Keynote Speech
by Dr. Juergen Dollmayer
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| Dr. Juergen Dollmayer, keynote speaker |
Good
morning everyone,
Honorable Ernesto Ferreras, Jr., Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of
Aeronautical Engineering,
Honorable
Redentor Malia, Member of the PRB of Aeronautical Engineering,
Engineer
Robin Rabin, President of the Society of Aerospace Engineers of the
Philippines,
Professional Regulation Commission,
Heads
of Schools,
Newly
passed engineers, families and guests ---
a
pleasant Saturday morning to all of you.
It is an honor for me to be here with you today.
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| The grand entrance... |
“Scientists study the
world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been.”
This
well-known quote of Theodore von Karman, a mathematician, physicist and
aerospace engineer describes best the spirit an engineer should have.
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| The cream of Batch 2018 - the topnotchers... |
Creating
a world that has never been also means realizing dreams, and the world of
aerospace has always been a big dream for mankind. It has been scientists who
laid the fundaments for flying aircraft and spaceships, but it needed aerospace
engineers and mechanics to realize them.
In
this context, the engineer is not only an inventor or a designer: he is also
the link between scientists and mechanics, between research and manufacturing,
a traveler and translator between the world of theory and the world of praxis.
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| At the presidential table... |
But
the requirements for being a good and successful engineer have developed and
enlarged within the period of time, maybe especially in our aerospace branch.
Modern aircraft have reached a grade of complexity with years of time and billions
of dollars needed to develop new aircraft types or aircraft systems. Projects
that big and complex, both in development or the operation of modern aircraft,
require engineers who understand themselves as part of a team; with project
management capabilities, with communication skills, with change management
skills, with leadership skills. And also with marketing skills: the best
design, the best product is nothing if you cannot sell it to your boss or the
customer.
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| Delivering the keynote speech... |
But
besides the engineering education and these so-called soft skills a lot of
practical knowledge is needed also. From time to time I recognize people in our
aircraft maintenance business with highly trained theoretical knowledge from
their engineering education but with lack of knowledge of practical tasks of
the mechanics or even basic aircraft knowledge. This, however, is elementary in
our business as these people are the ones who work with the results of your
work, and you should have a close relationship with them.
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| Looked like talking serious business... |
But
not only these skills are a must-have for being successful today. It also needs
a lot of flexibility. Flexibility to change, not to get stuck within old
structures, organisations or even jobs. Change and change management has become
normal. Many engineers today have project assignments for several years before
getting assigned to another project, mostly often within their location, but
sometimes also for some time abroad. But also flexibility within your scope of
work: the career of an engineer does not necessarily have to be in engineering
or development. It can also be in project management, consultancy, general
management or other professions. After your first years working as an engineer
you will have to choose which way to go: the way of an engineering expert in
your special field of knowledge or the way of a general manager.
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| Many thanks to the keynote speaker... |
This
is even more true as in modern work-life many projects or also the everyday’s
work in aerospace is consisting of interdisciplinary teams distributed all over
the world. This is for example true for our company Lufthansa, with technical
facilities and engineering teams all over the world and round the clock, a
business that never sleeps. It is indeed a fascinating business what all of you
have chosen for your professional career (and by the way: Lufthansa is always
looking for fascinating people as well).
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| An aerospace engineer... |
Ralph
J. Smith said, “Engineering is the
professional art of applying science to the optimum conversion of natural
resources to the benefit of man.”
This
is what your mission is now. You have the opportunity to create the future and
to decide what it looks like. This is true for your future mission as engineers
as well as young people who now take a big step in our society.
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| The Keynote Speaker, the PRBs & SAEP Officers...kudos to all |
For that, I wish you all the best. Thank you.
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