Do you think one needs to be proficient in instruments to learn craftsmanship?

What does proficiency mean? Working shifts is a fundamental requirement in the petrochemical industry. How can one master the techniques in different specialties?

I don’t think mastery is necessary, but it’s essential to be able to do it; PID parameter tuning is something that shift leaders and chief operators must understand

My requirements for myself are excellent craftsmanship, clear presentation skills, knowledge of equipment, and the ability to manage. So I think, for instruments, it’s sufficient to just understand them, but there’s no need to be an expert

It’s fine as long as one can understand it; proficiency in instruments is necessary. Otherwise, if those in process control are already proficient in instruments, then what’s the need for instrument technicians?

Agree with the view from the fifth floor; with limited energy, it’s sufficient to master what is within one’s responsibilities, and to understand the rest

Those working in process engineering benefit greatly from having a better understanding of instrumentation knowledge, as it aids in making judgments regarding processes on-site; from this perspective, it is very useful to know more about instruments.

It’s necessary to understand this; just provide the relevant process parameters to the instrument technician

Of course, the more you know, the better; learning is endless after all.

Those working in manufacturing processes generally have some knowledge of instruments, which helps to broaden their perspective and enables them to make more accurate judgments about any abnormalities at the workplace. Therefore, having a better understanding of instruments, or even mastery of such knowledge, is highly beneficial for one’s work

Please do not misuse the term “expert.” If one isn’t even expert in the techniques involved, how can they claim to be an expert in instruments? There is a great deal of knowledge related to instruments that you may not have come across yet. However, for operators, it is important to understand the PID control method and how the values of various parameters affect the system’s response; this is something that should be learned. It can be mastered through basic training.

It’s great to be proficient, but it’s even better to master the craftsmanship and also be skilled with instruments – such a person is truly outstanding!

Process engineers must understand instruments, be familiar with PID control, and have expertise in the process itself

It’s not necessary to be an expert; it’s sufficient to be able to adjust the PID so that it can handle most unexpected situations. Becoming an expert is too difficult – we don’t have the resources, and factory production doesn’t allow us to conduct experiments under all possible conditions

Those working in process engineering are familiar with the advantages and difficulties related to instruments, but it is essential to have some knowledge of them. Instruments serve the process and are crucial for it; as for operators, it’s sufficient for them to know how to use them； But engineers and technicians should at least have some understanding of it. This post was last edited by bluetop on 2008-1-16 at 14:43.]

It is important to understand that while it’s possible to devote extra effort to mastering certain skills, the most crucial thing is to work well in collaboration with other professionals. After all, an individual’s capabilities are limited, but problems can be solved more easily when using the strength of a team. For example, in the case of the poster’s problem, if a more skilled meter technician had taken a look, the issue might have been detected earlier.

xThank you all for your suggestions; the discussion was very lively! ! It shows that everyone has been concerned about this issue! But in reality, even if you try to adjust the PID for the instruments, they won’t do it either. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the case that when we say the liquid level in the tower is inaccurate, they claim it’s a problem with the insulation of the level gauge. In the end, I adjusted the PID parameters myself, and the level gauge stopped fluctuating immediately! So, relying on instruments isn’t enough. They will only say it’s a problem with the level gauge. It’s only by looking at the trend charts of the parameters that one can see it. Those who study engineering processes indeed need to master those processes, but it seems that it’s more important to be proficient in control instruments, especially PID, otherwise it’s easy to be deceived by them. This is a personal opinion

It seems that one just needs to get familiar with it, understand the principles, and be able to use it – as for mastering it, that seems quite difficult~

I don’t think mastery is necessary, but one should understand the following: 1. The characteristics and performance of various instruments; 2. Shift leaders and operators need to be able to adjust PID settings for pressure, flow, etc., and it’s also advisable to have knowledge of those related to level and temperature. As a process engineer, one certainly needs to have some knowledge of instruments, equipment, electrical systems, and so on. Learning is endless; the more, the better! ! ! ! ! !

I have worked in production management, and I feel that PID parameters should first be adjusted based on the operators’ input, with the instrumentation staff providing technical support.:P :P When I was an operator, I didn’t understand PID settings at first; I simply obtained the necessary permissions from the instrumentation staff and spent each shift carefully trying out different adjustments. After a few months, the equipment became stable.-------It was quite exhausting though:L This post was last edited by Aishiben on 2008-1-18 09:41

Personally, I think it’s better to be proficient in it; many people working in planning and control are skilled in manufacturing processes, and those involved in manufacturing processes should know even more about planning and control. Such talents will be even more in demand in the chemical industry.