Chemical Engineering Expectations VS Reality | What Do Chemical Engineers Do

Eggs the Engineer

17 Jan 202109:59

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses the speaker's experiences as a chemical engineer, highlighting the gap between academic expectations and real-world applications. It emphasizes the creative and problem-solving aspects of the job, the need to sell ideas within a bureaucratic system, and the high stakes involved in process engineering. The speaker shares insights on the importance of adaptability, networking, and handling rejection, ultimately painting a picture of a dynamic and challenging career.

Takeaways

🎓 Chemical engineering coursework provides a strong foundation, but the practical application often differs from academic expectations.
🏭 Entry-level chemical engineers often find themselves focusing on manufacturing processes or plant operations rather than constant design work.
🧠 The knowledge of complex concepts like thermodynamics and distillation column design remains important, but is typically used as a reference rather than applied daily.
💡 Real-world chemical engineering problems require creative solutions, and engineers must think outside the box within the constraints of safety, cost, and feasibility.
🎨 Engineering, including chemical engineering, is a creative field where constraints can actually foster innovation and abstract thinking.
🚀 Problem-solving in the industry involves numerous potential solutions, and engineers must be prepared to advocate for their ideas and solutions.
🛒 Chemical engineers often need to 'sell' their ideas to management and stakeholders, requiring strong communication and persuasion skills.
📋 Bureaucracy and paperwork are common in the industry due to the need for risk management and approval processes.
💥 The stakes are high in process engineering, with significant financial implications and pressures to maintain efficient operations.
🌟 Success in the field can be incredibly rewarding, while failure can be disappointing, but both experiences contribute to a dynamic and engaging career.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?
-The main theme of the video is the presenter's personal experience and expectations versus reality in the field of chemical engineering, highlighting the culture shock and creative aspects of the industry.
What was the presenter's initial impression of the chemical engineering industry upon entering it?
-The presenter initially experienced a form of culture shock, realizing that the practical application of chemical engineering differs significantly from academic teachings, and that creativity plays a vital role in the industry.
How does the presenter describe the use of academic knowledge in real-world chemical engineering?
-The presenter suggests that while academic knowledge, such as thermodynamics and distillation column design, is essential as a baseline, it is not always directly applicable in daily tasks, and engineers often need to revisit textbooks and resources to solve real-world problems.
What is the presenter's view on the role of creativity in chemical engineering?
-The presenter views chemical engineering as an art form and believes that creativity is crucial in the industry. Despite constraints, these limitations actually foster more innovative and out-of-the-box thinking to solve complex problems.
How does the presenter relate the concept of constraints to creativity?
-The presenter argues that constraints are not barriers to creativity but rather catalysts that push engineers to think more abstractly and come up with innovative solutions. They reference the book 'Inside the Box' to support this view.
What does the presenter suggest about the nature of problem-solving in the chemical engineering industry?
-The presenter suggests that problem-solving in the industry is not about finding a single correct solution, but rather exploring a multitude of potential solutions and approaches, as every engineer may have a different opinion on the best course of action.
What is the role of a chemical engineer in terms of selling ideas?
-A chemical engineer needs to be a salesman for their ideas, advocating and presenting their solutions to decision-makers and those with funding. This involves using data, designs, project plans, and cost-benefit analysis to persuade others of the value of their proposals.
How does the presenter describe the bureaucratic process in a chemical plant?
-The presenter describes the bureaucratic process as a necessary part of ensuring safety, environmental protection, and budget control. This involves a significant amount of paperwork, risk analysis, and approvals from multiple stakeholders, which can slow down the implementation of projects.
What is the significance of risk management in the context of making changes to chemical processes?
-Risk management is crucial in the chemical engineering industry because any changes to a process can have significant impacts on the environment, health, and budget. Engineers are responsible for assessing and mitigating these risks to prevent potential issues.
How does the presenter characterize the pressure and rewards of working in a process facility?
-The presenter characterizes the pressure as high due to the direct impact on the company's revenue and the immediate consequences of process issues. However, the rewards are also significant, with the satisfaction of solving problems and improving processes being a major incentive.
What advice does the presenter give to new engineers regarding their projects and ideas?
-The presenter advises new engineers to be prepared to sell their ideas effectively, handle rejection, navigate bureaucracy, and understand the high stakes and potential for both great success and significant disappointment in their projects.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Expectations vs. Reality in Chemical Engineering

This paragraph discusses the speaker's initial impressions of the chemical engineering industry after entering the field post-college. They touch on the expectation mismatch or 'culture shock' felt when applying theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. The speaker emphasizes that while academic coursework provides a solid foundation, the focus in the industry is less on designing equipment like distillation columns daily and more on understanding their operation and problem-solving. The paragraph highlights the creative aspect of chemical engineering, contrasting the perception of a single correct solution in academia with the multitude of potential solutions in the real world. The speaker also mentions the importance of being able to sell one's ideas within a large company and the role of constraints in fostering creativity.

05:02

🚀 Selling Ideas and Navigating Bureaucracy

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the necessity of not just generating creative solutions but also effectively selling these ideas within an organizational structure. They discuss the challenges of convincing stakeholders and upper management to support new projects, emphasizing the need for data-backed proposals and strong project plans. The speaker also addresses the commonality of facing rejection and the importance of persistence. Furthermore, they touch on the bureaucratic hurdles that can slow down the implementation of engineering projects, explaining that these processes are in place to manage risks and ensure safety and compliance. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the high-stakes nature of process engineering, where the success or failure of a project can have significant financial implications for the company.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the design, construction, and operation of processes that convert raw materials into valuable products. In the video, the speaker reflects on their expectations and experiences as a chemical engineer, highlighting the gap between academic theory and real-world applications, as well as the creative problem-solving involved in the field.

💡Expectations vs. Reality

This concept refers to the contrast between what one anticipates or hopes for and the actual outcomes or situations that occur. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses their initial expectations of a chemical engineering career, which were largely shaped by academic learning, versus the reality they encountered in the industry, including the creative and sales aspects of the job.

💡Culture Shock

Culture shock refers to the feeling of disorientation experienced by individuals when they are exposed to an unfamiliar set of cultural norms, values, and practices. In the video, the speaker uses this term to describe their initial不适应 when entering the chemical engineering industry, where the work environment and job responsibilities differed significantly from what they had anticipated.

💡Manufacturing Process

A manufacturing process is a series of steps or operations that transform raw materials into finished goods. In the video, the speaker mentions that once they entered the industry, they had to shift their focus from theoretical knowledge to understanding and optimizing manufacturing processes, which is a key aspect of many chemical engineering roles.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of identifying, analyzing, and finding solutions to issues or challenges. In the video, the speaker highlights the importance of problem-solving skills in chemical engineering, as engineers must constantly find creative solutions to technical and operational challenges within the constraints of safety, cost, and efficiency.

💡Creativity

Creativity refers to the ability to generate new ideas, concepts, or methods. In the context of the video, the speaker was surprised to find that chemical engineering requires a high degree of creativity, as engineers must devise innovative solutions within the constraints of their projects and work environments.

💡Salesmanship

Salesmanship refers to the skills and techniques involved in persuading others to buy or support something. In the video, the speaker explains that chemical engineers often need to 'sell' their ideas and solutions to management or other stakeholders in order to secure resources, funding, and approval for their projects.

💡Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy refers to a system of government in which decisions are made by officials in a hierarchy, and it can also refer to the complex procedures and red tape in an organization. In the video, the speaker describes the bureaucratic hurdles that can slow down the implementation of new ideas or changes in a chemical engineering context, due to the need for extensive risk analysis and approval processes.

💡Risk Management

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events. In the video, the speaker talks about how chemical engineers are responsible for managing various risks associated with chemical processes, such as environmental impact, health hazards, and budget concerns.

💡Pressure

Pressure, in the context of work, refers to the stress or burden imposed on an individual or team to perform or achieve certain goals within a specified time frame. In the video, the speaker describes the high-pressure environment of process facilities where any downtime or yield issues can result in significant financial losses, thus creating a sense of urgency to solve problems quickly.

💡Roller Coaster

A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride with a track that includes steep inclines and declines, and it is often used metaphorically to describe a situation with rapid ups and downs or intense fluctuations. In the video, the speaker uses 'roller coaster' to describe the emotional and professional highs and lows experienced in a chemical engineering career, particularly in process engineering roles.

Highlights

Expectation vs. reality in chemical engineering

Impressions of the industry for new chemical engineers

Experience of culture shock when entering the chemical engineering field

Variety of career paths for chemical engineers

The difference between academic learning and practical application in the workplace

The importance of having a baseline knowledge in thermodynamics and distillation column design

The creative aspect of problem-solving in chemical engineering

How constraints can actually foster creativity in engineering

The role of an engineer as a 'salesman' of ideas

The necessity of dealing with rejection when pushing creative projects

The impact of bureaucracy on project implementation

The high stakes and pressure involved in keeping chemical processes running smoothly

The satisfaction derived from successful creative solutions in process engineering

The potential disappointment when ideas do not work as intended

The long process from idea conception to implementation in chemical engineering projects

The roller coaster nature of a career in process engineering with high highs and low lows

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

What was the presenter's initial impression of the chemical engineering industry upon entering it?

How does the presenter describe the use of academic knowledge in real-world chemical engineering?

What is the presenter's view on the role of creativity in chemical engineering?

How does the presenter relate the concept of constraints to creativity?

What does the presenter suggest about the nature of problem-solving in the chemical engineering industry?

What is the role of a chemical engineer in terms of selling ideas?

How does the presenter describe the bureaucratic process in a chemical plant?

What is the significance of risk management in the context of making changes to chemical processes?

How does the presenter characterize the pressure and rewards of working in a process facility?

What advice does the presenter give to new engineers regarding their projects and ideas?