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Introduction
As we progress through the early years of the 21st century, the engineering community is facing changes in the dynamics of competitiveness involving the engineer in relationship to the business of engineering as applied to entities involving governmental bodies, industries, institutions, and other organizations requiring services of engineers. These changes are the result of retrenchment of global industries and their investments, modifications of governmental policies, both those of the United States and foreign, financial stability of governments and their citizens, new definitions of war and societies.
To be competitive one must be innovative and produce products, both material and intellectual. These products must be cost-effective and meet the needs, both perceived and ongoing, of the people that are expected to use them. Being flexible in our ability to meet change, which harmonizes with the needs of society, is critical to providing innovative solutions in order to be competitive. A number of factors affect the ability of the engineer to respond to ever changing needs. These factors include research and development in the public and private sectors, education and training for individuals in the technical and management fields, political attitudes and change, and government policies at local, state, and national levels.
An engineer has an important role in the development of a competitive posture of the nation as a contributor in the continuing dialogue at all levels of government and industry, which affects the public health, safety, and welfare of our society. As such, the engineer must be willing to participate in the debates that affect competitiveness in the public and private sectors.
Guiding Principles
It is the policy of the National Society of Professional Engineers to encourage the development of a comprehensive competitiveness policy which is effective on a global, national, and local scale as it pertains to economic, national security, social and environmental needs of the nation. The policy should:
- Sustain or increase the standard of living for all citizens;
- Improve our economic environment;
- Harmonize protection of the public health, safety, and welfare with the preservation and use of natural resources coupled with sustainable development;
- Ensure the capability of the nation to meet external and internal threats to our national security at local, state, and national levels;
- Ensure full and fair participation in the global economy.
- Provide opportunities for the engineering community to engage in innovative programs in both the public and private sectors, which foster environmentally sound, cost-effective use of our natural resources.
- Ensure that the quality of engineering reflects the highest standard of professional service so as to preclude it being considered as a commoditized article of trade or commerce.
Factors Affecting Our Policy
The economy of the United States is in a transient mode from one of continuing growth to one which is more moderate, and results in changes in capital outlays and investments not only within the U. S. but also worldwide. In addition, terrorism attacks on U. S. soil are causing a rethinking of national priorities, which may affect certain segments of our economy. These changing conditions in turn affect our competitiveness, which is our nation's ability to expand innovation and productivity in the manufacture and the provision of products, processes, and services at levels that sustain and improve the standard of living of its citizens.
The engineering profession is a focal point in societal improvement, which results from the design of products, and processes that allows for cost efficient and environmentally sound manufacturing. Engineers provide intellectual capital and services, whether they are matters of policy, management, education, technical assistance, research and development (R&D), or infrastructure design and construction, that form the base upon which competitiveness is grounded.
Competitiveness is a global issue with roots beginning at our local communities and maturing through our political fabric to national and international levels. The engineer is involved at all levels through forms of practice in education, business and government. It involves the profitability of businesses, and the acceptability of governmental policies by citizens, along with improvements in standards of living.
Components of Competitiveness
The ability of the nation to meet the needs of its citizens and to participate in the world of nations requires it to have policies and activities, which foster and strengthen its ability to provide products and services across a broad spectrum of changing national interests. The following components are critical in order to provide the resources needed to compete:
- Education from the K-through-12, and continuing through undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels for workforce development;
- Research and development to translate science into products and services for consumers;
- Economic development to sustain and improve our financial capability to invest in educational and research and development activities;
- Legal and regulatory policies that foster and enhance our ability to compete [such as a national engineering licensing statute];
- Understanding the global economic environment as it impacts on the nation; and
- Maintaining a safe, secure environment for peoples within our political jurisdictions.
Advocacy of NSPE
The U. S. has the capability and the resources to compete successfully in the global economy. Action must be continually taken to maintain our global position by ensuring that current policies are relevant, eliminating those that are not, enhancing, if necessary, those that are, and creating additional ones where need exists.
The National Society of Professional Engineers believes that the future of the nation hinges on the development and maintenance of a comprehensive competitiveness policy that supports our guiding principles.
Competitiveness Issue
The focus of the nation's policies on competitiveness should address the multiplicity of factors that determine competitiveness, and consider the impact on businesses, employer and employees, and the several governing levels of the nation, including state and local jurisdictions. These factors include:
- The capabilities of other nations in a global economy;
- The need to provide a level playing field for nations to compete;
- Programs to stimulate innovation and productivity;
- Understanding the roles and interrelationship between the private sector and public sector (i.e. local and state governments and the federal government.);
- Facilitating cooperation among universities, the private sector, and government;
- Educational preparation of our citizens to meet technical demands;
- Enabling rapid development of innovative processes so that they are marketable;
- Providing life cycle cost methods to analyze the cost-benefits to reflect the social, financial, economic, and resource impacts on affected parties;
- Recognizing that there are regulatory impacts based on societal and environmental concerns, as well as scientific and technically valid assessments;
- Providing for sustainable development.
Coordination
Each of the foregoing issues requires continuous study and examination to develop an understanding of their interrelationships so that critical factor can be determined which may dominate competitive direction. The ability to understand the impact of political vagaries generated by special interest groups within our society (and globally) is important to sustaining competitiveness. Whenever possible, efforts should be made to utilize recent data, reports, and other documents in the course of this examination.
Governmental Agencies which have an Impact on Competitiveness
The federal establishment has been charged by Congress to provide a competitive environment for energizing technologies enabling the private sector to compete internationally as well as nationally. Internationally, such legislation as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Fast Track/Trade Promotion Authority and World Trade Organization decisions should have a positive affect on engineering services. These programs should be monitored to ascertain their impact on the services provided by engineers. The information would be useful when consideration is being given to other initiatives affecting the engineering community.
