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Chemical & Material Science Engineering: Technical Reports & Standards

This guide provides resources relevant to chemical and material science engineering disciplines.

What is a Technical Report?

What is a Technical Report?

Technical reports describe the process, progress, or results of technical or scientific research. They include in-depth experimental details, data, and results.

Reasons to Use

Technical reports are usually produced to report on a specific research need. They can serve as a report of accountability to the organization funding the research. They provide access to the information before it is published elsewhere.

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What is a Standard?

What is a Standard?

Standards and their development frame, guide, and normalize almost all areas of our lives. Standards reflect the shared values, aspirations, and responsibilities we as a society project upon each other and our world. Keeping informed about the most current standards can drive innovation and increase the market value of an engineer’s research and design efforts.

Types of Standards: 

  • Product-/Design-Based Standards
    • Examples: ISO film speed code; banking and telephone cards
  • Performance-Based Standards
    • Examples: Safety of wire ropes; safety of toys
  • Management System Standards
    • Examples: ISO 9000 Quality and Environmental Management Systems
  • Personnel Certification Standards
    • Examples: Financial planners

Reasons to Use Standards

Standards allow technology to work seamlessly and establish trust so that markets can operate smoothly. They:

  • provide a common language to measure and evaluate performance
  • make interoperability of components made by different companies possible
  • protect consumers by ensuring safety, durability, and market equity

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How to Write a Technical Report

Here are some resources that help explain what is usually included in a technical report and how to write them!