I just started working in process engineering at a chemical engineering design institute – how should I pursue my learning?

Look up more standards; working harder can help improve skills quickly, but it’s important to listen to others’ opinions and develop the habit of asking why about everything. I work in petrochemical process design, which is different from chemical engineering, though the differences aren’t likely to be significant. What we do is essentially engineering design, and all our work must be based on solid foundations – this is also a habit that helps protect oneself from making arbitrary decisions regarding parameters or data. Process engineering is a critical field, so it’s essential to maintain a rigorous approach and not lower one’s standards. When encountering problems, one should be good at thinking and ask questions about things that are not understood. Even regarding standards that are unclear, it is advisable to communicate more with those who developed them. By continuously accumulating knowledge in this way, one can do this work well.

Okay, I will keep myself in check. There are many things I don’t understand, big and small; I really want to know why and how the results are obtained. I’m just a bit worried about being too much of a burden to others, constantly asking them this and that; so I was wondering if there’s any way to slow things down so that I don’t hold them up for too long. Recently, when working on design drawings, I’ve realized that many things rely on experience, such as basic labeling and the like.

Designs everywhere are largely copied; find reference drawings and relevant specifications, and ask questions whenever something is unclear or uncertain. In design, it’s not the lack of skills that’s a problem; what’s problematic is pretending to understand when you don’t. After all, the designs you create are turned into actual physical structures, and you are responsible for them for life. So, to be safe, it’s better to ask questions when you’re unsure.

Same as the original poster; I’ve been working here for just over a month and I’m still a complete novice

This post was last edited by richardpai on 2018-12-9 08:02, understanding the concern that asking too many questions might bother others. If there is something you don’t understand at work, first look up information on your own; it’s best to be able to solve the problem by yourself. The ability to solve problems independently is more important than design skills. Write down anything you’re not sure about; you can ask about them all at once later, which will reduce the number of times you have to disturb others. Basically, the higher one’s level, the less free time they have, so it’s possible to gather questions and ask them all at once when someone else isn’t too busy. If one has graduated in chemical engineering or chemical technology and works on gas pipelines, what is theoretically lacking are knowledge of metal materials (such as the designation of carbon steel, its material properties, areas of application, etc.), regulations regarding pipeline layout, knowledge of stress, and safety aspects (such as explosion prevention). I’ve mentioned what I think is the most important; actually, there’s a lot of content. The recommended standards include the \"Regulations on Safety Inspection of Pressure Pipelines – Industrial Pipelines\" (TSG D0001-2009), the \"Code for Pressure Pipelines – Industrial Pipelines\" (GB/T 20801-2006), the \"Design Code for Industrial Metal Pipelines\" GB50316-2000, the \"Safety Regulations for Gas in Industrial Enterprises\" GB6222-2005, and the \"Design Code for Electrical Installations in Explosive and Flammable Environments\" GB50058-2014. Book recommendations: \"Design of Pressure Piping and Engineering Examples\" (edited by Song Keko, Chemical Industry Press), and the Manual for the Installation and Design of Process Piping in Petrochemical Plants. In addition to professional knowledge, it is also necessary to be familiar with the hospital’s quality system documents, technical specifications, as well as the division of responsibilities among different specialties within the hospital and how to coordinate with other specialties.