Mechanical Technology January 2016

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Mechanical Technology — January 2016 35
⎪ Structural engineering materials, metals and non-metals ⎪
Optimal decision
capability 
Objective: to maximise achievable self-benefit.
Known Unknown
The effect of a possible
decision choice.
Known Calculation Mutual adjustment
Unknown Judgement Intuition
Figure 3: The effect of uncertainty on optimal decision-making capability.
science, which demands that matters
are always re-assessed in terms of new
understanding.
Take a commonly used material as
an example, structural steel. In years
gone by it was easily weldable and
highly user friendly. The chemistry was
relatively simple as was the manufactur-
ing process.
But the development of higher per-
forming steels and more predictable
manufacturing processes over the past
two decades has led to far lighter struc-
tures. These steels often have a more
complex chemistry and require manufac-
turing processes involving heat soaking
and controlled cooling.
As a result of the lighter structures
that are possible, problems that were
previously masked by scale, notably
deflection and distortion, have started
to emerge. With thinner sections, manu-
facturing and fabrication tolerances can
play a significant role. Welds are far
more highly stressed and tighter weld-
ing process control is required. The
higher performing weldable steels may
require pre-weld heat treatment and
complicated post-weld heat treatment,
including quenching. Unfortunately the
user friendliness of more modern steels
has declined significantly. Practically,
some are unaware of the new possibilities
and challenges offered and imposed by
modern steels.
How can the product-centred ap-
proach be modified to match the current
reality? One method is to adopt a target
cost approach, which does not change
the normal tender procedure but recog-
nises that all the expertise required for an
effective solution does not necessarily lie
with the client or designer. The essence
of a target cost contract is that it allows
for all parties to offer alternative solutions
that meet the operational circumstances
defined on the basis that cost savings
that accrue are shared.
The target cost approach – with re-
ciprocal interdependence – was used for
the 2012 UK Olympic games to provide
a mechanism through which negotiations
could quickly move to win-win scenarios
as participants concentrate on the indi-
vidual value potential available through
the project.
Providing an opportunity for more ef-
fective communication, sequential inter-
dependence driven by processes is better
replaced by a reciprocal interdependence
structure, which recognises that each
party is dependent on the others and
where coordination is achieved through
cooperation and adjustment.
Administration in South Africa has
grown towards control at the expense of
facilitation. Whilst this strives towards
controlling the performance of less able
staff using procedures and reports, the
question arises as to whether perfor-
mance is actually enhanced and whether
the reciprocal interdependence between
parties is sufficiently embraced. q