So you’re considering a job in process engineering? That’s great, but as with any other career choice, it’s important that you know what’s required of the job before you take the final plunge.
Here is what you need to know about a career in process engineering.
What is process engineering?
Process engineering is basically a variety of chemical engineering. It’s primarily used to streamline industrial and manufacturing processes. Process engineers use their expertise in numerous disciplines, including biochemistry, physics, and mathematics to improve operational efficiency in a business environment.
As an example, a process engineer would be consulted when an organization is looking to streamline processes and better control overhead expenses. The process engineer would provide recommendations concerning operations management, inventory best-practices, obtaining raw materials, and software used to track sales and expenses. The process engineer can also provide input regarding more sophisticated cost-cutting measures, such as ways to limit energy and raw material consumption.
Relevant industries
Just because process engineering is a type of chemical engineering, that doesn’t mean that process engineers work only in chemical-related industries. In fact, they work in many industries.
They provide advice to utility companies regarding operations such as water distribution and wastewater treatment. You’ll find process engineers working for companies that produce pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, or marketable chemical compounds. Process engineers are also frequently consulted for environmental purposes: they can provide insight on extracting natural resources while minimizing the damage to the planet.
Characteristics of process engineers
If you’re planning on pursuing a career in process engineering, you’re best start is to obtain a graduate-level degree, preferably in chemical engineering or a similar field. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a university with a process engineering program, you should certainly take advantage of that. Most universities, however, will only offer chemical engineering, without a particular emphasis on process engineering.
Beyond post-secondary education, if you want to be successful as a process engineer, you should be technically inclined and demonstrate a love of science in general. A splash of creativity would certainly help, as some engineering problems require innovative solutions.
Feel free to contact us at Selectek to learn more about job opportunities available for professionals with an engineering background. Our ability to match skilled candidates to exact-fit opportunities has been the basis of our success, and why we’ve become the staffing solution of choice for your engineering and technology industry.
