, PhD, PEng, of Bannerman Consultants will teach approaches for designing for technical risk…
Talent a Top Issue for Fast 50 Companies
Deloitte has announced that 2/3 of its Fast 50 companies listed talent as their first or second most significant issue. External resources, such as those provided by Bannerman Consultants…
What Makes Design Successful?
What makes an engineering design successful? It isn’t just solving technical challenges. The device needs to serve the end user. Subaru designed a simple car that met the needs of …
Outside the Box
Mostly, this newsletter is about thinking outside the box. In particular, it is about testing assumptions, e.g. that standards will give efficient results or that electric cars produce no emissions. …
The Little Details
Mechanical engineering development projects can be difficult beasts. Whether the concept is straightforward or unintuitive, the difficulty is in the details. Successful projects marry a fundamental theoretical understanding with lessons …
Trust Your Gut
Human factors are important in successful engineering; more than just scientific skills are necessary. Although a mathematical model of knots can lead to innovative new applications, the model needs to …
Jib Arm Project Featured in Innovation Magazine
A motion picture camera jib arm developed by Zedarm Cinema Products with engineering by Bannerman Consultants has been highlighted by the Professional Engineers of BC. The novel, professional-grade jib arm provides…
New Innovations
Some breakthroughs, like the elimination of oil changes in an engine, come from continual improvement. Other ideas are entirely new – like generating electricity from air flows inside a building …