Beers with Engineers Bert Uschold

Mike is right 95% of the time
He became an engineer to be cool.
Decided he liked engineering only three years ago.
Fatigue failures – find your own k factor and are tough to solve
Don’t trust your memory – write everything down.
Evaluating silicone seals can be unexpected.
Doing lab reports in college is actually a useful skill
Physics doesn’t lie
Working in the shop is great experience
Rockets, salts, and airbags – all at one company
Everything is more complex and harder than it seems.
Applying FEA to playground equipment.
Engineering is a 24/7 job.
If a Japanese engineer says it may be difficult, it is probably impossible.
How to out German the Germans.
It is good to do no-thing.
Fictional engineering characters – How many can you name?
Bert's Company www.dexterityeng.com
 

Vocational schools aren't what they used to be.
From Porsche 911 dreams to Miata reality to Bughatti dreams. Or maybe just an MG.
Jet engineer or rocket scientist? You decide.
Jet engines are hot, Tom makes them cool.
Material science and better cooling have made jets are way more efficient than they used to be.
Solving problems is AWESOME!
If you are a young engineer, don’t be afraid to open your mouth and make a suggestion. It might not be a dumb idea.
Just being an engineer is good for Tom (and Bert)
A temporary move out of aviation was a good move.
Keeping your eyes open and being opportunistic is more important than career planning.
GEs practice of moving new engineers around is a good thing.
Why Bert liked Busch Stadium.
RVing and the 2024 eclipse.
If he wasn’t an engineer, he’d be a pilot. It’s not too late…
You got to make your own path and happiness in your job. 
More about Bert and for your alt-code card, go to www.Dexterityeng.com.

First guest outside of US.
Before becoming an engineer, he was going to go into religious life.
Started in engineering in quality but didn’t want to wear safety shoes.
In Solidworks, just because you can do it one way, doesn’t mean you should.
It is critical to design the part for the process.
Also, build the part to convey design intent.
For the engineer, the drawing is your finished product.
Tap into the knowledge of the guys on the shop floor.
Don’t be proud.
Engineer’s aren’t boring, they just have a different sense of humor.
Great books
Product Design for Manufacturing by James Bralla
Theory of Constraints and The Goal by Eli Goldratt

The Draftsman/Designer/Engineer hierarchy is gone.
Analysis is the key to engineering.
Favorite movies about persistence The Pianist and Not Without My Daughter.
Make sure you have a passion for what you are trying to do.
Bert’s website www.Dexterityeng.com

Topics of Conversation:
Oil companies are not all bad. - they invest a lot in green technology in various ways.
Bert’s crazy solution to recycling.
Cherie’s experience with autism and neurodiversity.
Any individual is neither unique or universal
Benefits on including non-experts
Your local chamber of commerce can help you in your business.
Yoga is good for fitness – physical and mental
Be careful saying “Do you have a minute to talk?”
Movies  - “Reservoir Dogs”- bad. “Princess Bride” – good
Inigo Montoya actor is Mandy Patinkin
Bert’s company – www.dexterityeng.com

Dave is a manufacturing engineer that I worked with at Avery Dennison. We talk about:
How those little things that hold the tag to your clothes are made (by Avery Dennison) It is pretty cool and the reason Dave still works there.
Manufacturing is hard.
Book reference  - “Zero Marginal Cost Society” and 3D printing tractors
Space Exploration by self-replicating probes or worm holes.
Board games – Settlers of Cataan changed everything.
Complex games vs simple games and sports
The game Bohnanza – Dave’s rules are better
Some stuff is fun to do, but not for 40 hours a week.
Variety is the spice of engineering.
Starting at the ground floor can be the start of a great career.
College isn’t as necessary as it used to be.
Getting into Harvard is just as good as graduating from Harvard.
Ask questions and do design reviews.
Some good movies to consider:
“Life is Beautiful” very unique. In Italian with subtitles.
“F/X”
John Krasinski/Matt Damon movie we mention is “Promised Land”

Bert's website is www.dexterityeng.com. 
 

Sorry, no joke this time.
Learn by doing and helping others
Land the little fish before the big fish.
New projects and interviews are like a first date.
Read a lot and learn from many different sources.
Mentoring  - it’s important and worth it to take the time teach people.
Mentoring – people at all levels need it.
Loss aversion and the strange psychology of buying things from friends. 
Risk analysis and confidence.
Humility is a good thing.
Three E’s – efficiency, effectiveness, and education.
Engineers aren’t cheap – they just always optimize for low cost.
Cost control drives creativity.
The wastefulness of spend it or lose it.
Building an energy efficient house.
 
Bert's website - https://dexterityeng.com/