: Author order and grouping on technical document This question pertains to author/contributor order and grouping on a technical document. I performed tests on some equipment and had two other people

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1) A comment like "hey, don't forget to test XYZ" gets an acknowledgement at the end.
2) I've never seen a format like this, where you actually separate the author list into two sections. I like it. Just have never seen it.
3) Bosses go at the end of the author list. In academia or government, they should be left off if they had no real involvement. But well-known people often get author credit just for their name recognition. Everyone agrees it is unethical, but many people do it anyway. Industry may be different.
4) Providing a part: Not enough info to decide. Normally, someone who just made something to your specs, using only standard techniques, would not get any share of the authorship. That goes for machining, mixing chemicals, soldering a circuit, etc. Use an acknowledgement.
5) Some journals require an explanation of what each author did, and it gets published with the paper (in a boxed footnote on the first page, in a tiny font). I love that; helps keep people honest. In your case, it would probably defeat the purpose of your publication. "All the real work was done by the first three guys. Our boss told us to take the measurements. The Vice-President of Research did nothing whatsoever." Not a good career strategy. Sadly.

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