S5E40 Tony Dietz | How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, Episode 4

Being an Engineer

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In the fourth episode of How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, host Aaron Moncur interviews Tony Dietz. . Tony emphasized the importance of clear communication, focusing on objectives, deadlines, and effort levels. Dietz shared examples from his diverse background, including a NASA wind tunnel project and a cost-effective earplug test using a $7 heating pad. He highlighted the value of field interaction with customers and using simple tools like Lego for prototyping. Dietz also stressed the need for daily team meetings to maintain focus and address roadblocks. He warned against rushing critical tasks without proper analysis, citing a failed superconducting cable test as an example.

Main Topics Covered:

Communication and Bottlenecks in Engineering Projects
Ignoring the Customer and Tools for Failure
Creating Psychologically Safe Environments
Cross-Disciplinary Communication and Documentation
Introducing New Technologies and Tools
Unconventional Approaches and Field Interaction
Lessons from Failed Attempts to Accelerate Engineering
Key Factors in Accelerating Engineering

About the guest: Tony Dietz is the President of Paxauris, where he leads the development of innovative hearing protection products. With over 30 years of experience, he previously worked at Creare, leading R&D projects in advanced airdrop technology and cryogenic systems, and at NASA Ames as a Senior Research Scientist. Earlier, he served as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. Tony holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Sydney.

Links:
Tony Dietz - LinkedIn

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Chapters

1. Communication and Bottlenecks in Engineering Projects (00:00:00)

2. Ignoring the Customer and Tools for Failure (00:08:24)

3. Creating Psychologically Safe Environments (00:12:56)

4. Cross-Disciplinary Communication and Documentation (00:18:41)

5. Introducing New Technologies and Tools (00:23:13)

6. Unconventional Approaches and Field Interaction (00:31:49)

7. Lessons from Failed Attempts to Accelerate Engineering (00:36:56)

8. Key Factors in Accelerating Engineering (00:43:06)

9. Conclusion and Contact Information (00:45:18)

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