what do chemical engineers do
DESCRIPTION
so that you know that chemical engineers do a lot of pretty fancy stuffTRANSCRIPT
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Chemical Engineering,
What do Chemical Engineers Do ?
twouldtaketoolongtolistalltheproductsthatareimpactedbychemicalengineers,butknowingwhatindustriesemploythemmayhelpyoucomprehendthescopeoftheirwork.Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design andconstruction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals,
microelectronics,electronicandadvancedmaterials,polymers,businessservices,biotechnology,andenvironmentalhealthandsafetyindustries,amongothers.
IWithin these industries, chemical engineers rely on their knowledge of mathematics andscienceparticularlychemistrytoovercometechnicalproblemssafelyandeconomically.And,of course, they draw upon and apply their engineering knowledge to solve any technicalchallenges they encounter. Dont make the mistake of thinking that chemical engineers onlymakethings,though.Theirexpertiseisalsoappliedintheareasoflaw,education,publishing,finance,andmedicine,aswellasinmanyotherfieldsthatrequiretechnicaltraining.
Specifically,chemicalengineersimprovefoodprocessingtechniques,andmethodsofproducingfertilizers,toincreasethequantityandqualityofavailablefood.
They also construct the synthetic fibers that make our clothes more comfortable and waterresistant;theydevelopmethodstomassproducedrugs,makingthemmoreaffordable;andtheycreatesafer,moreefficientmethodsofrefiningpetroleumproducts,makingenergyandchemicalsourcesmoreproductiveandcosteffective.
Chemicalengineersalsodevelopsolutionstoenvironmentalproblems,suchaspollutioncontrolandremediation.
Andyes,theyprocesschemicals,whichareusedtomakeorimprove justabouteverythingyouseearoundyou.
Chemicalengineersfacemanyofthesamechallengesthatotherprofessionalsface,andtheymeetthesechallengesbyapplyingtheirtechnicalknowledge,communicationandteamworkskills;themost uptodate practices available; and hard work. Benefits include financial reward,recognitionwithinindustryandsociety,andthegratificationthatcomesfromworkingwiththeprocessesofnaturetomeettheneedsofsociety.
Job Descriptions
The specific responsibilitiesof chemicalengineers, thoughvaryingamong industriesandevenwithin the same company, canbe categorized ingeneral terms.Titles suchas processdesignengineerandprojectengineerwilldescribepositionsinmostindustries,whateverthetypeofwork,process,equipment,andproductthatisinvolved.
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JOB FUNCTION
DESCRIPT ION
ProcessDesignEngineer
Designsmanufacturing facilitiesand the equipmentandmaterialusedinside. Process design engineers work with teams of engineers todevelop new or improved processes tomeet a companys productionneeds.
EnvironmentalEngineer
Developstechniquestoreduceandrecoverusablematerialsfromwastecreated during manufacture of a product. Designs waste storage andtreatment facilities, as well as pollution control strategies for plantoperations.Environmentalengineersmayberesponsibleformonitoringallsystems inafacilityforcompliancewithgovernmentenvironmentalregulations.
Plant ProcessEngineer
Provides technical support to staff and troubleshoots processes in aproduction facility to keep a plant running efficiently. Plant processengineersworkcloselywithequipmentoperatorstogetfeedbackontheoperations of each process and determine how to avoid shutdowns.Theymay also be involvedwith some designwork for improvementprojects.
Process SafetyEngineer
Designsandmaintainsplantsandprocesses thatare safer forworkersandcommunities.Processsafetyengineersmayconductsafetyanalysesofnewandexistingequipment,and trainemployeesonhow to safelyoperateanewpieceofequipment.
ProjectEngineer
Oversees thedesignandconstructionofspecificprocesses ina facility.After construction, they may assist in equipment testing, operatortraining,andplantstartup.Projectengineersmayberesponsibleforthedesign,andstartup,ofaspecificprocessinafacility.
Consultant Works formanydifferentcustomersandbringsspecializedknowledgetoindividualprojects.Consultantsinaconstructioncompanymayworkwithteamsofengineerstodesignandconstructanexpansionprojectforapharmaceuticalcompany.
ProductEngineer
Followstheproductioncycleofaparticularproducttoensurethat it isbeingproducedaccordingtospecification.ProductengineersmayworkwithmarketingandR&Dtoensurethataproductwillmeettheneedsofcustomers,thenseetheproductthroughproduction.Theymayworkonnewproductsorspecialvariationsofexistingproducts.
ManufacturingProductionEngineer
Responsible for the daytoday operation of a specific manufacturingprocess. Manufacturing production engineers work directly withoperators to ensure that a particular product is made according tospecifications.
Research &Development
Seeksoutnewandmoreefficientwaysofusingandproducingexistingproducts. Explores and develops new processes and products and
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Engineer determines their usefulness and applicability. Chemical engineersworking in research and development may work with chemists andotherengineerstodevelopanewprocessornewproductthatwillbettermeetcustomerneeds.
ProjectManager
Overseestheoveralldesignandconstructionofafacility,thenmanagesongoing operations.Projectmanagersmaymanage a group ofprojectengineersduringthedesignandconstructionofanewfacility.
Attorney Specializesinintellectualpropertylaw,patentlaw,technologytransfer,environmental compliance, and safety issues. Patent attorneys obtainpatents for clients and monitor the marketplace for possible patentinfringements.
BiomedicalSpecialist
Works alongside physicians to develop systems that track criticalchemicalprocessesinthebody.Biomedicalspecialistsmaybe involvedinthedesignofartificialorgans,suchasheartsandlungs.
ComputerApplications& TechnologyEngineer
Designs instrumentation and programs systems monitor and controlcertainprocesses.Automationengineersmaydesignsystemstomonitoraseriesofprocessesinachemical,petroleumorbiotechnologyfacility.
TechnicalManager
Responsiblefortheengineeringstaffandprogramsatafacility.Managespeople, research programs, and daily operations of the engineeringfunctions.TechnicalmanagersmayoverseetheR&Dprogramandworkwithplantmanagerstoplanandimplementthefundingprogramsandexpansionnecessarytodevelopanewproduct.
BusinessCoordinator
Develops budgets and capital projections for a facility or process.Business coordinators work closely with production and design teammembers toascertain theexactneedsofanewprocess, thenplans thecapitalneedsnecessarytoimplementtheprogram.
Professor Instructs students in the field of chemical engineering and conductsresearch in pertinent areas. Professors may teach several classes inchemical engineering, be members on university committees, andconductresearchusingfundingfromgovernment,corporate,orprivategrants.
QualityControlEngineer
Monitors the manufacture of a product to ensure that it meetsspecifications.Also,testsmaterialstodeterminehowtheyperformovertime.Qualitycontrolengineersmaybringsamplesofaproductinfromafieldtest,orfromanormalapplication,andtestthemtodeterminehowspecificproperties, such as strength, color, andweatherability, changeovertime.
RegulatoryAffairsEngineer
Researches, develops, and monitors policies and procedures thatcompaniesmustfollowtoensuretheproperhandlingofchemicalsandchemicalcomponents.Chemicalengineers in regulatoryaffairsmaybe
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governmentemployees,whostudy theenvironmental impactofanewchemical,thenrecommendappropriateguidelinesforthechemicalsuse.
TechnicalServicesEngineer
Works with customers, usually onsite, to solve production problemscausedbyaspecificprocessormachine.Chemicalengineersworkingintechnicalservicesmayrepresentthemanufacturerofaspecificmachineto determine why it is not performing as designed. They often mustunderstand the other steps in the production process to determine ifthereisabreakdowninanotherarea.
SalesandMarketingEngineer
Assists customers in solving production and process problems byprovidingproductsandservices tomeet theirspecificneeds.Chemicalengineers in sales use their technical knowledge to sell chemicals,equipment, and other products, and provide followup services andtrainingwhereneeded.moreinformation
Industry Profiles
Chemicalengineersareemployedinmanyindustries,representingadiverserangeofproducts,employers,andservices.
ChemicalProcessIndustries(CPI)TheCPIsfocusisonthedevelopment,extraction,isolation,combination,anduseofchemicalsandchemicalbyproducts.Specialtyareasinclude:
AgriculturalChemicals Catalysts SpecialtyChemicals IndustrialGases Paints,Varnishes,Lacquers,Pigments,andInks Petrochemicals PetroleumProducts Plastics,SyntheticResins,andComposites Polymers PulpandPaper RubberandRubberProducts Soaps,Detergents,Perfumes,Fats,Oils,andCosmetics SyntheticFibers,Textiles,andFilms
Chemical engineers in the CPI design and operate the processes and systems to combine,transport,separate,handle,recycle,andstorechemicalsandtheirbyproducts.
BiotechnologyThebiotechnologyindustryuseslivingcellsandmaterialsproducedbycells,andbiologicaltechniquesdevelopedthroughresearch,tocreateproductsforuseinotherindustries.Workinthefieldofbiotechnologyhasproducedantibiotics,insulin,interferon,artificialorgans,recombinant DNA, techniques for waste reduction and recycling, and hybrid plants that areinsect resistant.Chemical engineers in the biotechnology industry develop and design theprocessestogrow,handle,andharvestlivingorganismsandtheirbyproducts.
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Design&Construction Thedesignand construction industryworkswithallother industrysectors todesign and build the facilities, specify themachinery, anddesign and troubleshootprocesses thatwillallowcompanies tooperatesafeandefficientplants.Chemicalengineers inthedesign&construction industryare involvedwithprocessdesignandprojectmanagement,andworkcloselywithotherengineeringdisciplines.
Electronics Chemical engineers in the electronics industry are involved with materialdevelopment and production, and process control equipment design. Knowing how processequipmentinachemicalplant,forexample,issupposedtofunctiongivesthechemicalengineeranadvantage indesigningcontrolequipment tomonitoreachprocess.Chemicalengineersarealso involved in themanufacturingofmicrochipsand intricatecircuitry,using their training todevelopthematerialsandprocessesthatallowsuchcircuitstobeproperlyassembled.Chemicalengineerscontributionstothefieldincludeproducingcomponentsthatbetterdissipateheat,andoperatefaster.
Environmental,Safety&HealthInalmosteveryindustry,chemicalengineersareinvolvedinareas thatconcern theenvironment,wasteminimization,andpersonalhealthandsafety.Witheveryprocess that involves theuse andmanipulationof rawmaterials, somebyproducts areproduced.Thechemicalengineerisemployedtominimizetheproductionofbyproducts,iftheyare of no use, or find an appropriate use for them.Chemical engineers helpminimizewastethroughprocessmonitoringandcontrol,andbydesigningnewprocessesthataremoreefficient.Thiscategoryalso includes thosechemicalengineerswhoare involved inwaste treatmentanddisposal,andprocesssafetyandlossprevention.Processsafetyinvolveshowpeoplesafelyworkwithandhandlecertainmaterials.
Food & Beverages The food and beverage industry includes the handling, processing,preparation,packaging,andpreservationoffoodandbeverages.Chemicalengineersinthefoodandbeveragesindustryformulatenewproductstomeetconsumerdemand,changeingredientsforbetterflavor,changehandlingprocessesformoreconsistenttexture,andfreezedryproductsordesignasepticpackagingtoensurealongershelflife.
Fuels Those industries that fallunder thecategoryof fuels includepetroleumandpetroleumproductsproduction,and refining,aswellasnuclearandsynthetic fuels.Typicallyknown fortheirwork in refineries,chemicalengineersarealso involved indevelopingalternativeenergysources.Chemicalengineersinthefuelsindustriesworkonproductionprocesses,environmentalmonitoring,researchanddevelopment,andprocesssafety.
AdvancedMaterialsIndustriesinthecategoryofadvancedmaterialsusechemicalengineerstohelp develop materials with different properties such as weight, strength, heat transfer,reflectivity,andpurity.Industriesthatemploychemicalengineersforthesepurposesinclude:
Aerospace Automotive Glass Ceramics Electronics Refractories Metals MetallurgicalProducts MineralsProcessing PhotographicProducts
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Other Chemicalengineersarenot limited to those industries thatproduceproductsmadebycombining, refining, or processing chemicals. The technical training that chemical engineersreceivealsomakesthemwellsuitedforworkinthefollowingareas:
Business Finance Insurance Law Publications Education Government
Chemical engineers can use their training to manage, analyze, and insure businesses in thechemical process industries. They canwork as patent attorneys, applying their knowledge tointellectualproperty.Chemicalengineersalsoworkastechnicalwriters,teachersandprofessors.Within the government, theUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Department ofEnergy,USNavy, NASA, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Agriculture,tonameafew,allemploychemicalengineers.
The Workplace
SalaryFactsforChemicalEngineers
According to the Fall 2003 report of the National Association of Colleges and Employers,chemicalengineeringgraduatesrankamongthehighestpaidwithintheengineeringdisciplines.AsofSeptember2003,averageofferswereup2.4% from2002, increasing to$52,384 from lastyears$51,137.Thetopthreeemployersmakingofferstochemicalengineers in2003werebasicchemicals,petroleumandcoalproducts,and food/beverage industry.Themostoffersmade tochemical engineers in 2003 based on job function were overwhelmingly chemical processengineeringwiththeaverageofferbeing$53,989.
Theaverageoffersbydegreelevelwere:
Bachelors: $52,384
Masters: $57,857
Doctoral: $70,729
Oftheoffersbycurriculumforalltypesofemployers,womenreceivedoffersaveraging$52,857andmen$51,921.Theseofferswereupfrom2002,whentheaverageofferstowomenandmenwere$51,755and$51,302respectively.
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Thefollowingisasamplingofaverageoffersbyemploymentsector:
Sector Avg.Offer
Chemicals(Basic) $54,088
Computer & Electronic ProductsManufacturing
$49,198
Food,Beverage,&Tobacco $52,771
PaperManufacturing $52,824
Petroleum&CoalProducts $55,754
Pharmaceuticals&MedicineMfg. $53,444
OtherManufacturingEmployers(NEC) $51,096
Government(Federal) $40,652
ConsultingServices $47,635
EngineeringServices $48,775
Source:SalarySurvey:Astudyof20022003beginningoffers.NationalAssociationofCollegesandEmployers.Fall2003.Bethlehem,PA.
Employers
There are literally thousands of companies that employ chemical engineers. Take a look atIndustryProfilestoseethelistofindustriesthatemploychemicalengineers.Then,thinkofallthecompanieswithineachofthose industries.Togiveyouan ideaof thebreadthofopportunitiesavailable,letslookatoneexample:theGovernmentSector.
TheUnitedStatesGovernmentemployschemicalengineers,becausemanyofitsbranchesneedtheexpertisethatachemicalengineerbringstothejob.
SomeGovernmentAgenciesThatEmployChemicalEngineers
CoastGuard
DepartmentofAgriculture
DepartmentofCommerce
DepartmentofDefense
DepartmentofEducation
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DepartmentofEnergy
DepartmentofHealth&HumanServices
DepartmentofLabor
DepartmentofState
DepartmentoftheAirForce
DepartmentoftheArmy
DepartmentoftheInterior
DepartmentoftheNavy
DepartmentoftheTreasury
DepartmentofVeteransAffairs
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency
Food&DrugAdministration
NuclearRegulatoryCommission
Patent&TrademarkOffice
Chemicalengineersarealsoemployedatthestateandlocalgovernmentlevelsaswell.
Thus, in only one employment sector, there are more than 20 groups within it that employchemicalengineers.Gettheidea?
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