The Never-Ending Challenge of Engineering

This is a collection of writings by Rickover compiled by Paul Cantonwine and printed by the American Nuclear Society. A text version is available for personal use by verified alumni - please email info@nr-ha.org.

The book is divided into 5 parts: Part 1 on becoming an innovator; Part 2 on American innovators -Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and George Washington Carver; Part 3 on engineering in practice; Part 4 on technology’s impact on society; and an Epilogue on man’s purpose in life.

Some key takeaways:

1. Technical projects should be run by technical people, not managers implementing the latest fad in management.

2. Implementation of technology requires that we consider the short-term and long-term disadvantages of its use.

3. Problem areas in management of technical manufacturing are:

a. Incomplete understanding of basic manufacturing and inspection processes.

b. Poor workmanship and poor quality control.

4. Importance of the following:

a. Technical competence.

b. Responsibility.

c. Facing the facts, even if it’s uncomfortable.

d. Conservatism of design.