Here's how you can stand out in the field of Plant Engineering with advanced technical skills.

Not an easy task. Diversity means you have taken risks to expand your tool box. Becoming a jack of trades means you left a well paying position to start in another career. From experience, it is worth the risk but….. you must want to learn new skills, you must be prepared to cope financially and be willing to risk failure.

It takes many years of experience to become an expert in all of these areas. Hands on is the best but a degree in engineering or technical school program doesn't hurt and can get you that experience more quickly.

Off course, To apply all these technical skills to your works, you have to know these standarts and its practices. This is multidisiplinary subject. Mechanical, construction works, electrical, kontrol systems, hvac, occupational healty and safety, energy efficiency, related technical software and work practices. Process knowledge and its practices. Master skill is technical highlight point of view .

First of all we have to simplify basics of automation and control systems. For example motors. We needs some signals, equipment side says, " I am ready," , control system side says, "work", equipment side says , " i worked" like feedback. Other signals remote or local work permission. These signals are digital signals. Analog signals are used to measure temperature, vibration, level etc. We need graded signals. Because of these requirements we use 4-20 ma graded signal. First of all we have to simply understand the basics of the automation and control. Second thing, You don't need hard wired connection between equipments. This is example. Simplify, learn and proceed.

There is much more to Automation than just programming. You need to know electrical design, motor control, instrument setup and calibration, network design, and the list goes on and on. Learning how to program PLCs and SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) / HMI (Human Machine lnterface) systems are good starting points. Note DCS is an outdated term that existed before modern SCADA software such as Wonderware and Factory Talk became available in the 90's. Maybe some people from Honeywell still call it DCS ??

I can teach you how to program in a day or two. But I can’t teach you to be a process engineer. That comes from hard work and a ton of research. Every process has its challenges. If you aren’t willing to dig deep, ask the right questions and understand the process before you cut code… you will fail

Replacing old equipment with new is typically the best way to achieve this. High efficiency motors and the latest motor control equipment can provide significant improvement without much additional knowledge. Further improvement can be achieved by simply monitoring when equipment is running and producing something verses running and waiting for other equipment to start. This requires a bit more knowledge and understanding about how the associated processes work.

This is mostly fluff. Cutting energy use is only possible through technology. An example, led lighting, power correction advancements, heat loss recovery, etc. don’t expect to instal a few solar panels and expect a decent ROI.

Energy efficiency management is not to measure energy consumption of the equipments only but also to find unnecessary energy consumption nodes. According to in my opinion Energy efficiency starts from the project. ?f you don't select true equipments, you operate the factory with high energy consumption. Of course, there are a lot of things to reduce unit energy when factory ?r system on operate but Equipment selection and distrubution, construction place are very important for unit energy.

Yes, yes and yes. If you haven’t delved into leanSigma six, JIT logistics or similar processes you have missed the boat. Of course communication is a skill that most engineers and managers struggle with. Find a mentor ( or two) that can show you the ropes. Just be ready for your ego to be bruised.

Project management skills are must for engineers, even if you are not yet worked towards certification, basics can be acquired. Improving planning and scheduling skills, risk and hazardous assessment are part of engineering tasks, budget control, dealing with changes, coordination and communication. mastering these capabilities fosters you to stand out of the crowd, take a rational decisions based on solid information.

Common sense and thinking outside the box is the key. Risk assessment is all about evaluating worst case scenario’s. Make sure you invite as many experienced professionals as you can. Your perspective is limited to your experience. I learn something new with every HAZOP. I don’t care what your role is in a project. Standing up and pointing out potential risks may get the bean counters upset but what is a life worth to you.

An example I have experienced is that learning new tools, updating skills, and adjusting workflows based on continuous technological advancements will help you enhance efficiency, productivity, and innovation to stay competitive and relevant in your field of work.

To excel in the field of plant engineering, which demands advanced technical skills, consider adopting the following strategies: 1. Concentrate on a particular area, such as process control, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering, and cultivate deep expertise. 2. Engage in conferences, Research and developments, workshops, and online courses to remain current with the latest technologies and innovations. 3. Acquire knowledge in programming languages like Python, C++, or MATLAB, and become proficient in simulation software and modeling tools. By implementing these strategies, you can distinguish yourself as a highly skilled plant engineer and advance your career.