This document discusses industry expectations for entry-level engineers and steps for improvement. It notes that most new engineers require 8-12 months of additional training to be productive. It recommends developing core employability skills like communication, integrity, and willingness to learn during university. Industry expects professional skills like applying math/science, problem-solving, and customer service. Universities should focus more on "doing" through workshops, competitions, and industry projects to help students gain real-world experience and transition from classroom to workplace.

1. Entry Level Engineers
Industry Expectations and
Improvement Steps
Abhilash Gopalakrishnan
Principal Engineer,
ABB Global Industries & Services Ltd, Bangalore.
January 9, 2015
at
Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology
Student Talent Enhancement Program (STEP)

2. Topics
• Significance of Skill Development
• Industry Expectations
• A sneak peak into future teams
• Complexity in Systems Building
• Doing Workshops

3. Skill Gap
Most entry level engineers need to go through 8
months to 1 year training program to be productive.
RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
MANUFACTURING
SHOPFLOOR
SERVICES
How can be bridge this gap during the time spent at University?

4. Need for Speed!
Reaping Demographic Dividend!
Engineer of 2020 needs more than formal
education!
2020
2040
69% Indians would be in
working age!
Product Lifecycle duration
reduction in consumer
electronics is an indicator!

5. Vision of Engineer 2020
• Every 10 years scientific
knowledge doubles!
• Product Life Cycles
shortened and each new
version need to be less
expensive than
previous!
• Not all foundations are
fixed, disruptive
technologies require
new toolbox to be used!
• Built on foundation of
science and
mathematics.
• Professional with
Technical Knowledge
• Understanding of
Humanities, Social
Sciences and
Economics significant
Engineering is about Problem recognition, Formulation & Solution.
Leadership
Skills
Life Long
Learner

6. Transition from Classroom
Now you earn a Salary!
CLASS ROOM CUBICLE
COURSE
SELECTION
PROJECTS & ASSIGNMENTS
SEMESTERS & BRANCHES
FULL YEAR WORK
CUSTOMER

7. Industry Expectations
Communication Skills
Professional Skills
Core Employability Skills

8. Core Employability Skills
• INTEGRITY
• RELIABILITY
• TEAM WORK
• WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP
• SELF DISCIPLINE
• SELF MOTIVATED
Based on Values and Team Work, Ability to Learn and Improve!

10. Professional Skills
• USE OF MODERN TOOLS
• APPLY MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE
• KNOWLEDGE
• CREATIVITY
• PROBLEM SOLVING
• SYSTEM DESIGN TO NEEDS
• CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
CUSTOMER
End Customer has a significant say in any business!

11. Communication Skills
• COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH
• WRITTEN,READING, TECHNICAL SKILLS
• COMPUTER EXPERIENCE or DATA ANALYSIS
• VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Write -> Sketch -> Produce!

13. Skills and Order
CREATING
EVALUATION
ANALYZING
APPLYING
UNDERSTANDING
REMEMBERI
NG
HIGHER
ORDER
LOWER
ORDER

14. A sneak peak into future teams
Specialist
Leader
Specialist
Specialist
Specialist
Specialist
“If the only tool you have is a
hammer, you tend to treat
everything as if it were a nail.”
COMMANDOS
Arm yourself with multiple Skills!

15. “The three points to success are Concept,
Capability and Culture”
Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft

16. First Steps on Joining
• Make a Great First Impression by being
positive, realistic and build a
reputation.
• Learn Company Culture.
• Understand you are a new Hire.
• Get to Know People by meeting co
workers, bosses and Find a Mentor.
• Master jour Job.
Master Your Job, Find a Mentor!

17. Complexity in Systems Building
POWER OR ENERGY
(ELECTRICAL/DOMAIN)
DECISION MAKING (ELECTRONICS,
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
CONNECTED (COMMUNICATION)
Example like a Smart City

18. From Smart City Guidelines
ENERGY
TRANSPORTATION
WATER
MANAGEMENT

19. Practice, Practice, Practice
• The existing EcoSystem – Center of Excellence
– Center for Design and Analysis and Testing
– Altair Center for Excellence - Automotive
– Agilent Technologies Centre for Multipurpose lab station
– Microsoft Innovation Center
• Encourage an Entrepreneurship Environment
– Supported by Engineering Clinic Workshops – People get to
doing.
– Participation in Hackathons across India.
– More Seminars and Conferences with Industry
Participation.
– Promote Internships and Industry Collaboration Projects
Moving from ‘Teaching’ to ‘Doing’!

20. Doing Workshops
• Conduct Internal
workshops
• Participate in
external competition
like Intel’s
Environmental Air Quality
Monitor
Build Your Own
Smartphone

21. References
• The National Academies Press- “The Engineer of 2020: Visions of
Engineering in the New Century” 2004.
• Lawrence J. Kamm “Real-World Engineering: A Guide to Achieving Career
Success”, 1991
• Abby Vogel, “Launching Your Career: How to Make the Transition from the
Classroom to the Office”, IEEE Press
• National Academy of Engineering; AMD NextGen Engineer "Infusing Real
World Experiences into Engineering Education“, 2012
• The India Skills Report 2014 CII
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Reports 2013 -Human
Resource and Skill Requirements in the Telecommunication Sector,
Electronics and IT Hardware Sector.
• APJ Abdul Kalam, Srijan Pal Singh, “Advantage India – From Challenge to
Opportunity”.
• Rajiv Dharaskar “Technology-Storms Redefining World Class Universities”.
• Smart City – Mission Statement and Guidelines.

22. Universities worldwide
• Projects with Industry and Building Industry
Use -West Virginia University
• EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community
Service) Program – Purdue University
• Project-Centered Education in Mechanical
Engineering -University of Texas at Austin
• IEEE Real World Engineering Projects : Link
• Games and Simulation Technologies: Pace of
Learning