Difference between process engineers and chemical equipment engineers
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As the title suggests, I am a student at university, studying chemical engineering. I don’t have much knowledge regarding processes and equipment. Recently, I applied for a position as a chemical engineering equipment engineer. After examining the requirements for this role, I found that they are similar to those for a process engineer. Therefore, I would like to ask everyone here about the differences between these two roles, and which one offers better prospects in terms of finding a job. By the way, I have a minor question: Loveliness – the design drawings for the manufacturing process are different from those used for the equipment.
Job responsibilities of a Chemical Equipment Engineer: 1) Responsible for on-site management of process equipment and mechanical equipment in oil refining and chemical processing plants, as well as for planning equipment inspections and maintenance； 2) Responsible for on-site maintenance of operational equipment, operation training, as well as daily management, supervision, and coordination ； 3) Responsible for the preparation and review of technical documents and archival materials related to the on-site equipment work and daily operations during the device’s operation. 4) Responsible for the on-site maintenance and repair of process equipment, heating furnaces, boilers, compressors, pumps, etc. 1. Participated in and supervised the installation and acceptance projects of pharmaceutical equipment and chemical processing equipment ； 2. Be familiar with the GMP requirements regarding equipment selection, installation, operation, maintenance, and upkeep. 3. Responsible for the installation, supervision, and inspection work at the construction site in Tianjin ； 4. Participate in the selection, research, installation, and acceptance of chemical processing equipment ； 5. Responsible for the maintenance, operation, and repair of various chemical processing equipment to ensure the normal operation of production in the workshop. Job requirements: 1) A bachelor’s degree or higher in chemical engineering machinery or related fields ； 2) Possess more than 5 years of experience in petrochemical production and equipment management ； 3) Familiar with domestic and international standards and specifications for materials and pipe components, as well as the properties of pipe materials both domestically and internationally. Familiar with the technical standards for equipment acceptance issued by the **industry. Qualifications: 1. A bachelor’s degree or higher, with a graduation in chemical engineering machinery or related fields such as pharmaceutical machinery, along with at least three years of relevant work experience ； 2. Proficient in fine pharmaceutical and chemical engineering equipment and their operating principles, with relevant work experience in the installation, inspection, repair, and maintenance of chemical engineering equipment ； 3. Able to independently configure the appropriate system production equipment based on the product manufacturing process, and to select and design specialized equipment according to functional requirements. 4. Proficient in AutoCAD drawing, with a CET-4 or higher score, and capable of reading English materials fluently ； 5. Experience in leading and managing teams ； 6. Possess excellent personal qualities: strong stress tolerance, good communication skills, and the ability to motivate oneself. Process Engineer: 1. Process requirements: Proficient in all aspects of electronic assembly, including reflow soldering, wave soldering, and selective soldering; able to accurately identify the causes of defects in electronic assembly and propose quality improvement solutions. It is possible to use software such as AUTOCAD to create all process sheets for tasks ranging from SMT to component insertion and assembly. 2. Equipment requirements: Familiarity with the architecture and working principles of common soldering equipment, such as turret type, modular type, arch type, etc.; proficiency in the use and maintenance of at least 2 different types of soldering machines, with the ability to resolve over 90% of the faults that occur during production. Similar situations apply to other things such as printers and reflow ovens. 3. Programming skills: Familiar with the optimization concepts of various soldering machines, capable of carrying out optimization and production line balancing manually without relying on any third-party software. Ability to use and work with at least three different EDA software packages to generate CAD data (PROTEL and POWERPCB are mandatory), familiarity with various CAM software packages, and the ability to handle GERBER files. It is capable of preparing and identifying various types of parts encountered. 4. Software development: Proficiency in at least one advanced programming language such as VB/VC/DELPHI is required, and the ability to independently develop a set of offline programming software for soldering machines, which can be used for generating and editing soldering programs. 5. Publishing articles: Publish no less than 2 papers in national core journals each year. 6. English requirement: CET-6 or above. Then it depends on which of the above your knowledge corresponds to. Chemical plant equipment engineers must spend their days in the factory, monitoring the machines. Process engineers are different; they can go to some research institutions. I think there are better prospects for process engineers.
Those who study chemical engineering processes would be well advised to become process engineers, as this career path offers better prospects. The drawings used for process design are different from those used for equipment design
In factories, processes are usually the focus, with equipment playing a secondary role! Of course, the original poster studied craftsmanship; if they work with equipment in a company, they might need to learn *a lot more about equipment! If you are proficient in both equipment and processes, you’ll surely do well in the company! Best wishes to the original poster!
Units or systems where process emphasis is placed on heat and mass transfer, as well as reactions； Flow rate, temperature, pressure, volume ； The equipment focuses on strength, stiffness, construction, installation, and operational performance ； It should be said that the roles are different: first, there is the manufacturing process, and then the equipment is designed in accordance with the requirements of that process.
Future: Career advancement is fast with manual processes, but the pay is low; it’s slow with equipment, but the pay is high. Haha
I work in the field of craftsmanship, and I need to study more in the future; it seems like I know too little
I’ve learned a lot; thank you to everyone up there
In a company, chemical equipment engineers are not only responsible for equipment maintenance and repair; after working for a few years, they can take on tasks related to process management, design, and drafting, and they have an advantage over those who specialize solely in processes. This is due to their personal experience.