I would like to ask about the tasks involved in process design in the pharmaceutical or food industry

The design in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries is quite specialized, and there are many industry standards that must be followed. Compared to petrochemical industries, it should be a bit more difficult. As long as one is willing to learn* and use their brain, it’s possible.

Thank you for your reply. Is it easy to switch to the chemical and petrochemical industry in the future?

It’s okay. It’s not difficult. Ask more questions on the forum. Colleagues, it’s fine for anyone.

Medicines and health products are roughly in the same category; many of the management practices used for them are based on the same or similar standards. Food and cosmetics come next in terms of these standards. It is still possible to transition into this field – what’s important is to learn the methods of this industry and gain experience, as there are many similarities between different areas.

I first worked in pharmaceutical design for a few years, before switching to fine chemical design. Personally, I think the industry of pharmaceuticals and food is relatively simple; this is evident in its flexible design, fewer pipelines, simpler manufacturing processes, and minimal chemical reactions. The equipment used is mostly standard-type, and the requirements are not many. Compared to the chemical or fine chemical industries, higher standards are required for factory buildings, the layout of individual units becomes more complex, and the design requirements for ventilation and air conditioning systems are greater. These requirements are primarily based on building codes and specifications for designing clean pharmaceutical factories. Chemical and fine chemical engineering involve a high level of complexity: there are numerous pipelines, many chemical reactions take place, and a large amount of raw materials is used. Special requirements exist regarding the storage of these raw materials. Additionally, the large number of pipelines places high demands on piping expertise. During the design process, it is necessary to refer to a wide range of standards, such as those related to petrochemicals, general layout design, and chemical engineering manuals. From the overall layout of the facility to even the selection of fasteners, there are standards to follow, which tests one’s professional skills to a great extent. The computational workload in chemical engineering is greater than that in pharmaceutical engineering, especially when it comes to heat transfer calculations involving steam and cooling water. In chemical production, the quantities of these utility fluids are very large. Chemical engineering does not require as many specifications related to air conditioning systems, as many processes take place outdoors. I feel that working in the chemical industry requires a higher level of expertise than in the pharmaceutical field, and it also brings more a sense of achievement. It’s not difficult to transition from pharmaceuticals to the chemical industry; one just needs to study the relevant standards carefully and not neglect the principles of chemistry. It’s best to start with simple projects – completing two such projects should be sufficient.

There are similarities between the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, as well as significant differences. It’s more difficult to switch once working hours have started, or switching requires a great deal of effort (time and energy, etc.).