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What are the boring tasks of a Mechanical Engineer?

Every job has its dull and super boring tasks that you have to do anyway. I was curious what these types of tasks were for a Mechanical Engineer; or any type of Engineer, I'm not picky.

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Matt’s Answer

For me, paperwork is boring. The rote filling in of forms and other documents. Not all paperwork is boring -- I do enjoy writing original technical documentation.

For some folks the required training can be boring. By this I mean things like compliance-type training required by many larger companies. For example, training on proper security practices for electronic devices. While important, it's often dry and repetitive.
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Douglas’s Answer

Hi Jacob,
You ask an odd question since everybody is different what might be boring to one person wouldn't be boring to another. I have been a mechanical engineer for over 40 years doing a variety of jobs and I can say I can't think of anything boring I have done. Some tasks may be more difficult than others, and some might be more intreresting than otheres, but I guess that I have been blessed in that I haven't had any boring jobs. There has always been something that captured my imagination or interest. I suggest that at your age, you not focus on or worry about being bored but instead focus on what you find interesting and exciting and then get a job doing those things. You have heard the old saying, "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life". It is true .

Good luck and keep woking on discovering what really interests you.

Doug
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Glenn’s Answer

If you go into a regulated industry, like medical or aerospace, there is a lot more paperwork. In the end, you accept that it is important to get the documentation correct.

When I travel to bring products up for production, there can also be a lot of down time. I have had several days of just sitting around a tooling shop waiting for the changes to be made and have the next test shot.
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David C’s Answer

I would agree with Matt's answer about the paperwork required at various levels. Sometimes you need to provide documentation for processes or assembly of equipment. You may need to schedule for others engaged in a project, or provide progress reports. As a Mechanical Engineer, I always wanted to be busy designing or inventing something, however I realize that the paperwork is part of the process. It is needed from you, the designer, since you are the one primarily responsible for its creation or implementation and fully understands how it works.

Another thing I found boring were management meetings and general staff meetings that were conducted by a manager that was not very good at conducting meetings, especially productive meetings. You have a feeling of losing valuable time when a meeting is not productive.

Fortunately, there are far more interesting and challenging areas to the career that puts the boring tasks behind me.

Designer Dave
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Muhammad’s Answer

Depends on who and what kinda project you’re working on, and more importantly what your interests are. In most well established companies in a design engineering role, the jobs are very monotonous, I was told at one of my previous employers you start with this turbine blade you end your career perfecting it, I got outta there very fast
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