Dry instruments are truly far inferior to process technology
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When I first graduated, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. When choosing a field of work, the HR officer said that my major was well-suited for working in instrumentation, so that’s how I ended up in that field. I think I did a decent job working with instruments for five years, but I feel that the limits for such work are too low; I have no real status in the company and end up spending my time dealing with process-related matters every day. Process engineering is always the top priority: there are significant salary increases, many opportunities for promotion, and those in the same field of process engineering have an edge without any doubt. Even the chief technician has to bow and scrape in front of the main process operator; after all, we are just auxiliary workers. If they tell us to carry out repairs, we have to do so without complaint, no matter how harsh the working conditions are or how unimportant the instrument in question is. Enduring such treatment is simply part of our daily routine. The company’s management unconditionally favors the production process; even if you are right, you will still get reprimanded. Within the field of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation, instruments are ranked at the bottom; the person in charge of the equipment is usually one rank higher than the person in charge of the instruments, and that person also oversees you. It’s quite sad to think one has to live like this their whole life.
Different companies have different regulations; we treat everyone equally
Mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems are auxiliary; instruments are even more auxiliary among these, and they can be optional. The entry requirements are very low, but it’s difficult to achieve mastery. What’s important is to reach a level of expertise – there isn’t even a category for automation instrumentation engineers, so there’s no certificate available to prove one’s skills in this field
Many units outsource the maintenance of their instruments~~~~
I have over 20 years of experience in the field of instruments. I’ve always believed that this is a premium field – it offers rapid career development, high levels of professionalism, and numerous job opportunities upon changing positions. So, whether a job position is good or not mostly depends on personal opinion
In our department, the person in charge of manufacturing is called a manager, and there are several of them; whereas for instrumentation, there is only one such person, who is called a supervisor. Not only is the supervisor two ranks below the manager, but they are also under the control of a mobile manager with equipment background. In other words, no matter how skilled one is in working with instruments at this company, no matter how proficient one’s technical skills may be, one still has to submit unconditionally to departments such as those responsible for process equipment. The person in charge of instrument-related tasks does not hold a leadership position within the company’s structure; anyone can give orders to them.
A skilled technician must keep learning throughout their career, and they also need to gain experience through working on small projects; in addition, a good technician should understand manufacturing processes as well. Instrumentation itself is not easy, but it fails to be reused or recognized. Instruments serve as the \"brain\" (the system) and the \"eyes\" (conventional instruments) of production; yet the field of instrumentation does not receive the respect and acknowledgment that its functions deserve. It’s also not easy to find work in the instrumentation field; small companies don’t distinguish between electrical and instrumentation tasks, and they also make you do various odd jobs ； Do you have any large companies in your hometown? How many can there be? How many chemical industry professionals make a living in foreign lands? Moreover, the salary and benefits for these staff members are also lower than those in other departments.
You need to find a way to turn things around; you can’t keep letting the manufacturing process get the best of you!
It has to be viewed relativistically~~ Skilled instrument technicians are valued everywhere~~
In industrial enterprises, the production process is directly linked to manufacturing, and it is the department that directly contributes to the company’s ability to produce products and generate profits; hence its importance is relatively high. Instruments are there to ensure the proper operation of the process, and there is certainly a difference between them and departments that directly generate profits. A company is composed of various functional departments, and those who assess their importance are often not the truly vital institutions or departments of the company. In fact, businesses are the most important – they involve sales, finance, and human resources; in the case of state-owned enterprises, the party committee should also be considered one of those elements.
It’s a supporting specialty; of course, there are those who try to make their way into it as well