The Tools of the Trade for Different Types of Engineering

The engineering field has many branches that cover every aspect of life. We have engineers that focus on construction, programming, electronics, cybersecurity, and even health care. There are many applications that require them to use various tools depending on the concentration. For instance, a chemical engineer may have to use a centrifuge to mix their chemical concoctions, while an automotive engineer may have to use a wrench or ratchet set.

Here are some tools used in different types of engineering.

Network Engineering

Network engineering consists of planning and building optimized networks and IT systems for an organization. The network engineers will usually be working with routers and switches, servers, and databases, among other equipment to ensure the company’s network system is operating as expected.

For this, the network engineer will use tools like cables, computers, and software such as Microsoft Visio, Wireshark, and PuTTY. Their tools can help them track data that travels from one system to another as well as script solutions to prevent hacking and other cybersecurity incidents.

Civil Engineering

In civil engineering, the general idea is to build structures and supervise their construction. Civil engineers can work on anything like buildings, tunnels, bridges, and water systems. These constructions are run by engineers and other contractors that use tools such as forklifts, diggers, bulldozers, and safety equipment like hats and boots.

Sometimes they’ll need an immediate lift truck fork replacement to continue with their work so they contact Barclay. They will inspect damaged forklifts for markings, wear, cracks, and thickness and provide engineers with a replacement. It’s important civil engineers keep an eye on their equipment so they can prevent accidents in the workplace.

Electrical Engineering

An electrical engineer will generally work with electrical devices and systems, so having the right tools is essential for the trade. These types of engineers will design, develop, test, and supervise electrical equipment like radars, motors, communication systems, and power generating equipment. They are more likely to use tools like wire strippers, voltmeters, tweezers, and pliers than any other engineer in another industry.

Computer Engineering

In computer engineering, things can become a bit more abstract as these engineers can work with both hardware, software, and both at the same time. Computer engineers work with code, machine learning, robotics, and other disciplines that require any computerized system. That being said, computer engineers can use tools like a laptop, programming and compilation software, simulators, PC repair toolkits, and versioning software to keep track of changes in their code.

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering is all about finding ways to eliminate waste from production processes—from time, energy, material, and labor wastes. Industrial engineers will devise plans for long-term projects and include details on the project’s development, the key players in each role, statistical analyses, and economic decisions, among other things. They will use tools like computers, control systems, microcontrollers, operation analysis software, and project management software.

Mechanical Engineering

Lastly, mechanical engineering consists of the combination of physics and math principles to develop, analyze, and manufacture mechanical systems. These mechanical systems can include things like an airplane and car motors, power-producing machines, air conditioning systems, among others. Mechanical engineers will use tools like 3D printers, digital force gauges, ohmmeters, and graphing calculators. Additionally, they’ll use software like AutoCAD, MATLAB, and DesignSpark to create visuals and 3D models of their work.

As you can see, there are many different tools that can be used by engineers in every field and industry. Some will use tools interchangeably with other engineering fields while others’ tools are more precise in their niche. So, wherever you go in the engineering world, any of these technologies can become your primary tools at work.