About the Book
Calculations are the bedrock of the worldwide engineering profession. Unfortunately, engineers often struggle to translate their engineering designs into coherent spreadsheets. Preparing calculations is becoming a considerable issue in engineering project activities worldwide. For most engineers, Microsoft Excel is a style choice. This book introduces Microsoft Excel to the practicing professional engineer and show how Microsoft Excel can become the extended calculator of choice for engineers everywhere. The techniques in this book are invaluable for any engineer looking for a professional and visual layout without having to become an expert in Microsoft Excel. Only ten percent of the power of Microsoft Excel is required to unleash the full potential for effective spreadsheets. This book looks at the psychology of the engineering mind today in the computer age. Over a relatively short period, specifically ten to fifteen years, computers have transformed the engineering profession, the marketplace, the project execution in the drawing office and field, and permitted bad habits to continue unchecked. The book demonstrates the technique through a series of eight modules. Each module takes you through engineering spreadsheet examples using only common commands, based on Microsoft Excel 2003. It is the second in the Mote Method series, which is designed to encourage the engineer to improve his or her PC proficiency in order to pursue engineering excellence. Thus, the limitations of engineering tools commonly used will be surpassed. The commercial and professional benefits of applying these ideas are substantial in saving time, improving productivity, and enhancing Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) activities. The benefits of learning and applying the technique are numerous, specifically in positive, time-saving habits. The technique is also future-proof, quality-driven, consistent, effective for repetitive work, efficient for all parties to follow, interesting, and educational.
For more than twenty years, Robert Mote has been creating Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for several engineering problems, including heat transfer analysis and civil/structural designs. The civil/structural challenges include structural dynamics, such as blast and/or compressor foundations, finite element analysis, piled foundations, reinforced concrete structures, structural connections, schedule programming, and estimate work. All work was documented using MS Word and MS Excel spreadsheets were extensively used. In later developments, many of these spreadsheets included Visual Basic for Application (VBA) macros. During his time in Holland, with the introduction of Windows for Workgroup around 1996, his interests in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets concentrated on producing high-quality reports for clients and projects. He sought ways to introduce time-saving solutions by maximizing Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word. It has carried him through many experiences, including compressor foundations and piperack designs, for petrochemical facilities and lead-role engineering applications.
In the course of his global career, he found there is interest in his ideas at the grassroots level. The structured technique for preparing engineering calculations electronically is intended for the practicing engineer. He has taught many engineers of all abilities throughout the international community and found there is always recognition of the practical ideas for preparing electronic calculations. The impact on the engineer's career is profound, far-reaching and long overdue.