Biosystems Engineering at Oklahoma State University

More Engineering Phrases Interpreted

(7/2/99)
 Biosystems Home Afterhours


Here are some more definitions of engineer's speak.
1. Major Technological Breakthrough
- Back to the drawing board.

2. Developed after years of intensive research
- It was discovered by accident.

3. Project slightly behind original schedule due to unforeseen difficulties
- We are working on something else.

4. The designs are well within allowable limits
- We just made it, stretching a point or two.

5. Customer satisfaction is believed assured
- We are so far behind schedule that the customer was happy to get anything at all from us.

6. Close project coordination
- We should have asked someone else; or, let's spread the responsibility for this.

7. The design will be finalized in the next reporting period
- We haven't started this job yet, but we've got to say something.

8. A number of different approaches are being tried
- We don't know where we're going, but we're moving.

9. Test results were extremely gratifying
- It works, and are we surprised!

10. Extensive effort is being applied on a fresh approach to the problem

- We just hired three new guys; we'll let them kick it around for a while.

11. Preliminary operational tests are inconclusive
- The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch.

12. The entire concept will have to be abandoned
- The only guy who understood the thing quit.

13. Modifications are underway to correct certain minor difficulties
- We threw the whole thing out and are starting from scratch.