The world this week: business
Samsung reported another excellent set of quarterly results. Net profits rise by 82% to 5.1tr Korean won. The strong performance was driven mostly by smartphones.
The Economist, 5th May 2012, p.8.
Top technologies to watch
Part of a section on advanced manufacturing and materials, 10 technologies that show high promise are covered, including additive manufacturing, laser ultrasound, friction welding, automating composites, 50,000 ton press, composite isogrids, nano composites, robotic assembly, titanium machining and laser processing.
Aviation Week and Space Technology, 7th May 2012, p.48-52.
'Big data' - the bigger picture
According to IBM 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone. This data comes from sources such as sensors used to gather climate information, posts to social media sites, digital pictures and videos, purchase transaction records, and cell phone GPS signals to name a few. These huge data sets are termed 'big data'. As the amount of data continues to grow exponentially it poses both challenge and opportunity: how to manage, analyse and make use of all this data as it is generated. A recent report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which investigated how UK organisations can unlock the economic value of big data through the adoption of big data analytics, suggests that it could add £216bn to the UK economy by 2017 and create 58,000 jobs. Cambridge based Intergence believes visualisation can be a key tool in making full use of big data, helping users explore and communicate the data through graphic representations and by doing so, profit from it.
www.dpaonthenet.net. 1 May 2012. http://tinyurl.com/ccyn25v
Science and Technology Committee publishes report on engineering in government
A new report from the parliamentary Science and Technology Committee - Engineering in government - says that the civil service has made progress in recognising the importance of engineering. However MPs remain concerned that few examples of good practice were highlighted across government departments. The Committee commends the work of the professional engineering community and of the current Government Chief Scientific Adviser in raising the profile of engineering advice. However, the report reiterates previous recommendations that there should be a Government Chief Scientific and Engineering Adviser overseeing a Government Chief Scientist, Government Chief Engineer and a Government Chief Social Scientist.
www.dpaonthenet.net. 2 May 2012. http://tinyurl.com/bvnjkqk
China and UK national engineering academies to collaborate
Reports on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the national engineering academies of the UK and China to collaborate on both technological and policy development on topics like advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy and emerging technologies like synthetic biology. The two academies have been working together for two years as part of a major initiative between the science and engineering academies of the USA, China and the UK to discuss developments in synthetic biology.
www.dpaonthenet.net. 1 May 2012. http://tinyurl.com/bwr9hac
Engineering Council welcomes launch of professional technician
The Engineering Council has welcomed launch of professional technician by the Technician Council. The Technician Council has been funded by the government to make recommendations on the future of the UK's technicians in engineering, science and technology. The launch is the result of an 18-month project in which the Technician Council reviewed the gaps and shortages in technical skills provision in the UK, set out the findings, presented a workable solution and developed a set of recommendations for dealing with these over time. The recommendations set out how stakeholders can strengthen the infrastructure underpinning the registration and professional development of technicians, how to provide active support for this, and highlight how to increase the pool, status, transferability and diversity of professional technicians across all sectors of industry.
Structural Engineer, vol.90.issue 5. May 2012, p.6.
U.S. manufacturing continues upswing
The Institute for Supply Management has reported that economic activity in the US manufacturing sector expanded in April 2012 for the 33rd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 35th consecutive month. ISM's Purchasing Managers Index registered 54.8%. A reading of more than 50% indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; less than 50% indicates that it is generally contracting. Sixteen of the 18 industries reflected overall growth in April, and the New Orders, Production and Employment Indexes all increased, indicating growth at faster rates than in March. The Prices Index for raw materials remained at 61% in April, the same rate as reported in March.
CompositesWorld.com Weekly, 8 May 2012. http://tinyurl.com/7m2kvpr
Critical need for quality engineering advice in the boardroom, says RAE
A report from the Royal Academy of Engineering - Professional engineering governance: the critical need for quality engineering advice in the boardroom - says that the influence of engineering extends well beyond the traditional areas of heavy industry with engineers increasingly trained in 'whole life' thinking, as well as the management of complex projects and the integration of people with physical systems. This gives professional engineers the capacity to develop overarching, strategic, perspectives that can be of significant benefit to businesses and the government. The report highlights an important yet often unrecognised role for professional engineers, which goes beyond technical support to helping to make long-term decisions that will set the agenda and direction of a company in the global marketplace.
www.dpaonthenet.net. 25 Apr. 2012. http://tinyurl.com/bwucuh2
