From Continuous/Batch Systems to Discrete Systems - difficult?

[digitalcaptive]

Hi,

I'm a fairly young engineer and have been working for about 5 years in the Industrial Automation industry, much of experience has been in creating controls and MES applications for Continious/Batching systems.

But last year I switched over to another dept and I've been working on a project that involves a fair number of robotic tools for what amounts to a major construction project, and I'm finding the transition very difficult for a number of reasons:

1) I joined the project after nearly all of the tools had been developed so I missed a lot of the learning curve involved, and was put in a position to provide support on the monitoring systems

2) I have a hard time understanding mechanical systems, especially of the complex variety, as I have more of a conceptual/flow oriented understanding of processes

I'm wondering if anybody has been through a similar transition and if they could share any thoughts about how they did it?

 

[djs]

Sounds to me as if you were thrown into the breech: Some one left, and they dropped you into his place. Coming into the middle of a project is always very difficult. It takes time to get up to speed, and everyone around you is going full speed ahead. Not nice.

 

[controlnovice]

How to transition into a position to provide support, when you don't know/still learning the system?

For me, it takes time. That means working longer hours to learn the system (usually coming in to work before everyone else, study the system, get your 'normal' work done during the 'normal' 8 hour day, and stay after 'normal' hours to study the system/documentation more).

And ask, ask, ask.

This phrase always helps, "Can you help me understand...."

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This is normally the space where people post something insightful.

 

[emmgonzalez]

I agree with controlnovice.

There are many resources around you. The only thing you need to do is ask them and read magazines, texts, and even the manuals of the systems you're currently handling.

That is why eng-tips is here....to help you =) You're just one text message away.