DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

HIGHER INSTITUTE OF APPLIED TECHNIQUES

FROM LUBUMBASHI

ENGINEERING PROFESSION COURSE

 COURSE CONTENT
Specific objectives of the course

Expectations from the learner

Definition of a profession
2. Definition of an engineer and their profession

3. Functions of the engineer

4. Engineer Skills

5. Evolutions and trends in the engineering profession

6. Métiers et champs professionnels

Specific objectives of the course

During the learning of this course, the learner must:

To appropriate the content of key professional and engineering concepts;

Differentiate the types of engineering jobs, know the qualifications and the
types of training to follow in order to work in these jobs;

Know the specializations required by different engineering professions and the

responsibilities that will fall to the person who chooses to exercise them;

Know the first functions that young engineers will occupy in the
professional environment.
Expectations or purposes
At the end of the learning experiences, the learner must:

Develop abilities to differentiate the training offered in a school

of engineer, the sought-after skills and the associated professions;

Visualize the skills or competencies required for an engineering job;

Choose the field of study to pursue at the end of preparatory studies.

Definition of a profession
A job that allows a person to earn a living:

A computer scientist, an engineer, or a shoemaker;

To be a cinema or theater actor, a musician
Being a welder, a mechanic, an electrician or a mechanic;
To be a teacher, a doctor, or a specialist, etc.

Through the name given to any worker, a profession is detected.

Each sector of a company's activity corresponds to professions.

The word ' métier ' can mean something else, namely the machines used for manufacturing.
fabrics

Loom, embroidery machine, etc.

Definition of a profession
Some examples of jobs
1. Definition of a profession

Some examples of jobs

Definition of a profession
Some professions only require learning the techniques to be
exercised: they do not require a specific qualification (university training): trades
accessible to everyone.

Other professions require a university degree in the fields of science and

technologies

These professions are found in almost all sectors of activity mainly

industrial companies, service companies and cover a large number of
specialties such as:

Mechanics, hydraulics, agronomy, electronics, electrotechnics, the

telecommunications, computer science, civil engineering, architecture, etc.

These jobs require a qualified and well-trained person: the engineer.

2. Definition of an engineer and his profession
The engineering profession is evolving and therefore requires skills, intuition,
methodology and a great capacity for adaptation;

The engineer can perform several functions in a company, namely:

The design, implementation, operation, maintenance, distribution, or sale of

products (commercial service): after-sales services for equipment, products,
processes, etc.

The engineer participates in research and development (R&D), that is to say designing
new products and manufacture them;

The engineer is employed by industrial companies (mines) or services (SNEL,

RÉGIDESO), public organizations (OVD, Road Office), private companies and
the local authorities or the state;

The engineer can create their own business (entrepreneurship) or become a manager (senior director)
or CEO) after several years of experience.
2. Definition of an engineer and his profession
In compliance with the minimum standards, the engineer aims to optimize the results of his
mission, in various fields: security, environmental protection, quality, cost
economic and financial, maintenance and servicing, etc.

A consulting engineer is a professional who provides advice, develops projects, follows up

the work and assists with the expertise;
2. Definition of an engineer and their profession

The term 'engineer' refers to a person who designs and manufactures products.
industrial use or common consumption.

He plays a leading role in a company and is respected in society.

(specific status or a corporate framework).

The term "corporate executive" refers to several realities:

a graduate of an engineering school;

a university graduate;
a home engineer does not have a Bac +5 degree but has access to positions in
course of the evolution of his career
A person who simply validates the acquired experience.

The title engineer refers to a profession, a title, and functions.

The definition of an engineer can therefore be made from these terms.
2. Definition of an engineer and their profession

The profession of engineering refers to the activity of one's professional activity;

It covers various realities in very diverse sectors of activity;

For the job-based definition, 'the engineer is the one who solves problems
of a technological nature and often complex related to design, realization,
implementation of products, systems, or services

This definition implies a person who has knowledge and is equipped with
high-level skills accessible through various training programs;

In the DRC, the profession of engineer is only reserved for university graduates.
of specialized schools.
2. Definition of an engineer and his profession

It is a regulated profession protected by law in the DRC: orders (ONICIV) that

give members identification numbers as is the case with the
lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, etc.

The title of engineer is an academic designation that refers to a training.

followed by the person who enjoys the privilege of endorsing it.

The engineering title is awarded by accredited educational institutions or the

training institutions authorized to do so.
2. Definition of an engineer and his profession

This title is related to a legalized diploma and the educational institutions that have quality.
to award this academic title are well identified for example:

The University of Lubumbashi awards the title of civil engineer;

The ESI awards the title of industrial engineer.

ISTA Lubumbashi issues technician engineer and industrial engineer titles.

In a company, the various academic titles of an engineer are recognized:

A precedence is given to the civil engineer followed by the industrial engineer and technician.
of respective responsibilities.
2. Definition of an engineer and their profession

Based on the function, 'the engineer practices their profession in different

sectors of activities ranging from heavy industry to services.

The function refers to the internal organizational framework of a company.

who, regardless of its size, its economic sector, is composed of
several services that perform specific and necessary functions
pour son bon fonctionnement à savoir:

Design a product or a service;

Make it or make it available;
To market it;
Manage the budget;
Manage the staff, etc.
3. Functions of the engineer
The main functions of the engineer in a company can be
defined as follows:
Fundamental and applied research (R&D);
Studies and engineering, consulting and expertise;
Production, operation and maintenance, testing, quality and
security
The Information System;
Project management;
Customer relationships (marketing, sales, customer support or
after-sales service;
The direction, management, and administration;
Training and human resources.

The different functions of the engineer are linked to various

jobs that he can perform within a company to ensure it
proper functioning.
3. Functions of the engineer

Functions of young graduates from engineering schools

The first positions that young graduates coming out of universities or schools
Engineers are most often found in the roles:

Research and Development (R&D) studies: research officer, engineer

research, calculation engineer, etc.

Production: junior manufacturing engineer, measurement and analysis engineer,

maintenance and maintenance engineer, junior quality engineer, industrial attaché,
logistician, etc.

Information systems: developer, database manager,

network maintenance engineer, IT systems manager, etc.
3. Functions of the engineer

Functions of young graduates coming out of engineering schools

In general, engineers progress in their role throughout their career, to

some, towards project management functions or relationships with the
clients and possibly towards management functions.

Training dysfunctions or training missions are often ensured by the

engineers, at least partially, throughout their career.

In the phase of creating a company or activity, engineers occupy

simultaneously several functions.
3. Functions of the engineer

Illustrations of the sectors of activity of the engineer

In France for example, engineers are evolving:

In the industry at 47%, with a predominance in aeronautics and armament.

and the energy;

In buildings and public works (BTP) at 5%;

In the tertiary sector and services with a predominance in companies

of IT services, and software publishers, engineering companies,
banks and insurance, advice, audits and finance;

In the DRC and in the provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, for example, the situation
could be different
4. Engineer Skills

Among the skills of an engineer are:

1. Design and implement

The engineer develops, with his team, a technology for example to:

Manufacturing an aircraft wing with a composite material;

Elaborate complex molecules for drug production;

Build the software for a multitasking humanoid robot;

Create software for financial management in the banking sector.

4. Engineer's skills

Among the skills of an engineer are:

Design and implement

The tests and technological implementation (manufacturing, transport, storage, logistics

or marketing).

2. Show creativity

The engineer is behind innovations likely to improve human life:

He imagines the least energy-intensive production techniques and designs materials.

lightweight, highly advanced software and adapting to changes is part of its
travail.
 4. Engineer's skills

3. Taking on responsibilities

Whether leading a team or responsible for project management, the engineer must
decide and take responsibility for your choices.

The direction and management of a team are the key skills of the profession, for this
reason, engineering schools are increasingly teaching students the concepts of
management.

4. Measure and evaluate

Master in developing evaluation or quality control tools for a product, a

activity or service constitutes a function specific to the engineer;

The areas of application are varied and can range from measuring quality.
the acoustics of a building to the safety of a bridge through the assessment of the impact
environmental or societal aspect of a decision.
4. Engineer Skills

5. Transmit
The engineer can also perform teaching functions.

The large scientific and technical culture that the engineer develops will allow him to
to evolve throughout their career.

The skills of the engineer are based on:

A high-level scientific and technical knowledge base that is

naturally its hard core;

Transversal knowledge: mastery of English and issues related to

the company (quality, hygiene and safety, industrial property), responsibilities
environmental, legal-financial, social and economic areas
as well as a practical approach to communication and capabilities
relational.
5. Evolutions and trends in the engineering profession

The engineering profession has evolved over time: a growing trend towards innovation.

Since its definition of the 20thcentury, this profession has undergone profound changes to
respond to or adapt to the new demands of the socioeconomic context of the 21st centuryth
century;

Around the world, the number of 'builder' engineers has decreased over the years.
(builder of bridges, highways or rockets) in favor of technical innovation
and scientific as well as commercial and financial functions;

The main factors behind this evolution are:

A large number of intangible domains: consulting, technical IT,

Mastery of abstract logical systems and organization sciences;
5. Evolutions and trends in the engineering profession
The development and innovation of sciences and technologies for the process
of design, implementation, operation, and maintenance;

The diversification of the functions assigned to engineers;

The increase in the number of engineers involved in the same industrial process or
the same services;

The multiplication of interactions with the specialties of other professions.

More and more female engineers are working in the workforce, especially in
the sciences and techniques of information and communication

The engineers working in agricultural and food engineering schools, in chemistry and
in the life sciences.
6. Some professions and their fields
The professions of electronics

The professional fields that represent the jobs in electronics are found in
the following areas: Electronics is the field par excellence.
low currents whose level
the intensity is on the order of milliamperes
Audiovisual-multimedia equipment
Computer equipment
Professional audiovisual equipment
The comfort equipment of homes (Household appliances)
Household appliances
Alarm and security equipment
Telecommunication and network equipment
The on-board electronic equipment
The equipment for observation, analysis, and measurement instrumentation.
6. Some professions and their professional fields
2. The professions in electrotechnics

Electrotechnics is the study of the technical applications of electricity,

She studies production, transport, processing, transformation, and use of

electric energy.

Electromechanics are associated with 'strong currents' as opposed to 'weak currents'.

weaknesses that would be the exclusive domain of electronics
6. Some professions and their fields
2. The professions in electrotechnics

The professional field of electrotechnics is extremely:

The production and transport of electrical energy (Thermal power plants,

nuclear power plants, solar power plants, wind farms, transport networks
electricity, transformation station, etc.;

The manufacturing of electrical equipment (electric motors, circuit breakers,

contactors, switches, etc.

Electrotechnics has close ties with electronics and automation that intervene
in the control of the engines.
6. Some professions and their professional fields
2. The professions of electrotechnics

The professional fields that represent the trades of electrical engineering are
find themselves in the following areas:

Electric machines (electric motors, generators, alternators,

converters, etc.

Voltage transformers;

Electrical networks (LV, MV, HV);

Storage, (battery, capacitors);

Electrical installation and safety equipment (meters, circuit breakers,

switches, electrical cables, etc.
6. Some professions and their professional fields
3. The professions of mining engineering

The main areas of intervention of the mining engineer concern:

open-pit and underground extractive industry;

the enhancement of extracted mineral substances;

the planning, operation, and management of mines;

various sectors of public works and civil engineering such as earthworks,

basic infrastructures and engineering works (bridges, tunnels, railways, dams,
etc.).
6. Some professions and their fields
3. The professions of mining engineering

The mining sector offers excellent job prospects at the national level.
and international;

les ingénieurs exercent dans les différents secteurs des mines, de génie civil,
public works, public administrations (Ministries, Agencies of
control), private sector, consulting, and analysis and testing laboratories
materials, research centers.
6. Some professions and their professional fields
4. The professions in the field of Hygiene, Safety, and Environment (HSE)

Health, Safety and Environment "HSE" is an area of expertise that

group everything related to health and safety at work;

It is a field of technical expertise controlling aspects related to risks.

professionals within the company;

The HSE officer is responsible for:

ensure the safety of personnel;

in its training on prevention,
aux respects des normes,
and to the reliability of the installations in the company.
6. Some professions and their professional fields
4. Jobs in the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) sector

The HSE manager is a risk manager because preventing failures and

bodily injury has become a significant issue for companies and
insurances (See the disasters of Chernobyl, Seveso, AZF, asbestos...)

The hygiene and safety function ensures the smooth operation of the company by
reducing human and material damage.

It focuses primarily on work accidents, occupational diseases and

for environmental protection.

This job requires good physical stamina, composure, initiative,

observation and discretion.