The use of modern pipe systems is often determined by the knowledge and experience of the design engineering office. egeplast Managing Director Dr. Ansgar Strumann therefore spoke with Dr. Heinrich Bökamp, President of the German Federal Chamber of Design Engineers and owner and managing director of Thomas & Bökamp Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH in Münster, about the future challenges for design engineering offices.
EXPERT INTERVIEW Future in the Design Engineering Office:
Dr. Ansgar Strumann: What are the main challenges for an engineering office today?
Dr. Heinrich Bökamp: One of the biggest challenges is the recruitment of young engineers. Already in schools, the STEM subjects often play only a minor role, so that curiosity for an engineering degree is not sufficiently stimulated. Consequently, far too few young people start an engineering or, specifically, a civil engineering degree. For every civil engineering graduate in Germany, there are currently statistically seven vacant positions.
How does your design engineering office manage to attract young talent despite this?
For graduates, diverse tasks, an open corporate culture, and an attractive working environment are of primary importance. The professional development of young engineers at Thomas & Bökamp is very intensive during the first two years of their career, through planning tasks carried out together with experienced colleagues. Staff shortages are not only a phenomenon in offices but are also found in the public administrations of municipalities and districts. The struggle for the few engineers will accompany all employers equally in the coming years and will require a willingness to cooperate in one way or another.
© Andre Fister
© Andre Fister
Has the working method of an engineering office also changed significantly compared to 10 or 20 years ago? What is important today?
The range of tasks has become significantly larger. With our approximately 100 employees, we can draw on a broadly positioned team. The increasing desire to bring several disciplines to the market in a larger award process requires a highly capable workforce broadly positioned across all disciplines. Every topic calls for its specialist. In particular, the topic of awarding contracts today requires significantly more extensive knowledge, both technical and legal. A large part of the tasks to be awarded is now brought to the market via special award platforms, the successful use of which also requires a certain degree of practice. At its core, however, our task in planning, design, and construction supervision has remained unchanged. Clients expect engineering offices to provide error-free, approvable planning and ultimately an execution that ensures safe operation of the structures during their intended service life.
And what is the recipe for your company’s successful development?
Successful engineering offices need a broad network in municipalities, construction companies, and suppliers, as well as among colleagues. Everyone expects the best possible solution, as promised. The executing companies often provide their wealth of experience and give us information on the reliability and safety, indeed the suitability, of previously tendered products. Based on these experiences with our partners, we can evaluate and continuously improve our performance in tendering and awarding. Successful project realization in construction thrives on teamwork and trusting cooperation among all stakeholders. The common goal must be an economical and functional implementation of the planning on site. The action happens on the construction site.
What support do your employees then expect from a supplier, e.g., a pipe supplier?
In their planning, our employees rely on characteristic data and guidelines for the various products or manufacturers. Good past experience with the products is essential for material selection, as reliability is a high priority in infrastructure projects. There is no “right of exchange”; the first attempt must succeed. Regular communication between the specialist on the manufacturer’s side and the Design Engineer is also of great importance. Here too, reliability comes first. For queries, telephone accessibility or a short-term video exchange with the supplier’s technical specialists must be available.
Much is discussed about BIM today. What role does BIM now play in planning?
BIM (Building Information Modeling) stands for networked planning of all stakeholders in the construction sector in the age of digitalization. BIM offers the opportunity to collaborate on a common model. A valuable component is the ability for all project participants to have the same level of knowledge at all times. Building with BIM has a future.
However, we are still some way from continuous planning with BIM in some areas today. Currently, in many areas, planning is not yet consistently done with BIM; instead, the result is more or less subsequently consolidated into a model.
However, individual stakeholders, especially on the execution side, are already consistently and successfully using BIM today. The use and further development of the BIM method depend heavily on the motivation and performance of the so-called BIM Manager. He is responsible for being the “good soul” in the process to be initiated.
Currently, especially on construction sites, the desire for printed planning documents is still very widespread; a change here can only be expected after the appropriate dissemination of construction site-suitable electronic aids such as laptops and iPads.
