Humgle – Chemical Engineering

A process engineer creates and develops industrial processes to make the products on which modern society depends.
These products include foods and drinks, fuels, artificial fibres, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, toiletries, energy
and clean water. The work is about large-scale chemical and biochemical processes in which raw materials undergo
change. This involves scaling up the manufacture of products and processes from the laboratory bench to full production
plants. Designing equipment, understanding the reactions taking place, installing control systems, starting, running and
upgrading the processes are all part of the job. Protecting the environment and safety are also significant concerns for
the process engineer.
Typical Work Activities
These include:
• applying the principles of mass, momentum and heat transfer to process and equipment design;
• designing, installing/constructing and commissioning new production units, monitoring development, (ie
modifications and upgrades), and troubleshooting existing processes, all within tight financial control;
• preparing flow diagrams and charts;
• evaluating processes and operating systems for the manufacture of products;
• assessing the availability of raw materials and the safety and environmental impact of the plant;
• managing cost and time constraints of projects;
• supporting the conversion of small-scale processes into commercially viable large-scale operations;
• assuming responsibility for risk assessment, necessitating hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies, for health and
safety of both company staff and the wider community, and for environmental monitoring;
• monitoring and improving the efficiency, output and safety of a plant, the process engineer will make observations
and measurements directly as well as collecting and interpreting data from the other technical and operating staff
involved;
• assuming responsibility for environmental issues and ongoing performance of processes and process plant;
• liaising with other process engineers, perhaps working on associated plants;
• working closely with other specialists including scientists responsible for quality control of raw materials,
intermediates and finished products, commercial colleagues on product specifications and production schedules,
and the operating crew.

Tags: Engineers, Industry, Pharmaceuticals, Process, Roles, What