The Vitruvian Principle
The Vitruvian Principle
The Vitruvian Principle
Engineering for People, Not Just for a Specification
Engineering for People, Not Just for a Specification
Engineering for People, Not Just for a Specification
Engineering & Value
Engineering & Value
Engineering & Value
Content
Content
Content
Information Age
Modern Era
Industrial Revolution
Renaissance
Middle Ages
Late Antiquity
Bronze Age
Classical Antiquity
c. 800 BC - 500 AD
Information
Age
Modern
Era
Industrial
Revolution
Renaissance
Middle
Ages
Late
Antiquity
Bronze Age
Classical Antiquity
c. 800 BC - 500 AD
Information Age
Modern Era
Industrial Revolution
Renaissance
Middle Ages
Late Antiquity
Bronze Age
Classical Antiquity
c. 800 BC - 500 AD
Vitruvius, the great Roman architect and engineer, famously wrote that a well-designed structure must have three qualities: firmitas (strength), utilitas (usefulness), and venustas (beauty). While all three are important, it is utilitas, or usefulness, that holds the most profound lesson for modern industrial engineering. It is the principle that a design is only successful if it truly serves the needs of the people who use it every day.
This article explores why this ancient, human-centric principle is the key to unlocking true operational value in engineering projects.
Vitruvius, the great Roman architect and engineer, famously wrote that a well-designed structure must have three qualities: firmitas (strength), utilitas (usefulness), and venustas (beauty). While all three are important, it is utilitas, or usefulness, that holds the most profound lesson for modern industrial engineering. It is the principle that a design is only successful if it truly serves the needs of the people who use it every day.
This article explores why this ancient, human-centric principle is the key to unlocking true operational value in engineering projects.
Vitruvius, the great Roman architect and engineer, famously wrote that a well-designed structure must have three qualities: firmitas (strength), utilitas (usefulness), and venustas (beauty). While all three are important, it is utilitas, or usefulness, that holds the most profound lesson for modern industrial engineering. It is the principle that a design is only successful if it truly serves the needs of the people who use it every day.
This article explores why this ancient, human-centric principle is the key to unlocking true operational value in engineering projects.
The Modern Challenge:
The "Technically Perfect, Practically Useless" Solution
The Modern Challenge:
The "Technically Perfect, Practically Useless" Solution
The Modern Challenge:
The "Technically Perfect, Practically Useless" Solution
We have all seen it: the new piece of software that is technically brilliant but impossible for the team to use; the new piece of equipment that meets every engineering specification but is a nightmare to maintain. This is the result of "over the fence" engineering, where a solution is designed to meet a technical specification in isolation, with little or no input from the operators and maintenance teams who must live with it. The result is a solution that is technically perfect but practically flawed, creating frustration, inefficiency, and a failure to deliver the promised value.
We have all seen it: the new piece of software that is technically brilliant but impossible for the team to use; the new piece of equipment that meets every engineering specification but is a nightmare to maintain. This is the result of "over the fence" engineering, where a solution is designed to meet a technical specification in isolation, with little or no input from the operators and maintenance teams who must live with it. The result is a solution that is technically perfect but practically flawed, creating frustration, inefficiency, and a failure to deliver the promised value.
We have all seen it: the new piece of software that is technically brilliant but impossible for the team to use; the new piece of equipment that meets every engineering specification but is a nightmare to maintain. This is the result of "over the fence" engineering, where a solution is designed to meet a technical specification in isolation, with little or no input from the operators and maintenance teams who must live with it. The result is a solution that is technically perfect but practically flawed, creating frustration, inefficiency, and a failure to deliver the promised value.
The Ancient Principle:
Design for the User
The Ancient Principle:
Design for the User
The Ancient Principle:
Design for the User
Vitruvius's focus on utilitas was a recognition that a building's ultimate purpose is to serve its inhabitants. Its strength and beauty are meaningless if it is not a functional and useful space. This principle is a call for empathy in design. It demands that the engineer or architect put themselves in the shoes of the end user and design a solution that is not just technically elegant, but also practical, intuitive, and fit for its human purpose.
Vitruvius's focus on utilitas was a recognition that a building's ultimate purpose is to serve its inhabitants. Its strength and beauty are meaningless if it is not a functional and useful space. This principle is a call for empathy in design. It demands that the engineer or architect put themselves in the shoes of the end user and design a solution that is not just technically elegant, but also practical, intuitive, and fit for its human purpose.
Vitruvius's focus on utilitas was a recognition that a building's ultimate purpose is to serve its inhabitants. Its strength and beauty are meaningless if it is not a functional and useful space. This principle is a call for empathy in design. It demands that the engineer or architect put themselves in the shoes of the end user and design a solution that is not just technically elegant, but also practical, intuitive, and fit for its human purpose.
The MPX Solution:
Engineering That Serves
The MPX Solution:
Engineering That Serves
The MPX Solution:
Engineering That Serves
At MPX, the antidote to "over the fence" engineering is our commitment to Operational Value Alignment. This is a philosophy that ensures our engineering solutions are tailored not just to a technical specification, but to your unique operational and strategic needs.
We reject a siloed approach and instead combine our deep domain expertise with a collaborative process that actively engages your operational and maintenance teams. Our extensive experience across a vast range of sectors, from iron ore processing to water treatment plants, allows us to understand diverse operational contexts and design solutions that are effective, safe, and truly fit for purpose. We believe that the best solutions are born from a deep, empathetic understanding of the people who will use them every day.
At MPX, the antidote to "over the fence" engineering is our commitment to Operational Value Alignment. This is a philosophy that ensures our engineering solutions are tailored not just to a technical specification, but to your unique operational and strategic needs.
We reject a siloed approach and instead combine our deep domain expertise with a collaborative process that actively engages your operational and maintenance teams. Our extensive experience across a vast range of sectors, from iron ore processing to water treatment plants, allows us to understand diverse operational contexts and design solutions that are effective, safe, and truly fit for purpose. We believe that the best solutions are born from a deep, empathetic understanding of the people who will use them every day.
At MPX, the antidote to "over the fence" engineering is our commitment to Operational Value Alignment. This is a philosophy that ensures our engineering solutions are tailored not just to a technical specification, but to your unique operational and strategic needs.
We reject a siloed approach and instead combine our deep domain expertise with a collaborative process that actively engages your operational and maintenance teams. Our extensive experience across a vast range of sectors, from iron ore processing to water treatment plants, allows us to understand diverse operational contexts and design solutions that are effective, safe, and truly fit for purpose. We believe that the best solutions are born from a deep, empathetic understanding of the people who will use them every day.
5 Questions to Ensure Your Next Project Has Utilitas
5 Questions to Ensure Your Next Project Has Utilitas
5 Questions to Ensure Your Next Project Has Utilitas
Before signing off on any new engineering design, ask these five questions:
Before signing off on any new engineering design, ask these five questions:
Before signing off on any new engineering design, ask these five questions:
1. How have the operators who will use this system been involved in its design?
1. How have the operators who will use this system been involved in its design?
1. How have the operators who will use this system been involved in its design?
2. How have the maintenance personnel who will service this equipment been consulted on its accessibility and repairability?
2. How have the maintenance personnel who will service this equipment been consulted on its accessibility and repairability?
2. How have the maintenance personnel who will service this equipment been consulted on its accessibility and repairability?
3. Beyond meeting the technical specs, how does this solution make my team's job easier, safer, or more productive?
3. Beyond meeting the technical specs, how does this solution make my team's job easier, safer, or more productive?
3. Beyond meeting the technical specs, how does this solution make my team's job easier, safer, or more productive?
4. What is the plan for training and documentation to ensure our team can fully own and manage this solution long-term?
4. What is the plan for training and documentation to ensure our team can fully own and manage this solution long-term?
4. What is the plan for training and documentation to ensure our team can fully own and manage this solution long-term?
5. How will we measure the success of this project from an operational perspective, not just a project management one?
5. How will we measure the success of this project from an operational perspective, not just a project management one?
5. How will we measure the success of this project from an operational perspective, not just a project management one?
The most successful engineering projects are those that remember their human purpose. By embracing the Vitruvian principle of utilitas, we can move beyond designing for a specification and start designing for people, creating solutions that deliver not just technical compliance, but true and lasting operational value.
Contact MPX to learn how our human-centric approach to engineering can benefit your next project.
The most successful engineering projects are those that remember their human purpose. By embracing the Vitruvian principle of utilitas, we can move beyond designing for a specification and start designing for people, creating solutions that deliver not just technical compliance, but true and lasting operational value.
Contact MPX to learn how our human-centric approach to engineering can benefit your next project.
The most successful engineering projects are those that remember their human purpose. By embracing the Vitruvian principle of utilitas, we can move beyond designing for a specification and start designing for people, creating solutions that deliver not just technical compliance, but true and lasting operational value.
Contact MPX to learn how our human-centric approach to engineering can benefit your next project.