From ASME San Francisco Section Apr/May 1997 Newsletter:

Small Business Report: April/May 1997
by Eric E. Worrell, P.E., Small Business Committee Chair, ASME Region IX and San Francisco Section

This column, past editions, upcoming small business events, The Small Business and Consultants Referral List and more are on the web at http://www.ccnet.com/~eew/asmesfsb/.

The group of twelve that gathered around one table included several solo consultants, the owner of a small consulting firm, a vice president in a larger firm, a young engineer who is sole degreed engineer in a 3 person tool and die company, an older engineer returning after running nonengineering businesses, an air force retiree who recently earned his BSME, and a member of a small international consulting partnership who also is a member of ASME's Board of Governors. Members working in large companies and academic environments rounded out the gathering.

In speaking on "Design for Ergonomics: Increasing Competitiveness by Integrating Ergonomics into Product and Process Designs". Michael Parker presented whats and whys of ergonomic design, illustrating how mechanical engineers can improve ergonomic design and their company's bottom line. Michael pointed to three major facets in ergonomic design:

First, define the ergonomic requirements. Posture, force, duration, and frequency are risk factors that combine to cause cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) and lead to pain, discomfort, work restrictions and medical treatment.

Second, design for ergonomics. Consider the physical and social characteristics of the end user. Design processes to conform to general ergonomic guidelines (posture, force, duration, and frequency limits). Design for assembly ease, including tops down and self locating placement of parts. Design part and package sizes, weights and shapes for handling ease. Design workstations for neutral postures and without sharp edges and keep materials within a work-reach envelope.

Third, complete an ergonomic design review. This may include employee surveys, ergonomic risk assessments, and ergonomic failure modes and effects analysis.

Michael noted that many professionals address ergonomics retroactively. Chiropractors, physical (and psycho-) therapists, and medical doctors try to repair problems caused by poor ergonomics. As a contrast, we, as mechanical engineers, can proactively address ergonomics By learning and applying ergonomic principals, we can prevent occupational injuries and cost effectively increase productivity, efficiency and quality.

Michael Parker, P.E. and Redwood Ergonomics are at 1-800-575-1456, redergo@sonic.net or, http://www.sonic.net/~redergo/.

Thanks to Angela Faulkner for company contacts seeking small business subcontractors to meet Space Station contract requirements. For Rocketdyne (Canoga Park) contact Artie Dukes at (818) 586-3836. For McDonnell Douglass (Huntington Beach) contact Raul Alverado or Ed Rush (buyer) at (714) 896-2629

Are you concerned about government impact on small business? The California Chamber of Commerce "Small Business Legislative Conference" is Monday April 21 and Tuesday, April 22. Chamber and government leaders and breakout sessions address current issues. Contact your local chamber, look up http://www.calchamber.com or call 916-444-6670 x201 by the April 17 registration deadline.

ASME Region IX holds its Government Relations Workshop in Sacramento on May 18 and 19. Contact: Frank Von Flue at 310-640-8194 or 70550.2471@compuserve.com

From the February 27 ASME Capitol Update: NIST and ANSI have launched an on-line clearinghouse for U.S. and international standards from private and public sources. Check http://www.nssn.org for details. The March 5 ASME Capitol Update brings word of the Industrial Projects Locator database available on-line from DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies. Recent info on over 1,500 R&D projects can be searched by industry, technology, or points of contact. E-mail ip_locator@pnl.gov or check http://www.oit.doe.gov/Access/locator/ipl.html. A second database will cover other agencies.

NIST and The Conference Board will sponsor conferences featuring 1996 and past winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The award winners will discuss their successes and setbacks and gains in the Baldrige Award assessment and application process. Call 212-339-0345.for information. Locations and dates are: Boston, April 24; Atlanta, May 1; Chicago, June 4; San Francisco, June 19.

A report on the February 22 "Accessing Technology Symposium" will be on the small biz web site soon. Published proceedings are also in the works (For web surfers, see small biz events listings above).

Small Business Member of the Month

Our thanks go to Walter R. Mikesell, P.E. for the April/May entry. Walt draws from his extensive involvement with ASME in delivering high expertise-value consulting services. Through Walt and solo consultant Lori Kincaid, P.E., of Anchorage, Alaska, ASME's members in small business have a voice on the Board of Governors,. Read on for Walt's words on ASME, his small business, and a message he'd like to share.

The path to ASME was rather unusual. At the time of joining ASME (in 1966) I was already an Associate Member of ASCE, having received a MSCE from Purdue University in 1957.

My boss at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company was Leonard P. Zick, probably most widely known for his paper on the design of saddle supported horizontal tanks. He was also an ASME member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Unfired Pressure Vessels of The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. He asked me if I would be interested in serving as secretary of the subcommittee and I agreed. Soon it became apparent that I was getting more than I was giving and that the least I could do was join The Society and pay my dues. That was 30 years ago. Since then I have held every level of office possible within Codes and Standards, finishing as Senior Vice President at the last Summer Annual Meeting.

Craig Boyak and I formed a partnership in 1994 and named it Mikesell & Boyak Associates. There are currently three of us. Since we each work in our own home office we can say we have three offices. Craig's is in Albany, California while mine is in Richmond, California. The third Associate is named Natalia Fateeva and her office is in her home in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is apparent we are following, or leading, the trend typified by ASME INTERNATIONAL. We work with firms making or using all kinds of pressure equipment from meat rendering cookers for the food industry to Nuclear Reactors and associated equipment for the Power Industry on both sides of the world.

I was elected to serve as a Governor of ASME for the term of SAM (Summer Annual Meeting) 1996 through SAM 1999. The major theme I mentioned to the National Nominating Commitee was that I wanted ASME to be a home for ME's. I strongly believe in what I said and would like to know what you think would serve to make that happen. Incidentally, I went to the SF Section Meeting in February and it seemed that almost all the family of ASME was eating out that night. I hope to get to meet more of you next time.....Walt Mikesell....

You can contact Walter R. Mikesell, P.E. at Mikesell and Boyak Associates, 834 Cornell Avenue, Albany, CA 94706; Telephone (510) 222-7473; Fax (510) 526-6539; e-mail 73132.2117@compuserve.com.

IEEE Consultants' Network of San Francisco Bay Area along with the Silicon Valley Engineering Council presents its First Annual Symposium, "Engineering Our Futures" Saturday, April 26, 1997 at the Sunnyvale Hilton Inn at 1250 Lakeside Dr. Topics addressed in the full day agenda include "Engineering Education Trends in Silicon Valley", "How to Launch your High Tech Consulting Business","Seed Venture Capital", "Intellectual Property Protection" and "Industry Trends & Directions". The cost is $50 ($25 Students) if paid by Thursday, April 17; $60 ($35) after. Contact Robert H. Goslow, P.E., General Chair, (408)720-8788; Art Rahman, Program Chair, (408)265-3457; or Sam Haddad, SVEC Pres., (408)223-8001 or check http://www.ieee-sv-consult.org/notices3.htm

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