The Role of Computer Networks in Aerospace Engineering

This paper presents selected results from an empirical investigation into the use of computer networks in aersopace engineering. Such networks allow aerospace engineers to communicate with people and access remote resources through electronic mail, file transfer, and remote log-in. The study drew its subjects from private sector, government and academic organizations in the U.S. aerospace industry. Data presented here were gathered in a mail survey, conducted in Spring 1993, that was distributed to aerospace engineers performing a wide variety of jobs. Results from the mail survey provide a snapshot of the current use of computer networks in the aerospace industry, suggest factors associated with the use of networks, and identify perceived impacts of networks on aerospace engineering work and communication. I. The Need for User-Based Studies of Electronic Networkino Both individual engineering organizations and the federal government in the U.S. are making large investments in computer networks (i.e., telecommunications links that connect computers to each other or to other devices) in order to, among other things, increase R&D productivity, *The research reported here was supported by the Council on Library Resources, NASA, DoD, and the Indiana Center for Survey Research; it was funded under the NASNDoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Portions were conducted with the assistance of John M. Kennedy, Director, Indiana Center for Survey Research and with advice from Thomas E. PineUi, Assistant to the Chief of the Research Information and Applications Division, NASA Langley Research Center. SAE provided the sample used in this study. facilitate technology transfer, and improve industrial competitiveness. Federal policy makers, network system designers and service providers, and workplace managers are struggling to implement effective systems and to develop appropriate policies to govern network implementation and use. The success of institutional and national networking endeavors will depend on the development of network features, policies, and support programs that are based on solid knowledge of users' needs and habits and substantiated links between network use and engineering outcomes. But little empirical information has been gathered that can be used to help in understanding the impact of networking investments, designs, and policies on engineering work. And little is known about the extent of computer network use across different types of engineering organizations. Thus, many major investment, design, and policy decisions are being made solely on the basis of educated guesses about the current use of networks and the assumed contribution of networking to the scientific and technical enterprise. In order to help remedy this situation, the author undertook an empirical investigation of computer networking in engineering that collected data from the network user's point of view. The study°s aim was to describe and explore the use of electronic networks by one particular group: aerospace engineers. It focused on the way that networks are currently used by aerospace engineers to facilitate communication and otherwise assist in the performance of work tasks. The study was guided by the following research questions: 1) What types of computer networks and network applications are currently used by aerospace engineers? 2) What work tasks and communication activities doaerospacengineersusecomputer networks to support? 3) What work-related factors are associated with the use of computer networks by aerospace engineers? 4) What are the impacts of network use on aerospace engineering work and communication? In order to include subjects representing a wide range of work and communication activities and to look at as many aspects of the aerospace industry as possible, "aerospace engineer" was interpreted very broadly. It included people engaged in all phases of the development and production of military and commercial aeronautical or aerospace equipment and processes. IL._B=lt, kground: Comouter Networkina in Engineerir__ Settir_s Engineers are employed to research, develop, design, test, and manufacture technology, which may exist in the form of either materials, products, systems, or processes. Engineering is a complex, informationand communication-intensive activity that involves invention, problem-solving, and coordination of many independent efforts. "Concurrent engineering," a notion that is currently popular in engineering management circles, focuses on the perceived need for better and faster communication, coordination, and integration of the work and information contributed by all of the people involved in the development, production, and marketing of a particular technology. Many engineering organizations are exploring the ability of computers and electronic networks to facilitate concurrent engineedng 1and improve the performance of engineers and the technical quality of their work.2-8 Industrial organizations hope that by facilitating communication and improving coordination, electronic networks will decrease both the costs and time needed to bring products to market. Due to proprietary and security concerns, many engineedng organizations have implemented their own private, high-speed networks that are used only by their own employees and affiliates. The need for the completely reliable electronic transfer of very large amounts of data also makes the use of most commercial networks inadequate for some industriesand applications. Today, engineers use computers to perform calculations; to produce and evaluate drawings, designs, and prototypes (CAD/CAM); to maintain and archive the "corporate memory," i.e., all the contracts, designs, schedules, assumptions, constraints, procedures, data, etc., associated with each particular project; to write and edit documents and prepare presentations; to run project management software, and to control equipment. Computer networks are also playing an increasingly important role in engineering work. For example, engineers use networks to receive data collected by remote instruments. Networks facilitate the transfer of documents and designs and are used to automate the manufacturing process. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is used to exchange orders and invoices with vendors and suppliers, and contracts with clients and customers. Networks are also used for information retrieval in connection with both in-house and commercial databases, g-lo Finally, engineers also use computer networks for a variety of communication purposes. 11-1sFor instance, they can exploit computer-based message systems to call on the expertise, ideas, and advice of other members of their community and to locate resources. Electronic mail and various computer conferencing applications are also used to schedule and coordinate work or even conduct meetings, since they can be used to contact project team members, managers, people in other departments or divisions, and consultants in outside organizations. Electronic mail and bulletin boards are sometimes used to facilitate communication with customers and funders, as well. There is a growing body of empirical research that examines the characteristics, use, and effects of computer-mediated communication.IS-21 Few studies attempt to describe these variables in terms of particular kinds of work, except by comparing broad job categories, for example, managers, professionals, and clerical workers. 22 With the recent proliferation of electronic networks, a number of empirical efforts dedicated to exploring the use of electronic networks for communication