Do production (process) personnel need to understand instrument knowledge?
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Our company’s operators often say: This watch is inaccurate; go and check it； That watch is inaccurate; you need to go and take a look at it. Yet they cannot provide any reason why it is not allowed; they only say that it doesn’t match, and usually after inspection it turns out that the problem isn’t related to the instruments but rather to the manufacturing process. So the question is, how can process engineers easily determine instrument failures? Is it to educate them about instrumentation knowledge? Have you all encountered such a situation at work?
I remember when we were in college, those majoring in instrumentation had to study principles of chemical engineering, chemical engineering itself, and physical chemistry, while those majoring in process engineering had to study automatic control. It’s likely that this was done to enhance the mutual understanding between professionals from these two fields and to create a common language for them. Our company also includes knowledge of relevant specialties as an essential part of employee training and examinations. It can be said that it played a certain role in problem analysis, and communication between process and instrumentation personnel was relatively smooth; however, when it comes to issues related to process interests, communication becomes very difficult.
As the saying goes, it’s never a bad thing to have multiple skills; it doesn’t hurt to learn a little when you have time
I believe that a competent process engineer, or anyone who wants to achieve success and stand out as a process engineer, must have basic knowledge of instrumentation, electricity, and equipment. I once asked an air separation plant operator what the working principle of an expander was; he said he didn’t know. I just told him: You need to study harder!*
Having some knowledge of instruments can help in gaining a deeper understanding of the process and improving one’s skills in operating it.
For those working in process engineering, apart from the process engineering specialty, other fields such as piping, storage and transportation, equipment, civil engineering, instrumentation, electrical engineering, mechanics, HVAC, water supply and drainage… one needs to be familiar with each of these specialties as well
In fact, this is necessary in all cases; aside from excelling in one’s own field of study, it is essential to understand the most basic aspects of other fields as well.
As a production process technician, one should have basic knowledge of instruments, at least knowing whether they are suitable or not for a particular material. Is the range within the appropriate limits? Since it is outside the operating range, it is necessary to determine whether it is a problem with the instrument or with the process.
I fully agree with you; process technology is only the foundation in production management. Production management also involves aspects such as production scheduling, energy conservation, measurement, and quality control, and all of these areas require attention to fundamental elements like equipment and electrical systems.