Category "MCE News"

Australia’s campaign to stop violence against women…..READ MORE

RAM engineering is widely used in various industries around the world, including Transport, Aviation, Space, Defence. At MCE our systems engineering team is competent in the determination and application of RAM management procedures and techniques on complex projects.READ MORE

Thanks to our own Vida Ghorbani for pulling together this informative and interesting piece on future-proofing successful transportation systems in our Cities.
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As part of MCE’s Continuous Professional Development, I attended the NEC Contract’s first NEC4 Foundation Certificate course in Sydney earlier this month.  Currently major programs of work are being delivered under bespoke projects and I wanted to understand the benefits that NEC could offer Australian governments delivering a major pipeline of infrastructure.  I have previously used NEC in Europe and this course provided an interesting reminder of how NEC contracts can be used to stimulate good management practices in a collaborative environment by being written in clear, simple and plain English.

The Contracts are written for engineers and infrastructure professionals to apply rather than lawyers.  NEC contracts proactively manage risk between client and contractor, they encourage collaborative behaviour which highlight issues early to enable resolution in a timely manner.

The suite of Contracts has evolved quite a way since I used NEC2 in the UK over a decade ago.  I understand why Crossrail, the Hong Kong government project and now Sydney Water all use the NEC to delivery their projects.

The NEC suite of contracts is suitable for procuring a diverse range of works, services and supply projects, spanning major framework deals through to minor works and the purchasing of goods and services.  The suite seems flexible and has been used for public and private, building and infrastructure projects, as well as all stages of a project lifecycle including maintenance and facilities management.

NEC is a well-practised form of Contract which provides governance and practising principles, it can be part of the solution to improve poorly delivered projects and save the government money.

By Thomas Lee

Last Friday the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) NSW Christmas Dinner was held in Sydney. MCE proudly sponsored a table and contributed to the organisation of this wonderful event that was enjoyed with many colleagues from across the industry with this year’s focus on ‘Engineering Innovation.’READ MORE

Bees and infrastructure both play important roles in their respective ecosystems. Just as bees are essential for pollination and maintaining the balance of nature, infrastructure is crucial for supporting human activities and enabling the functioning of modern societies.

When the business was founded in 2014 the plight of bees was in the news and after researching the bee crisis our family made some positive changes by planting a native based window box garden, using natural fertilizer, putting up bee boxes and buying local honey.   Whilst researching bees and what we could do as a family we realised there are many parallels between bees, infrastructure engineering and what our team at MCE does for our clients and society.   The following 7 attributes of bees are also the key attributes that MCE brings to our client teams.

• Functionality: Bees play a critical role in pollination and maintaining the balance of nature, while engineering and infrastructure are crucial for supporting human activities and enabling the functioning of modern societies.
• Problem-solving: Bees must solve problems related to finding food, protecting the hive, and ensuring the survival of the colony. Engineers and infrastructure must similarly solve problems related to designing and building systems that meet specific goals, such as providing transportation and communication, creating efficient energy systems, and ensuring the safety of structures and machines.
• Complexity: Both bees and infrastructure are complex systems made up of many interrelated parts. Engineering involves the creation of complex systems, such as structures, machines, and networks, in order to meet specific goals and requirements.
• Collaboration: Bees work together as a highly organized society, with each member of the colony playing a specific role. Engineers and infrastructure similarly require collaboration and coordination in order to function effectively, with various professionals working together to design and build complex systems.
• Maintenance: Both bees and infrastructure require ongoing maintenance and repair in order to function effectively. Bees must be protected from disease and other threats, and hives must be maintained and tended to. Infrastructure must similarly be maintained, repaired, and updated over time in order to continue to serve its intended purpose.
• Innovation: Bees have evolved unique and efficient solutions to the challenges they face, such as their intricate communication and navigation systems. Engineers similarly must continuously innovate in order to create better and more efficient systems, utilising the latest technologies and materials.
• Optimization: Bees are highly efficient in their use of resources, such as pollen and nectar, and their hives are optimized for space and storage. Engineers similarly aim to optimize their designs, considering factors such as cost, efficiency, and sustainability.

While bees, engineering, and infrastructure may seem like vastly different systems, they share important similarities in terms of their functionality, problem-solving, complexity, collaboration, and need for maintenance. These similarities highlight the importance of these systems for the functioning of complex systems, whether in nature or in human societies.   This is why MCE’s logo is based around the bees, hives and hexagons and the above 7 characteristics  align perfectly with what MCE brings our clients in the management, commercial and engineering disciplines of world class infrastructure delivery.