Transcript MET 102 Production Design & Specification Treasure Hunt Hints On the Treasure Hunt “The treasure hunt was an experience that seemed absurd at the time.

MET 102
Production Design &
Specification
Treasure Hunt Hints
On the Treasure Hunt
“The treasure hunt was an experience that seemed absurd
at the time but has proven worthy of the effort.
The ability to find information and contact resources within
the field are critical to any person trying to survive in
today’s world of technological advancement. In my job I
must constantly try to obtain the most accurate
information available in the shortest amount of time to
keep projects on track; the treasure hunt experience still
helps me do that.
Thank you for your infusion of the “real world” into MET 102
and the MT Curriculum.”
Michael A. Prater
Manager, Plant Engineer
Miles, Inc.
In the next 50 minutes you will:
Know what we provide.
 Create strategies to attack your questions.
 Identify types of sources that may answer
your questions.
 Understand how to cite your source in a
proper format.
 See examples of actual questions.

Library Services
(what we provide)
Library Hours
 Reference Service Staff & Hours
 Online Resources
 MET 102 Expert System
 Where to find in-house sources
(looking at Expert system results)

What to think about when
reading your questions
What do I already know?
 What do I need to know?
 What subject area or question type is this?
 Why would someone want this?
 Who collects this type of information?

Quick & Dirty Definitions of
Source Materials
Dictionaries
Contain definitions, abbreviations, acronyms.
Sci-Tech and multi-lingual
 Handbooks
Textual & numerical data usually confined to
one discipline.
 Encyclopedias
Best for those needing more than a definition

More Quick & Dirty Definitions
Directories
Lists of organizations, people or products
 Manufacturers’ or Product Catalogs
Info on products, their capabilities, limitations,
construction, cost, etc. to sell products
 Almanac
Compilation of info, including statistical,
astronomical and meteorological data.

Even More Quick & Dirty
Definitions
Standards
Rules as to the size, shape or quality of
industrial products, processes or test methods
 Laws & Regulations
Laws are established by government authority
while regulations are government orders with
the force of law. (In HSSE Library, some on
the WWW)

Match your question to your
source
Brand name?
Vendor Catalog or Trademark Database
 Specific product information?
Vendor Catalog or Product Review
 Test procedure? Standard
 Size or quality? Standard
 Physical constant? Handbook or Standard
 Chemical property? Handbook or Standard

Getting Started

Online Expert system
 Linked
from ENGR homepage
 Suggests a group of resources to check first
 Other resource groups are listed by likelihood
of usefulness
Don’t forget about using
Your Textbook
 Lab Manuals
 Salespeople and other contacts

Cite your source!
Books and online resources. When possible,
include:
 Author,
Title, Publisher info and year
 Try NOT to abbreviate.
 Example:
Meyers, R.A. (Ed.). (1989). Encyclopedia
of Telecommunications. San Diego:
Academic Press.
Example
How many teeth are required on a knurling
wheel to achieve a 64 pitch knurl?
 What
do we know?
 What do we need to know?
 What subject area or question type is this?
 Why would someone want this?
 Who collects this type of information?
Another Example
Find the thinnest strip manufactured by
Hamilton Precision Metals Co.
 What
do we already know?
 What do we need to know?
 What subject area or question type is this?
 Why would someone want this?
 Who collects this type of information?
Another Example
What is the composition of die casting
Zamak-3 (%)?
 What
do we already know?
 What do we need to know?
 What subject area or question type is this?
 Why would someone want this?
 Who collects this type of information?
Everything you need
is NOT on the web
And everything on the web
is NOT what you need!
Remember to start
early and work on
your questions often!
Do you have any questions?