During National Engineers Week, we’re honoring the manufacturing engineers that are making our world a better place. Because of the hard work and dedication of engineers, our world and our businesses are able to thrive. Manufacturing engineers play a critical role in creating the best solutions to manufacturing needs.
CBT Engineer David Jennings
CBT is home to many engineers that help area manufacturers find solutions to the challenges they encounter every day – whether it’s a problem with a particular product or machine or a challenging system design. David Jennings, P.E., has been a member of the CBT team for nearly 10 years and helps customers with their automation and process needs.
- Tell us about what you do at CBT. I plan, design, develop, and evaluate control systems to ensure the safety and practical operability of such processes. What that means is that I design controls for automation equipment. I make equipment do what it is intended to do automatically and safely. Control systems is an interesting branch of engineering because it involves mechanical, electrical, chemical, and other branches of engineering if someone cannot decide which path to follow.
- What drew you to the engineering profession? The Navy recruiter called me and told me how much I would learn about nuclear engineering if I joined the Navy. It sounded interesting, and did end up being just that. I started out thinking about mechanical engineering, but changed to electrical and control systems when I joined the civilian job market. There was, and still are, great opportunities for this field of engineering.
- What do you enjoy most about being an engineer? There are problems that need to be solved by engineers. It gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment to be able to provide a solution for a problem that needs to be solved.
- What do you find to be the most challenging part of your job? Sometimes, it is difficult to find a solution to a problem. Other times, the first solution ends up not working. I have to know when to give up on a proposed way of thinking and try something else.
- What do engineers, like yourself, like to do for fun? I play drums in a country/rock band. With my engineering background and fascination for mechanical devices, I am a volunteer firefighter. My primary job is driving the engine and operating the pump at fire scenes. The fun part, for me, is operating the pump, not driving.
As part of National Engineers Week, we are thanking manufacturing engineers like Jennings. Their work is continually re-shaping the way the manufacturing world does business, creating a better, smarter world.
