Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
This study investigated the development of technical and non-technical skills required for graduate engineers to design mineral processing plant in an EPCM environment. The purpose is to provide the better way of developing the skills which are essential for graduates to be responsible in designing mineral processing plants. These skills then enable graduates to effectively and efficiently design mineral process plants with less supervisory directives from their superiors.
The research was inspired by what was recognised by the EPCM project delivery organisation involved in designing on mineral process plants, which placed a cognisance that graduate engineers need to build a combination set of skills, of which some is specialised, to become responsible for design of mineral processing plants. In addition, graduate engineers possess skills, which are not necessarily a prerequisite to design mineral processing plants. The investigation looked on the significant skills, activities for demonstrating possession of required skills, training and development methods imperative for upskilling graduates.
This research firstly focused on the theoretical background of skills and attributes of graduates in processing plants designing, then activities demonstrating possession of such skills and training and development methods EPCM organisations should employ to ensure upskilling of graduates. To investigate a business problem, the study examined alternative solutions, and proposed the most effective solution using supporting evidence. A case study method was selected to provide the researcher with an in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon. A case study with questionnaire was conducted at an EPCM organisation which designs mineral processing plants, to compare the theoretical background with what the industry perceived as critical technical and non-technical skills, activities perceived significant to demonstrate possession of imperative skills and training and development methods significant to nurture the skills of graduates.
The findings of the study revealed that on non-technical skills, communication and interpersonal skills are the most critical to ensure that graduates communicate design information effectively. This finding signifies that organisations should nurture graduates’ communication and interpersonal skills. For technical, it was found that all the theoretical background skills were essential though the knowledge of thermodynamics and mechanics, were perceived to be less required by the mineral processing plant design environment. Furthermore, mentorship and job rotation system which ranges from test work, design, commissioning and optimisation, are...