measure such benefits? The formulation of precise definitions of problem objectives,
and the devising of means for measuring results, fall within the special
province of the engineer.
The writer has suggested [2] that the basic objective of engineering design as
well as other human pursuits is to improve the quality of life within our society, and
that this might be measured in terms of a life quality index (LQI). This index is in
some ways similar to the familiar “gross national product,” but very much broader.
Judgments about the proper composition of the LQI would, of course, vary somewhat
in the many segments of society and also with time.
To illustrate the LQI concept, Table 1.1 lists some of the important factors most
people would agree should be included. Perhaps we might arbitrarily assign a value
of 100 to the factor deemed most important, with other factors being weighed
accordingly. Each factor might then be multiplied by the same fraction so that the
total would add up to 100.
The list in the table is admittedly a very rough and oversimplified indication
of the direction of thought that would be involved in arriving at an LQI for a given
segment of society at a given time. But this kind of thinking must be done in order
to provide a sound basis for judgment with respect to the fulfillment of the engineering
mission of service to humanity.
The professional contribution of engineers engaged in the broad area of engineering
design and development plays a major role in determining the LQI of a
population. Figure 1.1 depicts the societal relationships involving engineered products.
A major segment of the population works within organizations whose function
12 Chapter 1 ■ Mechanical Engineering Design in Broad Perspective
TABLE 1.1 Preliminary List of Factors Constituting the Life Quality Index (LQI)
1. Physical health
2. Material well-being
3. Safety (crime and accident rates)
4. Environment (air, water, land, and natural resource management)
5. Cultural–educational (literacy rate, public school quality, college attendance among those qualified, adult educational
opportunities, library and museum facilities, etc.)
6. Treatment of disadvantaged groups (physically and mentally handicapped, aged, etc.)
7. Equality of opportunity (and stimulation of initiative to use opportunities)
8. Personal freedom
9. Population control
Experience
Waste
Products
Human
resources
Production
system
Work experience and knowledge feedback
New products
Material
resources FIGURE 1.1
Societal relationships