Developing Engineering Competence David Salisbury BEng(Hons), CEng, FIMechE, FIGEM Programme Manager, National Grid Gas Distribution

Transcription

1 Developing Engineering Competence David Salisbury BEng(Hons), CEng, FIMechE, FIGEM Programme Manager, National Grid Gas Distribution Bratislava, 18th and 19th of September

2 Agenda My talk today will focus on: Developments in Engineering Registration in the UK since the 1990 s and the response of the Higher Education Sector. Supply and Demand for Engineering Graduates in the UK. Gas Industry Skills Needs. The development of Competence Based Approaches to Engineering Skill Development

3 But first.. What does the industry in the UK look like?

4 Gas Transmission 6880 km pipelines Up to 85 bar pressure 7 terminals 26 compressor stations Max daily demand 449mcm

5 Distribution 275,000km Scotia Gas Networks 4 Distribution Companies post Network Sales Northern Gas Networks 21 million end users System demand 130bcm Wales and the West Utilities National Grid UK Distribution Scotia Gas Networks

6 Offshore Transmission Commodity Infrastructure Service Provision Equipment Distribution The Industry? Utilisation Producers Transmission Operator Material Manufacturer Material Supplier Utility Infrastructure Provider Consultant/ Service Provider/ Contractor Joint Office/ Network Code Shipper/Supplier/Retailer Market Makers igt Distribution Operator Gas Consumer

7 Competence in context Employer Employee Education Provider

8 Engineering Formation in the UK The UK has a long standing Engineering Registration Process allowing registration at three levels: Chartered Engineer Incorporated Engineer Engineering Technician CEng IEng EngTech Over the years, the qualification requirements and routes to registration of Engineers from all disciplines have changed and evolved and are now captured in what is know as UK SPEC

9 Registration as a professional engineer or technician is open to everyone who can demonstrate competence to perform professional work to necessary standards, and commitment to maintain that competence and work within professional codes (UK SPEC) 1 Knowledge + 2 Application + 3 Management/Supervision + 4 Interpersonal skills + = 5 Professional commitment

10 Route to CEng BEng (Hons) + MEng OR + Responsible Experience 4 or 5 Year MEng

11 Supply of Engineers Total degrees vs Engineering Degrees /8 1998/9 1999/0 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 Year Total first degrees Engineering Degrees 1996/7 1995/6 1994/5 First Degrees Awarded

12 Offshore Transmission Commodity Infrastructure Service Provision Equipment Distribution The Industry? Utilisation Producers Transmission Operator Material Manufacturer Material Supplier Utility Infrastructure Provider Consultant/ Service Provider/ Contractor Joint Office/ Network Code Shipper/Supplier/Retailer Market Makers igt Distribution Operator Gas Consumer

13 The Utility Engineering Challenge Balancing conflicting drivers OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE Cost Opex Capex Repex Performance Lifecycle mgmt Asset stewardship Service quality Risk Safety Environment OPERATE BUILD MAINTAIN & REPAIR INVEST IN NEW REPLACE DISPOSE OF

14 Our skill sets OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE Asset Management Construction Skills Workforce Management Highways Management OPERATE BUILD MAINTAIN & REPAIR REPLACE DISPOSE OF Condition Assessment Network Analysis Risk Assessment Capital Allocation INVEST IN NEW

15 OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE MAINTAIN & REPAIR REPLACE Terminal OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE MAINTAIN & REPAIR OPERATE BUILD INVEST IN NEW DISPOSE OF REPLACE Compressor Station OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE Storage MAINTAIN & REPAIR OPERATE BUILD INVEST IN NEW DISPOSE OF Underground Storage Compressor Station Network Offtake REPLACE OPERATE Pressure Reduction DISPOSE OF BUILD INVEST IN NEW Station Governors Storage OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE MAINTAIN & REPAIR OPTIMISING COSTS, RISKS & PERFORMANCE OPERATE REPLACE DISPOSE OF MAINTAIN & REPAIR BUILD INVEST IN NEW REPLACE OPERATE DISPOSE OF BUILD INVEST IN NEW

16 The Challenge How do we ensure we have a supply of people with the appropriate skills and competence to manage across the range of commercial and technical challenges? Education? Training? Is Competence an answer?

17 What is Competence For a person to be competent, they need qualifications, experience, and qualities appropriate to their duties. These include: such training as would ensure acquisition of the necessary knowledge of the field for the tasks which they are required to perform adequate knowledge of the hazards and failures of the equipment for which they are responsible knowledge and understanding of the working practices used in the organisation for which they work the ability to communicate effectively with their peers, with any staff working under their supervision, and with their supervisors an appreciation of their own limitations and constraints, whether of knowledge, experience, facilities, resources, etc., and a willingness to point these out. [The Hazard Forum]

18 Competence Management Framework Activities Assessment Criteria Roles Requirem ents Performance statements Knowledge statements Functional safety management Underpinning Knowledge Competence Technical requirements Demonstration of workplace skills

19 Standards from osceng is the Occupational Standards Council for engineering What you need to do What you need to know The technical range you need to do it in

20 Conclusion The Gas Industry requires a wide and diverse range of skills that cannot simply be categorised as Gas Engineering. Higher Education alone will not be able to provide the skills to meet the industry need. A Competence Based approach is proven to develop high quality skills which can be both specific to the business area and transferable, making it: Relevant to the employer Valuable to the employee, and Deliverable by the educational establishment