Let’s talk about the tools we use as engineers. I’ll present one of the most useful (and not so secret) tools I use to get a leg up on younger engineers with their whamplodyne smartphones.

It’s a bit of a strained metaphor to use here, but a “five-tool” baseball player is someone that possesses several characteristics. Courtesy of Wikipedia these are: the ability to hit for average, hit for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding ability. Sure, these are more like attributes of a person rather than objects like a bat or glove, but overlooking that, let’s consider five assets I have in my toolbox. They allow me to swiftly and accurately solve problems, gauge the effect of variations in independent design parameters, and keep organized. They can also be valuable for problem solving in the field.

We’ll start with four simple tools and finish with a discussion of a fifth that has truly transformed the way I think about engineering solutions.

Top three tools: always within reach. Bottom one heavy.

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