How can one grow faster on their first time at a site?
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I have been working in chemical engineering design for three and a half years; this is the first time I am on-site as a design representative； I really value this hard-won opportunity; I went to a large petrochemical company where there were new facilities everywhere. I wanted to gain experience on-site and learn things that cannot be learned in an office environment. However, while walking around the factory, I could only take brief glances at everything. My progress wasn’t as fast as I had hoped. I would like to ask fellow sailors: what aspects would you pay attention to if you were there, in order to gain more from your experience? reward_7ree
Consider it in the context of your own specialty. For example, if you are a piping specialist, use the layout drawings and PID files to go to the site and inspect the pipes, to see what the actual situation is like compared to what’s shown on the computer, and also to get familiar with the equipment there
The design representative should go to the site and make good use of this opportunity; we often find many discrepancies between the design and the actual site conditions during the review process. One should learn more from on-site technical experts, and not ignore the advice of experienced workers on site – especially regarding the placement of pipelines, the location of valves, and the spatial arrangement of pipelines and equipment. In some cases, the layout between equipment and pipelines is unreasonable; what was originally meant to be a passage for people ends up being too narrow for anyone to pass through.
Organize the drawings and ideas on your own, such as the operability/maintenance space of the valves/equipment mentioned above, the situation regarding professional interfaces (between equipment and pipelines, between pipelines and instruments, etc.), the actual construction sequence on site, the suggestions of the workers, as well as the progress and efficiency of construction, and so on.
1. Create several tables: the equipment details table should include information such as name, specifications, manufacturer, etc.; the more detailed, the better； 2. Prepare a camera or smartphone for taking photos: Not only equipment related to your own specialty should be photographed, but also the equipment of the entire system, including its nameplates, inlet and outlet ports, etc ； 3. Ask humbly: For things you don’t understand, seek guidance earnestly from those on-site, such as operators, construction workers, equipment manufacturers, etc. 4. Hurry up and organize the above documents, clarify your thoughts, back up the materials, and address any unclear points by repeating the aforementioned steps as soon as possible.
One day I consulted my mentor and said it would be useful to compare the differences between what we design ourselves and what others design, but as for me, I had no idea from which aspects to make such a comparison; I was completely lost.
First, thoroughly study your company’s design specifications to gain a clear understanding of the overall project situation and the owner’s requirements. Second, become familiar with the design aspects and guiding principles related to your specialty, as well as the owner’s needs and ideas; identify what the challenges are, what the key points are, and what solutions can be applied. Third, sort out and understand the elements, key stages, and interconnections related to the areas directly associated with your specialty. Fourth, become familiar with the construction plan proposed by the construction contractor, as well as the key stages and critical points in that plan. ......................
If time and permissions permit, create your own set of process package documents and compare them with the construction drawings and the actual site to see why there are differences
Upon arriving at the site, a detailed analysis of the design drawings was carried out, and any questions that arose were addressed by consulting the skilled workers on site.
For design-related issues, how are they resolved on site； The process of equipment installation, especially the lifting of large towers ； It relates to equipment pipelines, including hydrostatic testing and weld inspection; in some cases it’s not possible to go and take a close look
When it comes to designing for the actual site, one thing to consider is how aesthetically pleasing the designed elements look when installed there； The second is the degree of coordination with other elements ； Third, are there any shortcomings in the design?