Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar

Engineering Matrix works by the motto, “Raise the Bar” and “Capable and Ready”. The company established their slogan through the style with which they attack their work. Exceeding expectations, communicating effectively, staying updated on new technologies, and strong team cohesiveness all help the company continuously ‘raise the bar’ and exceed their goals.

What is Engineering Matrix, Inc.?

Engineering Matrix is a consulting firm that specializes in electrical, mechanical and plumbing engineering services. The company also offers engineering services for fire protection and telecommunication systems. Thirty-five employees average up to eleven projects at a time and about 100 projects per year. During the course of a 40 hour work week their time is split between working in and out of the office. New projects are assigned to a team directed by a principal of the firm and then to a project engineer. The project engineer is directly responsible for the project from preliminary design through final construction.

Who is Engineering Matrix, Inc.?

Greg Bowen is a principle engineer for Engineering Matrix, Inc. His job requirements consist of meeting with clients, managing projects, and keeping his project ahead of deadlines. Mr. Bowen is a professional engineer and graduate of the University of South Florida. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering but has expanded his engineering skills and education beyond the constraints of his discipline. Mr. Bowen joined Engineering Matrix, Inc. upon his graduation in 1989 and has remained at the company for his entire career.

Anita Crosby is a chemical engineer and one of the heads of the company. Graduating in 1985, she worked as a co-op for a small company in Florida, where she met three people who would eventually become her partners in the foundation of Engineering Matrix Inc. Being involved in the administration of the company, marketing and telecommunications design, Anita has many responsibilities. She manages the clients directly, and is responsible for presenting proposals to prospective clients of the company.

Melissa Harman is a structural engineer with an Engineer in Training (E.I.T.) license at Engineering Matrix Inc., located at St. Petersburg, FL. Ms. Harman earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Florida in 2002. Since then, she has been working for Engineering Matrix Inc., as a structural engineer. She specializes in building systems and currently holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. She is currently in charge of project consulting. Her other duties include drafting and interpreting Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings and communicating with vendors and clients, and any other tasks that need to be completed.

Josh Wides is an electrical designer in charge of the majority of the drawings for the projects. He specializes in power distribution, emergency and site lighting, control systems, and fire alarm connections. He treats water toevaluate its balance within a watershed and determines the available water supply. In addition, he also develops systems to store, treat, and convey water for various uses.

C. Scott Renner is an Electrical Designer for Engineering Matrix, Inc. His background started in the mid-west before moving to Florida and working for Engineering Matrix, Inc. His experience includes numerous jobs in the areas of construction, maintenance and design. Scott attended the University of Kentucky, however, had to take a break due to a new marriage and children. He is currently taking courses to pursue his Bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida and to obtain other work related certifications. Scott’s position as an electrical designer entails him designing requirements for the location of electrical outlets, networking closets and various types of lighting. Aside from working as the electrical designer, he also manages personnel in the areas of planning, drafting and mechanical engineering.

Environment

The work environment at Engineering Matrix, Inc. was very casual, family and team oriented, and deadline driven. The company’s employees seem to genuinely care about one another and maintain close relationships. The company is owned by a married couple, and some of the employees are related. The company makes good use of technology, such as e-mail and AutoCAD to streamline the business. Engineering Matrix, Inc. uses various means to promote team morale and family cohesiveness including group gun shoots, golf outings and picnics. Engineering Matrix, Inc. provides support for educational and training opportunities through lunch time training, mentoring, proctoring of tests and tuition reimbursement. During the interview process the employees were very courteous and provided their full attention despite having work to accomplish.

Communications

Engineering Matrix, Inc. uses phone and e-mail as their primary means of communication inside and outside the office. Internally, the Engineering Matrix, Inc. team uses standard casual communication. When an employee has a question they have the opportunity to communicate with the person directly instead of going through a structured, chain of command. This proves to be greatly beneficial in order to accomplish things in a timely manner. This flat type of structure allows for easier collaboration of knowledge while maintaining a better overview of the entire project.

The employee also has the internet available to them to get the information they required. Mr. Renner and Mr. Bowen use the National Fire Protection website to keep up to date on regulations. Other sources used include the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and Florida Building Code websites. Engineering Matrix, Inc. employees do their best to raise the bar by staying up to date on the latest trends and code requirements.

One tool available that may be helpful to Engineering Matrix would be the use of an intranet to relay information back and forth within the company. An extranet would be beneficial to provide information to their clients as well as getting information and updates from their clients.

The company goes through several stages of communication, including providing quotes, creating a proposal, and finally creating a contract for submittal. Once completed, they coordinate the construction phase and track the project through completion. The company’s employees may need to deal with their clients directly or conduct oral presentations at various stages of the process to proceed as planned.

Conclusion

Engineering Matrix, Inc. is acutely aware of the value and importance of providing close, individual attention to each project and working within the constraints of time and budget. The company works hard to provide good communication through the lifecycle of a project and stays current in all facets of the project by providing and getting feedback from their customers. Through various programs they promote positive morale and emphasize teamwork. Engineering Matrix, Inc. has a good reputation and is a leader in the engineering industry and therefore ‘raising the bar’ for other engineering firms. By promoting education, encouraging certification, keeping current on regulations and providing in house training they make themselves ‘capable and ready’.

References

Aksoy, C. (2008, July 5). Interview with Mellissa Harmon.

Barbosa, N. (2008, June 28). Interview with Anita Crosby.

Borja, T. (2008, June 28). Interview with Josh Wides.

Engineering Matrix, Inc., Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://www.engmtx.com

Photos Courtesy of Engineering Matrix, Inc., Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://www.engmtx.com/personnel.asp

King, M. (2008, July 7). Interview with Scott Renner.

Sears, D. (2008, June 21). Interview with Greg Bowen.