The path to certification - Letters to the Editor

Engineered Systems, Dec, 2002

I just read Howard McKew's "Tomorrow's Engineer" from the April 2002 edition of ES magazine while doing some Internet surfing this evening. I can't agree more with what you have written.

At this point in my career I am not a design engineer, but instead, a wrench-turning "technician" doing field work for the TAB company that my partner and I are building here in mid-Michigan.

We are both degreed chemical engineers and are hoping to receive our P.E. in the future, and we are trying to build our company based on hands-on experience and practical know-how that very few of my fellow engineering counterparts have, or are willing to develop.

I run into these specs that you speak of quite often while bidding work. There have been instances where a water spec was written and there wasn't even a hydronic system in the project!

With our business being only a year and a half old, we hope to be certified as soon as possible by one of the main organizations (NEBB, AABC, or TABB). Right now there are only three of us (two owner/operating engineers and a 25-plus-year HVAC/TAB veteran who's showing us the industry ropes, so to speak). We're still getting on our feet, but are picking up steam in our area. I read ES often and will look forward to reading your articles.

Jason Vallance

Project Engineer/President

Pro-MEC Engineering & Testing, Inc.

Grand Ledge, MI

McKew responds:

I have taken the NEBB test and endorse it. More importantly, it is imperative that you follow the standards of the organization you select and don't cave in to "low price." So often I see good TAB contractors provide lower than acceptable performance because they cut corners to do the job and make a profit. I believe in qualifying your opportunities based on "best value" and not low price.

If you can't get the price it takes to do the TAB work to the standards of NEBB, AABC, or TABB, then I recommend you "pass" on the opportunities.

Good luck!