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& Air Conditioning >
 Consulting
Utilities
Contracting
and Service
Manufacturing
Merchandising
and Sales
Teaching
and Research
Job Titles - Mechanical Systems
Consulting
Consultants
in the PL/HVAC/R industry design systems for new facilities and apply
energy conservation principles in existing facilities. The consulting
engineer prepares specifications and drawings, estimates costs,
supervises the installation of equipment and systems, and approves the
project at completion. Frequently,
they face the special challenges of ensuring environmental health and
safety and designing complex systems for specific industries.
PL/HVAC/R
consulting firms are, for the most part, independent companies, and
their employees generally hold degrees in mechanical, electrical, or
chemical engineering. The consulting engineering firm requires not only
graduate engineers but engineering technicians as well, who serve as
designers and draftspersons.
In
their professional development, consultants must continuously keep
up-to-date to be able to include the latest technologies in their
designs. The ability to use the computer for cost analysis, the
evaluation of alternative systems, and in the design process has become
an extremely important skill as well.
Utilities
Utility
companies are involved in the generating and distribution of energy that
operates heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration
systems. Without this
energy available on a continuous and uninterrupted basis, most systems
could not operate, health would be impaired, and food would spoil. This
industry is responsible for using almost 1/3 of the total energy
consumed in the United States.
Although
the utilities' main function is to provide the energy required by the
public, they also share with the rest of the industry the responsibility
for seeing that this energy is used wisely and without waste.
Engineers and technicians in utility companies provide many
related services including: system design, installation, operation, and
maintenance of physical plant as well as generating equipment,
evaluations of existing systems and buildings, energy use surveys, and
life-cycle cost studies. Advice
is also provided to customers that will assist them with wiser energy
use options.
Contracting
and Service
After
plans and specifications for new or renovated projects are completed,
the PL/HVAC/R contractor provides the skills necessary for assembling,
building, testing, and making operational the various systems.
Contracting companies throughout the industry employ graduate mechanical
and electrical engineers to provide the link between the actual
construction and the design team. Contracting
firms also require the services of draftspeople and other technicians
who will assist in the preparation and assembly of shop drawings,
construction drawings, construction details, estimating, and the actual
supervision and monitoring of the construction process. Engineers and
technicians in the contracting business must have a working knowledge of
the various mechanical systems and their components.
Servicing
and maintaining plumbing, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and
refrigeration systems and equipment are very important functions
provided by companies that often are branches of contracting companies.
Engineers and technicians involved in this work guarantee that
the systems will operate properly to achieve the objectives of the
designer and the user. All
mechanical systems are subject to failure; therefore, technicians that
understand the principles of air conditioning, the laws of
thermodynamics, the principles of controls, and the operation of
PL/HVAC/R equipment represent a vital part of this industry.
Manufacturing
The
manufacturing industry is an important segment of the plumbing, heating,
air conditioning, ventilating, and refrigeration industry since
manufacturers develop and produce the equipment and systems we use and
are the source of many innovations in technology.
Manufacturing companies are of all sizes.
Many have extensive investments in facilities for product
development, testing, and production.
Manufacturers are an important source of technical know-how.
As
the manufacturing process becomes more computer based, those interested
in careers in this segment of the industry will need to understand
computer-controlled production, flexible manufacturing systems, and
robotics. Many careers are
available in PL/HVAC/R manufacturing for engineers, technicians,
draftspersons, and production personnel.
Merchandising
and Sales
An
important link between the equipment manufacturers, the consulting
engineer and the contractor is those in our industry who are involved in
the merchandising and sale of PL/HVAC/R technology.
To be successful in this aspect of the industry requires not only
technical as well as engineering know-how, it requires excellent
communications skills as well.
Engineers
and technicians involved in merchandising and sales provide technical
support that the consulting and contracting industries need to properly
apply the latest technology and systems concepts.
Merchandising
and sales are sometimes completed directly by larger companies with
their own sales force. There are also many independent manufacturer
representatives who offer the smaller manufacturers an opportunity to
present their products to the industry.
Teaching
and Research
Faculty
at colleges and universities, vocational and technical schools develop
and teach the courses, that the engineer and technician will need to
gain the knowledge and skills to succeed in the PL/HVAC/R field.
Many of these faculty have earned advanced degrees in related
areas and have had extensive experience as practitioners, allowing them
to provide students with both a theoretical as well as an applied
understanding.
Research
is also an important role for PL/HVAC/R faculty. They are constantly
engaged in the research necessary to develop new technologies and to
test and improve existing systems.
Much of the emphasis in research today involves using computers
to simulate and model systems to determine optimum efficiency.
Computers also assist in the PL/HVAC/R systems designing process.
Research
also, is conducted in independent laboratories as well as within large
company operated research and development (R&D) departments. In order to benefit from this research, it is vital for
PL/HVAC/R professionals to continue their education throughout their
career.
Technical
publications, seminars, and trade-related conferences provide many
opportunities for keeping your knowledge finely honed.
Businesses and government provide training to their engineers and
technicians. Technical and engineering colleges and universities
throughout the world develop and present extensive continuing education
programs for the PL/HVAC/R industry as well.
Job
Titles -- Mechanical Systems'
Manager
Engineer
Engineering
Assistant
Draftsperson
Application
Engineer
Sales
and Merchandisers
Estimator
Supervisor
Foreman
Controls
Technician
Pipefitter
Technician / Mechanic
Plumber
Technician / Mechanic
Manufacturing
Assembler
Installer
Consultant
-- Commissioning
Attendant
/ Operator
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