Engineering Inc. - July/August 2004 - 3

ASK MEMBERS In the next five to 10 years, what will be the biggest
challenge facing engineering firms? Cost pressures will Within the next
decade, consulting engineer- Overcoming our become more significant, ing
firms will be confronted with added budg- natural reluctance to with
demands for compet- etary issues. The availability of funding for become
politically itive benefits and salaries future construction projects will
be more strin- active will be our great- bumping up against gent, yet
administrative issues will continue to est challenge. For clients that are
basing accelerate construction costs. Thus, the con- instance, Americans
more of their consulting sultant industry not only will need to be more
lack the political will engineering selection on innovative and creative,
but add a new dimension to its staff to support the level of fees, not
quality. Our chal- financial construction engineers. investment necessary
to lenge will be creating a Ralph Palmer maintain and upgrade rewarding
professional Palmer Engineering Company, Inc. our infrastructure. As
environment that brings Winchester, Ky. another example, low satisfaction
to staff while judgment caps on law- keeping our fee schedules suits
against the medical competitive. Our clients profession and govern- will
focus their work with ment agencies are forc- firms that can bring the ing
plaintiffs' attorneys I think the biggest challenge is to change best
value, leadership and to look elsewhere to from the prevalent function of
providing a service with reasonable support their lifestyle, product or
commodity to being a more holistic fees. and the engineering service
provider. The most successful firms not Craig M. Avery community is their
only will function as the owner's trusted Fuller, Mossbarger, bull's eye.
Our message adviser, but also will take a strong role in the Scott & May
needs to be heard, or project's conceptual and planning stages, lead
projects through Engineers, Inc. decisions will be made regulatory or
political obstacles, provide a sustainable design, Lexington, Ky. about
our future with- develop integrated solutions to the owner's needs and
provide out our involvement. many other valuable services extending beyond
technical engi- Kevin Johnson neering functions. This will require the
ability to be flexible, Traffic Planning and adapt to change, collaborate
with other firms and integrate the Design, Inc. environmental, social and
economic goals of the wider public Pottstown, Pa. into project planning.
John Dugan Haley & Aldrich, Inc. East Hartford, Conn. The biggest
challenge facing engineering firms today is to fully understand and
respond to the new needs of our customers. Engineers must not only solve
techni- cal problems, but also be sensitive to the fiscal and social
concerns our clients encounter throughout a project's life all while
maintaining a strong focus on the If you would like to participate
community. It is imperative that we deliver solutions appropriate to the
local com- in Ask Members, contact munity while bringing the knowledge
gained from worldwide experiences. Andrea Keeney at akeeney@ William Smith
acec.org, and you will be Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc.
included in our data bank New York, N.Y. for inquir y. 3 July l August
2004 ENGINEERING INC.
Engineering Inc. - July/August 2004

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