E-Fest Careers 2024: Innovating the Future
Thousands of students and early career engineers from around the world attended ASME E-Fest Careers in September. This fully digital event was made up of career and professional development sessions, a scavenger hunt, networking, and much more. Live and on-demand sessions focused on "Innovating the Future: AI and Mechanical Engineering Synergy.” Topic included sustainability in Robotics and Automation, AI in aerospace, women in engineering, and much more.
One of the more interesting sessions was presented by Palaniyappan Kailasam, director, Prolotek Technologies. In the “Importance of Dimensional Management in the Engineering Profession” he explored how precise dimensional control is crucial for ensuring product quality, functionality, and cost-effectiveness in engineering projects. “Just having design knowledge is not sufficient,” Kailasam explained and then said the core design skills are one thing, but parts, when assembled, must collectively work as they are intended. When students pursue a career in dimensional engineering in manufacturing their work includes design and prototype development. But they now add automative assembly systems that may consider parts made by separate suppliers and ensure they work properly, and if they do not, what can be done to remedy the situation.
Four women came together for the lively panel, “Women in Engineering”: Prijitha Jayapalan, manager of production, Caterpillar; Mathangi Nageswar, vice president, Peer Islands; and Vidhya Sriram, managing partner of PS power controls. The panel took on the challenge of successfully building and navigating in an engineering career. Sriram took on the question of core technical knowledge and how important it was to build a career in engineering. As a second-generation entrepreneur she explained she began her career while she still was in college. She explained that the more you know, the better you can handle what comes to you in your career. “Once you have technical knowledge,” she explained. “And once you know more than those [who you are working with], then you will be better able to command respect.”
Mechanical engineering and the role engineers take in sustainability took center stage in the session, “Sustainability in Robotics and Automation”. In this session Sourav Karmakar, founder and CEO, Infinos Tech, explored the intersection of sustainability, robotics, and industry. When it comes to assistive robots—medical, industrial and wearables, for example—and human-robot collaboration, Karmaker addressed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and 4th Industrial Revolution. The economy, CO2 emissions, robotics, manufacturing, and carbon neutrality “is all connected,” Karmakar explained. He covered solar sails, actuators, and other ingenious methods that allow robots to move in a more sustainable way.
Interested in putting your mechanical engineering technical and soft skills to the test? Participate in our virtual competitions: ASME Extended Reality Challenge (XRC): Autonomous Vehicles, ASME Extended Reality Challenge (XRC): Lunar Lander, Technical Digital Poster Competition, and NEW Graduate Student Competition (COMING SOON!) at E-Fest Tech Connect (formerly E-Fest Digital), taking place on March 22, 2025.
Interested in more professional development resources? Check out our upcoming Career Webinars:
Optimizing Your Team’s Productivity Through Effective Meetings (In-Person and Remote) and Better Email Management Practices
Dec. 9, 2024
1:30 p.m. ET
Save your seat
A Day in the Life of a Fleet Management Expert
Dec. 16, 2024
1:30 p.m. ET
Register today
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
One of the more interesting sessions was presented by Palaniyappan Kailasam, director, Prolotek Technologies. In the “Importance of Dimensional Management in the Engineering Profession” he explored how precise dimensional control is crucial for ensuring product quality, functionality, and cost-effectiveness in engineering projects. “Just having design knowledge is not sufficient,” Kailasam explained and then said the core design skills are one thing, but parts, when assembled, must collectively work as they are intended. When students pursue a career in dimensional engineering in manufacturing their work includes design and prototype development. But they now add automative assembly systems that may consider parts made by separate suppliers and ensure they work properly, and if they do not, what can be done to remedy the situation.
Four women came together for the lively panel, “Women in Engineering”: Prijitha Jayapalan, manager of production, Caterpillar; Mathangi Nageswar, vice president, Peer Islands; and Vidhya Sriram, managing partner of PS power controls. The panel took on the challenge of successfully building and navigating in an engineering career. Sriram took on the question of core technical knowledge and how important it was to build a career in engineering. As a second-generation entrepreneur she explained she began her career while she still was in college. She explained that the more you know, the better you can handle what comes to you in your career. “Once you have technical knowledge,” she explained. “And once you know more than those [who you are working with], then you will be better able to command respect.”
Mechanical engineering and the role engineers take in sustainability took center stage in the session, “Sustainability in Robotics and Automation”. In this session Sourav Karmakar, founder and CEO, Infinos Tech, explored the intersection of sustainability, robotics, and industry. When it comes to assistive robots—medical, industrial and wearables, for example—and human-robot collaboration, Karmaker addressed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and 4th Industrial Revolution. The economy, CO2 emissions, robotics, manufacturing, and carbon neutrality “is all connected,” Karmakar explained. He covered solar sails, actuators, and other ingenious methods that allow robots to move in a more sustainable way.
Interested in putting your mechanical engineering technical and soft skills to the test? Participate in our virtual competitions: ASME Extended Reality Challenge (XRC): Autonomous Vehicles, ASME Extended Reality Challenge (XRC): Lunar Lander, Technical Digital Poster Competition, and NEW Graduate Student Competition (COMING SOON!) at E-Fest Tech Connect (formerly E-Fest Digital), taking place on March 22, 2025.
Interested in more professional development resources? Check out our upcoming Career Webinars:
Optimizing Your Team’s Productivity Through Effective Meetings (In-Person and Remote) and Better Email Management Practices
Dec. 9, 2024
1:30 p.m. ET
Save your seat
A Day in the Life of a Fleet Management Expert
Dec. 16, 2024
1:30 p.m. ET
Register today
Cathy Cecere is membership content program manager.
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