Preparation of Reports
General Remarks
As the type of industrial experience available will vary widely, no firm rules can be set for the preparation of these reports. The following notes are intended to give only general guidance.
To get the best from a period of industrial training it is essential to develop an enquiring attitude leading to keen observation of what is being done and a suitable curiosity as to why it is being done in that particular manner. Given such an attitude, material for the report will be based primarily on work carried out personally by the student, but may be supplemented by:
- Observation of, and enquiry about, work being done by others.
- External sources such as technical literature, training lectures, etc.
In order to systematically collect this material, the student is required to keep a diary. Sufficient detail should be recorded so that the material may be incorporated in the report. This diary record is not a suitable form for the report, and should contain much more material than will be included in a report. During the period of training many jobs may be carried out. Usually it is better to give a general description of the work and confine detailed appraisal to one or two tasks.
Examples of information to be gathered and written in diary
- A general description of the project or projects being undertaken, including names of principal and contractors.
- A general description of the work you did.
- A detailed description of at least one of your major tasks, showing where the task fitted into the project, the form in which you received information, calculations, drawings and, if possible, an evaluation of the final result.
- Description of some features of special interest in the project or other related projects.
Additional comments may cover:
- Management structure of principal's and/or contractor's organisation
- Work Organisation-Allocation of jobs to people or machines. Control of materials, time and costs.
- Construction equipment-Type and number of major items of construction plant.
- Labour relations and personnel-Skill classification of workers. (Wage structure, incentives, union activity, morale. Training for plant operators, supervisors.)
Format of Report
Usually the report will flow from general or large scale observation of the whole company to more detailed matter.
