ENGINEERING PRODUCTIVITY OF SRI LANKAN ENGINEERS WDAS Wijayapala Thesis Supervisor Dr. Ranjit Perera This Thesis was submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka August 2001 74480 Contents Introduction 1.1 Engineering and its Contribution for National Development 1.2 The Impact of New Technologies on Developing Countries 3 1.3 The Importance of Continuing Professional Development 4 1.4 Productivity of Engineers 2. Engineering in Sri Lanka 2.1 History f 6 2.2 Problems Faced in Engineering Practice 6 2.2.1 The Lack of Competence in the Engineering Graduates 7 2.2.2 The Lack of Real Engineering Practice 8 2.2.3 Lack of Training Institutions for Engineers/Engineering Undergraduates 9 2.2.4 Lack of Research and Development in the Fields of Engineering 9 2.2 .5 Lack of Design Centers and Engineering Designs Presentation of the Results of the Survey on Und e r graduates 3 .0 The Survey on Undergraduates 11 3.1 Composition of the Sample 11 3.1.1 Composition by Field 11 3.1.2 Composition by Year of Study 12 3.1.3 Composition by Age at University Entrance 12 3 .1.4 Composition by Advanced Level Attempt to Enter the University 3.2 Grade Obtained for Subject "English" at GCE OIL 13 3.3 Advanced Level Aggregate at University Entrance Vs Attempt 14 3.4 Features of Students who Scored over 300 at the GCE Advanced Level 14 3.5 First Year Average Vs English Pass for OIL 14 3.6 A Student ' s Working Duration 15 3.7 Mode of Transport to the University) 15 3.8 The Time Spent b) Undergraduates on Reading News Papers etc. 3.9 The Time Spent by Undergraduates on Reading Non-text Books 3.10 Time Spent on Watching Television (TV) 3.11 Time Spent on Tutorials I Revising Lecture Notes 3.12 Time Spent on Preparation of Course Work 3.13 Time Spent on Sports 3. 14 Visiting the University Library 3.15 Time Spent in the Library 3.16 Means of Getting Financial Assistance ' 3. 17 Arc You Satisfied with the Course/University You ha\'e Selected 3. 18 Students View on Ragging at the University 3 . 19 Time Spent on Computing 3.20 Use of Internet I email 4. Presentation of the Results of the Survey on Graduate Engineers 4.0 Survey on Graduate Engineers 4. 1 Composition of the Sample 4.1.1 Composition by Field 4 . 1.2 Composition by Sex 4 . 1.3 Composition by Age 4 .1.4 Composition by Marital Status 4.1.5 Composition of Charted Engineers 4.2 Age at Graduation 4.3 Mode of Transport to Work 4.4 Average Length of a Day 4.5 Time Spent for Technical Work 4.6 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Technical Work 4.7 Time Spent on Technical Work that can be Performed by an Engineering Assistant 4.8 Time Spent on Administration ·I Non-technical Work 4.9 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Administration Work 4.10 Time Spent with the Family 4 .11 Time Spent for Watching TV Type of Training Received 28 4.13 Time after Graduation of those who have Received only on the Job Training 28 4.14 Time after Graduation of those who have Received Training under Local Senior Engineers 29 4.15 Time after Graduation of those who have Received both Local and Overseas Training 29 4.16 Type of Employment 29 4. 17 Annual Income 30 4.18 Annual Income by Field of Specialization 31 4.19 Annual Income Comparison with Charter Status 3 1 4.20 Annual Income Comparison with arnowtt of Technical Work Annual Income Comparison with amount of Administration Work 4.22 Annual Income Comparison with Sex Group 4.2 3 Part Time Work 4.24 Ability to do more Professional Work Given the Right Conditions 4.25 Time Spent on Reading Non -technical Books I Newspapers 4.26 Time Spent on Reading Technical Books I Magazines 4.27 Time Spent on Computing 4.28 Age Distribution of those who do not use Computer at all 4.29 Age Distribution of those who use Computer more than 4 hours per week 4.30 Use of Computer for: 4.3 1 Use of Internet I email 4.32 Use of 5S or Kaizan or any Other Management Tool in day-to-day Activities 4.33 Those who have Completed or Studying for any Postgraduate Degree/Diploma 4.3 4 Number of Technical Papers I Presentations made 4.35 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future 4.36 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future by Field of Specialization 4.37 Reasons for Migration 5. General Discussion 5.1 Time Planning 5.2 Professional Development v 4.12 Type of Training Received 4.13 Time after Graduation of those who have Received only on the Job Training 4.14 Time after Graduation of those who have Received Training under Local Senior Engineers 4.15 Time after Graduation of those who have Received both Local and Overseas Training 4.16 Type of Employment 4. 17 Annual Income 4.18 Annual Income by Field of Specialization 4.19 Annual Income Comparison with Charter Status 4.20 Annual Income Comparison with amount of Technical Work Annual Income Comparison with amount of Administration Work 4.22 Annual Income Comparison with Sex Group 32 4.23 Part Time Work 33 4.24 Ability to do more Professional Work Given the Right Conditions 4.25 Time Spent on Reading Non -technical Books I Newspapers 4.26 Time Spent on Reading Technical Books I Magazines 4.27 Time Spent on Computing 35 .... 4.28 Age Distribution of those who do not use Computer at all 4.29 Age Distribution of those who use Computer more than 4 hours per week 4.3 0 Use of Computer for: 4.3 1 Use of Internet I email 4.32 Use of 5S or Kaizan or any Other Management Tool in day-to-day Activities 4.33 Those who have Completed or Studying for any Postgraduate Degree/Diploma 4.34 Number of Technical Papers I Presentations made 4.35 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future 4.36 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future by Field of Specialization 4.3 7 Reasons for Migration 5. General Discussion 5.1 Time Planning 5.2 Professional Development ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I \\ish to express my sincere thanks to all the graduate engineers who participated in the surve) resulting in nearly 50°/o returns of the circulated questionnaires. Without their committed support in answering 40 questions by spending thcu valuable time, this project would not have been successful. Next my thanks go the undergraduates who participated in the survey on undergraduates and to the lecturers who undertook to carry out the survey spending their valuable time. I appreciate the acceptance of my project proposal positively and for all the encouragement and guidance given to me by Dr Ranjit Perera, the supervisor of this project. Without his positive approach and suggestions, this project would not have been implemented or completed. T thank him for all the help. I cannot forget the encouragements given b} professor Rohan Lucas . at all encounters reminding the project work and necessity of completing it in time. I thank him for all the help and encouragements. The task of handling nearly 28000 data items is not an easy task. I sincerely thank K4J116du and Chandana who entered all the data into the database. / I thank Lanka Transformers Ltd, and Mr. UD Jayawardana, the General Manager for giving me this opportunity by sponsoring and granting leave for following the Master of Engineering program. Fmall} 1 thank my wife, Samudrika for helping to coordinate the undergraduate survey at the university and giving all the support and encouragements. WDAS Wijayapala " Contents Page 1. Introduction 1.1 Engineering and its Contribution for National Development 1.2 The Impact of New Technologies on Developing Countries 3 1.3 The Importance of Continuing Professional Development 4 1.4 Productivity of Engineers 5 2. Engineering in Sri Lanka 2.1 History f 6 2.2 Problems Faced in Engineering Practice 6 2.2.1 The Lack of Competence in the Engineering Graduates 7 2.2.2 The Lack of Real Engineering Practice 8 2.2.3 Lack of Training Institutions for Engineers/Engineering Undergraduates 9 2.2.4 Lack of Research and Development in the Fields of Engineering 9 2.2.5 Lack of Design Centers and Engineering Designs 10 ... 3. Presentation of the Results of the Sun'ey on Undergraduates 3.0 The Survey on Undergraduates 11 3.1 Composition of the Sample 11 3.1.1 Composition by Field 11 3.1.2 Composition by Year of Study 12 3.1.3 Composition by Age at University Entrance 12 3 .1.4 Composition by Advanced Level Attempt to Enter the University 13 3.2 Grade Obtained for Subject "English" at GCE OIL 13 3.3 Advanced Level Aggregate at University Entrance Vs Attempt 14 3.4 Features of Students who Scored over 300 at the GCE Advanced Level 14 3.5 First Year Average Vs English Pass for OIL 14 3.6 A Student' s Working Duration 15 3.7 Mode of Transport to the Universit) 15 3.8 The Time Spent b) Undergraduates on Reading News Papers etc. 15 HI 3.9 The Time Spent by Undergraduates on Reading Non-text Books 16 3.10 Time Spent on Watching Television (TV) 16 3.11 Time Spent on Tutorials I Revising Lecture Notes 17 3.12 Time Spent on Preparation of Course Work 17 3.13 Time Spent on Sports 18 3.14 Visiting the University Library 18 3.15 Time Spent in the Library 19 3.16 Means of Getting Financial Assistance 19 ' 3.17 Arc You Satisfied with the Course/University You ha\'e Selected? , · 20 I 3.18 Students View on Ragging at the University 20 3.19 Time Spent on Computing 20 3.20 Use of Internet I email 2 1 4. Presentation of tbe Results of the Survey on Graduate Engineers 4.0 Survey on Graduate Engineers 22 4.1 Composition of the Sample 22 4.1.1 Composition by Field 22 ... 4.1.2 Composition by Sex 22 4.1.3 Composition by Age 23 4.1.4 Composition by Marital Status 23 4.1.5 Composition of Charted Engineers 23 4.2 Age at Graduation 24 4.3 Mode of Transport to Work 24 4.4 Average Length of a Day 25 4.5 Time Spent for Technical Work 25 4.6 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Technical Work 26 4.7 Time Spent on Technical Work that can be Performed by an Engineering Assistant 26 4.8 Time Spent on Administration ·I Non-technical Work 26 4.9 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Administration Work 27 4.10 Time Spent with the Family 27 4.11 Time Spent for Watching TV IV 3.9 The Time Spent by Undergraduates on Reading Non-tex1 Books 16 3.10 Time Spent on Watching Television (TV) 16 3.11 Time Spent on Tutorials I Revising Lecture Notes 17 3.12 Time Spent on Preparation of Course Work 17 3.13 Time Spent on Sports 18 3.14 Visiting the University Library 18 3.15 Time Spent in the Library 19 3.16 Means of Getting Financial Assistance 19 : 3. 17 Are You Satisfied with the Course/University You have Selected? , · 20 I 3.18 Students Viev.• on Ragging at the University 20 3. 19 Time Spent on Computing 20 3.20 Use of Internet I email 21 4. Presentation of the Results of the Survey on Graduate Engineers 4.0 Survey on Graduate Engineers 22 4.1 Composition of the Sample 22 4.1.1 Composition by Field 22 ... 4.1.2 Composition by Sex 22 4.1.3 Composition by Age 23 4.1.4 Composition by Marital Status 23 c 4.1.5 Composition of Charted Engineers 23 4.2 Age at Graduation 24 4.3 Mode of Transport to Work 24 4.4 Average Length of a Day 25 4.5 Time Spent for Technical Work 25 4.6 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Technical Work 26 4.7 Time Spent on Technical Work that can be Performed by an Engineering Assistant 26 4.8 Time Spent on Administration ·I Non-technical Work 26 4.9 Time after Graduation of those who are doing more than 60% Administration Work 27 4.10 Time Spent \lith the Family 27 4.11 Time Spent for Watching TV IV 4.12 Type of Training Received 28 4.13 Time after Graduation of those who have Received only on the Job Training 28 4.14 Time after Graduation of those who have Received Training under Local Senior Engineers 29 4.15 Time after Graduation of those who have Received both Local and Overseas Training 29 4.16 Type of Employment 29 4.17 Annual Income 30 4.18 Annual Income by Field of Specialization 31 4.19 Annual Income Comparison with Charter Status 31 4.20 Annual Income Comparison with arnowtt of Technical Work ' 32 4.2 1 I" Annual Income Comparison with amount of Administration Work 32 4.22 Annual Income Comparison with Sex Group 32 4.23 Part Time Work 33 4.24 Ability to do more Professional Work Given the Right Conditions 33 4.25 Time Spent on Reading Non -technical Books I Newspapers 34 4.26 Time Spent on Reading Technical Books I Magazines 34 4.27 Time Spent on Computing 35 ... 4.28 Age Distribution of those who do not use Computer at all 35 4.29 Age Distribution of those who use Computer more than 4 hours per week 35 4.30 Use of Computer for: 36 4.3 1 Use of Internet I email 36 4.32 Use of 5S or Kaizan or any Other Management Tool in day-to-day Activities 36 4.33 Those who have Completed or Studying for any Postgraduate Degree/Diploma 37 4.34 Number of Technical Papers I Presentations made 37 4.35 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future 38 4.36 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future by Field of Specialization 38 4.37 Reasons for Migration 38 5. General Discussion 5.1 Time Planning 40 5.2 Professional Development 42 v 4.12 Type of Training Received 28 4.13 Time after Graduation of those who have Received only on the Job Training 28 4.14 Time after Graduation of those who have Received Training under Local Senior Engineers 29 4.15 Time after Graduation of those who have Received both Local and Overseas Training 29 4.16 Type of Employment 29 4.17 Annual Income 30 4.18 Annual Income by Field of Specialization 31 4.19 Annual Income Comparison with Charter Status 31 4.20 Annual Income Comparison with amount of Technical Work : 32 4.21 ;I Annual Income Comparison with amount of Administration Work 32 4.22 Annual Income Comparison with Sex Group 32 4.23 Part Time Work 33 4.24 Ability to do more Professional Work Given the Right Conditions 33 4.25 Time Spent on Reading Non -technical Books I Newspapers 34 4.26 Time Spent on Reading Technical Books I Magazines 34 4.27 Time Spent on Computing 35 .... 4.28 Age Distribution of those who do not usc Computer at all 35 4.29 Age Distribution of those who use Computer more than 4 hours per week 35 4.30 Use of Computer for: 36 4.3 1 Use of Internet I email 36 4.32 Use of 5S or Kaizan or any Other Management Tool in day-to-day Activities 36 4.33 Those who have Completed or Studying for any Postgraduate Degree/Diploma 37 4.34 Number of Technical Papers I Presentations made 37 4.35 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future 38 4.36 Those who Plan to Migrate in the Future by Field of Specialization 38 4.37 Reasons for Migration 38 5. General Discussion 5.1 Time Planning 40 5.2 Professional Development 42 v