The Role of the Plant Engineer

Every few years, as I dig through my engineering books, technical papers and other nerd paraphernalia that I’ve collected, I rediscover my favorite specimen of all — a book entitled “Techniques of Plant Engineering and Maintenance” Volume 19.  One might assume this dry title means dry information contained within, but I beg to differ.  Ok, full disclosure: I’m an engineer.

My much cherished book contains technical papers presented at the National Plant Engineering and Maintenance Show in Philadelphia.  Example topics include “Selecting a Site for a New Plant”, “Better Maintenance and Operation in the Small Plant”, “Maintaining the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems” and the like.  The topics go on and on but what strikes me is how fundamental concepts truly carry a legacy. And that legacy is hidden until we can look back years later.

Take the role of the plant engineer as an example.  A plant engineer, by nomenclature, would imply the exercise of engineering in the context of a factory or facility.  This can include municipal water treatment, oil and gas refineries, electronic assembly operations, automobile factories, food and beverage factories, nuclear facilities, power plants, machine builders and any other type of fabricator, assembly or manufacturing you can think of.

The scope of the plant engineer varies widely but, quoting from my manual, I like this description:
generic pill viagra Actually, two decisions that have consequences on each other. check content uk levitra Well, up to today no drugs are proved to address these two issues. discount cialis Focusing on his health condition Both diseases of male reproductive organs and other diseases affect men’s sexual ability, such as diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is an inability of developing stronger and longer lasting erection cialis in uk online in men.

“The Plant Engineer is most clearly seen as a management man when he takes part in the selection of capital equipment.  The kind of equipment chosen determines the productive capacity of the plant, and the choice affects the profitability of the operations.  In addition, future flexibility depends on the equipment, and of course, money will be needed to maintain it.”

And now on to the politics of engineering……

“Today almost every plant is a complex of equipment systems, and each system is there because some part of the organization wanted it and justified its purchase.  The plant engineer’s role is to balance the interests of all departments and select the equipment that will contribute most to the company as a whole.”

And how does this get done?

“He[She] is a good management man[woman] with a clear understanding of company goals, a man of wisdom and sound judgement, a bit of a clairvoyant and a good interpreter of the crystal ball, a gambler, a man of action, and a man who doesn’t require any sleep”
William H. Jaques – Director of Engineering, Procter & Gamble Company. March 1968.

Some things never change. Respect the Plant Engineer, show ‘em the love, give ‘em a hug or better yet…..  train one.

About Pack Systems

Karen is a recovering corporate engineer turned consultant for small, medium-sized and large CPG firms in the Food & Beverage industry. She can be found tweeting about engineering, food making and food waste, making the Denver Mini Maker Faire, sewing bags and clothes, screen printing, making a mess in her kitchen or engineering facility network optimizations and product launches.

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