Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd.

Global Conference of

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Future of Mechanical Engineering

Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
17 April, 2008

GK Pillai
Chairman cum Managing Director
1
Heavy Engineering Corpn. Ltd. Ranchi, India
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd.,

History
&
Background 2
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering- Introduction

¾ Mechanical engineering involves application of

principles of physics for analysis, design,
manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical
systems
¾ Concept of mechanical engineering in existence
since ancient times.
¾ Mechanical engineering has driven the advance
of civilization

3
 Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Contribution of Mech. Engg. –Ancient Times

¾ Potter’s wheel
¾ Wedge, lever, pulley
¾ Wheeled carriage
¾ River boats
¾ Screw
¾ Ratchet
¾ Water wheel
4
 Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Contribution of Mech. Engg. –Medieval Times
¾ Wheel barrow
¾ Rotary fan
¾ Endless power transmitting chain drive
¾ Mechanical clock
¾ Stern post rudder

5
 Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Contribution of Mech. Engg. –18th&19th Century
¾ Steam engine
¾ Railway engine
¾ I.C. engine powered automobile
¾ Steam boat
¾ Modern bicycle
¾ Screw cutting & other machine tools
¾ Machinery for mass production of goods
¾ Concept of codes & standards
6
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Formalization of Mechanical
Engineering Profession
¾ Formation of the first professional society
of mechanical engineers in Britain in
1847
¾ Formation of the first professional society
of mechanical engineers in the US in
1880
¾ United States Military Academy- the first
school in US to offer engineering
education
7
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering-
Significant Developments in the 20th Century
¾ Automobile
¾ Airplane
¾ Agricultural Mechanization
¾ Air-conditioning & Refrigeration
¾ Spacecraft
¾ Household appliances

8
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Some Engineering Developments in
the 20th Century that have influenced
mechanical engineering
¾ Radio & Television
¾ Computers
¾ Telephone
¾ Nuclear Technologies
¾ High Performance Materials

9
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd.,

Challenges
Ahead
10
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering-Challenges Ahead

¾ Depleting natural resources which are
finite
¾ Pollution control
¾ Global warming
¾ Shortage of water
¾ Improving quality of life
¾ Enhancing the joys of living
¾ Sustaining civilization’s continuing
advancement inspite of population
growth 11
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering for the
Developing World
¾ Collective responsibility to improve lives of
people around the world
¾ Understanding the problems of the
developing countries
¾ Encourage research & development in
appropriate technology for the developing
countries
¾ Mechanical engineers must contribute to
the relief of people trying to survive day by
day 12
 Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Appropriate Technology- Initiatives in India
¾ National Research & Development
Corporation (NRDC) was set up in 1953 to
develop technologies suitable for local needs
¾ Central Mechanical Engineering Research
Institute was set up in 1958 with the specific
task of development of mechanical
engineering technology

13
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Heavy Engineering Corporation-
Indias Initiative
With the initiative of First Prime Minister of India
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd. was set up
in the year 1958 primarily to facilitate
manufacturing of Heavy Mechanical Engineering
items so that the country is able to enhance its
capability in the production of these items for the
core sector.

HEC builds Machines that build the nation

14
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd
™ Incorporated on 31.12.1958 as Govt. undertaking
under administrative Control of Ministry of
Industries, Government of India.
™ An integrated Mechanical Engineering Complex
having Melting, Casting, Forging, Machining and
Fabrication facilities all located at one place.
¾ Heavy Machine Building Plant (HMBP)
¾ Foundry Forge Plant (FFP)
¾ Heavy Machine Tools Plant (HMTP)
15
¾ Projects & Consultancy division
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd.,

Year2028
How does it
look?
16
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineers in 2028
¾ More than just competent or admirable
technicians
¾ Capable of being leaders in business & public
service
¾ More educated about other fields like
computers, electronics, bio-technology, nano-
technology, nature science etc.
¾ Ability to accommodate innovative
developments from non-mechanical
engineering fields 17
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineers in 2028
¾ A mechanical engineer with a only graduate
degree will be considered semi-literate or merely
a technician
¾ He will not be a nuts & bolts engineer
¾ He need be much more specialized than now –
something like the super specialization in the
medical field
¾ Major paradigm shift from control of nature to
participation with nature
18
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineers in 2028
¾ Role in developing technologies for
extracting resources from new sources
¾ Role in scaling up the use of alternative
energy sources
¾ Role in development of nano-technology
for use in conventional mechanical areas

19
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Opportunities for Mechanical
Engineers in 2028
¾ Convergence of technologies of diverse fields
ranging from computers to biology and nature
¾ Computers and software in the fields of CAD, CAE,
FEA, CFD & CAM and many more which will be
developed in the next 20 years
¾ Artificial intelligence & development of Robotics
¾ Opportunity to develop mass production processes
for nano-technology & bio-technology products

20
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Opportunities for Mechanical
Engineers in 2028
¾ Inspiration from nature’s creations and natural
processes, as scientists have done, and apply
them to improve the mechanical engineering
systems and processes
¾ Collaborative technology similar to Wikis and
Virtual Worlds and open source technology
similar to Linux

21
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Fields of innovation for
Mechanical Engineers in 2028
¾ energy conservation
¾ resource protection
¾ waste management
¾ artificial intelligence & robotics
¾ sustainable development
¾ reducing pollution and hazards to environment
¾ alternative technology for conserving/
replacing depletable resources

22
Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd.,

Conclusion

23
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Conclusion
¾ the possibilities are mind boggling
¾ ingenuity of the human mind should not
be underestimated
¾ it is only limited by man’s imagination
¾ Mechanical engineering will still
maintain the leadership of the
engineering profession by meeting the
challenges of the 21st century

24
25
Grand Challenges & Great Contributions
for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and Society

¾ Mechanical engineering ethics like

that in medical profession
¾ Corporate & social responsibility
¾ Development of engineering capacity
in less developed countries

26
Global Summit on Future
of Mechanical
Engineering 27
 Grand Challenges &
Great Contributions for
Mechanical Engineering
04-17-2008 28
 Global Summit on Future of
Mechanical Engineering
Grand Challenges &
Great Contributions for
Mechanical Engineering
17th April 2008 29