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SUMMARY:Forensic investigations in engineering design - Crispin Hales - Ha
 les and Gooch Ltd
DTSTART:20090325T163000Z
DTEND:20090325T173000Z
UID:TALK16393@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Labi Ariyo
DESCRIPTION:Forensic engineering involves the investigation of mishaps and
  failures where both engineering and legal issues come into play. As this 
 covers a huge variety of unusual circumstances in real life\, it offers th
 e potential for providing a wealth of case-based teaching and research mat
 erial. However\, much of the potential is lost because of the confidential
  nature of the work and by attrition when case files are discarded or dest
 royed following resolution of a dispute.\n\nIn many engineering failure ca
 ses an overlooked or seemingly insignificant piece of evidence holds the k
 ey to what really happened\, and it requires meticulous investigation base
 d on wide-ranging practical experience to arrive at the true cause of the 
 problem. During such an investigation the design\, engineering and managem
 ent personnel involved often are questioned exhaustively by lawyers\, resu
 lting in testimony that probes deeper into the real design process than an
 y academic researcher could hope to achieve. For the engineering community
  not to learn from such intensely focussed and costly exercises is a misse
 d opportunity\, always regretted after the next major disaster.\n\nIn this
  presentation two case examples will be presented. One will be used to sho
 w some typical design issues that arise and to emphasize the following fiv
 e key guidelines for effective forensic engineering investigations:\n\n1. 
  Bring all the pieces together again  \n\n2.  Question all assumptions\n\n
 3.  Think through the logic\n\n4.  Explain the unusual\n\n5.  Demonstrate 
 findings clearly\n\nThe other example will be used to show how engineering
  design theory may be applied in those cases involving the engineering des
 ign process and to emphasize five guidelines for analysis of the engineeri
 ng design process in practice:\n\n1. Understand the design context\n\n2. Q
 uestion design staff & operators\n\n3. Inspect & “get to know” equipme
 nt\n\n4. Assess the design\, phase by phase\n\n5. Explain in terms of desi
 gn theory
LOCATION:Marshall's meeting room (next to EDC loft)\, Inglis Building\, En
 gineering Department
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