Last updated on Mar 28, 2024

You’re a plant engineer with a problem to solve. What resources do you turn to first?

As a plant engineer, you face complex and diverse challenges every day. Whether it's designing, maintaining, or improving the systems and equipment that keep your plant running, you need to be resourceful and adaptable. But what do you do when you encounter a problem that you can't solve on your own? Where do you look for help and guidance? In this article, we'll explore some of the most useful resources that you can turn to first when you need to solve a plant engineering problem.

1 Your own experience

One of the best resources that you have as a plant engineer is your own experience. You've probably dealt with similar or related problems before, and you can draw on your knowledge and skills to find a solution. You can also review your previous projects, reports, and records to see if they contain any relevant information or insights. Your experience can help you define the problem, identify the root cause, and evaluate the possible options.

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Bill Marr

Process Engineer III at STELCO - The Steel Company of Canada
agreed, experience is great for analyzing the cause of the symptoms and I also I rely heavily on P+I drawings, process descriptions and manufacturers instruction manuals also. Talking to experienced operating staff is also quite useful, experience also tells you just how useful a specific individual is likely to be.
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Gary Kemble

Sr Materials / Braze Engineer, Research Scientist at General Motors and Delphi - Retired
It has been my experience that there will be guys and gals within your company that would be willing, happy and experienced to contribute to solving the problem. Their talent can be so valuable! You will also discover that experienced skilled trades within your organization can contribute, all you need to do is ask. Don’t forget to consider colleagues in Linkedin are very valuable in passing back and forth ideas. There are experts who belong to GLG that are very valuable and fees are very reasonable for consultations. I am always amazed on how useful Google searches can be. Customer service engineers at companies that are your suppliers see a broad spectrum of users of materials and equipment that just may be helpful.
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2 Your colleagues and peers

Another valuable resource that you can rely on as a plant engineer is your colleagues and peers. They can offer you different perspectives, opinions, and suggestions that can help you solve your problem. You can consult with them directly, or join online forums, groups, or networks where you can share your problem and get feedback from other plant engineers. You can also learn from their experiences, successes, and failures, and benefit from their expertise and advice.

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3 Your industry standards and best practices

A third resource that you can use as a plant engineer is your industry standards and best practices. These are the guidelines, recommendations, and benchmarks that define the quality, safety, and performance of your plant engineering activities. You can refer to them to ensure that your solution complies with the regulations, requirements, and expectations of your industry. You can also use them to compare your solution with the current state of the art, and to identify any gaps or areas for improvement.

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4 Your online tools and databases

A fourth resource that you can access as a plant engineer is your online tools and databases. These are the websites, applications, and platforms that provide you with useful information, data, and analysis for your plant engineering problem. You can use them to research, calculate, simulate, or optimize your solution. You can also use them to find relevant case studies, articles, reports, or publications that can help you understand your problem better or learn from others' solutions.

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5 Your training and education

A fifth resource that you can leverage as a plant engineer is your training and education. These are the courses, programs, or certifications that you have completed or are pursuing to enhance your plant engineering skills and knowledge. You can use them to refresh or update your understanding of the concepts, principles, and methods that apply to your problem. You can also use them to learn new skills or techniques that can help you solve your problem more effectively or efficiently.

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6 Your external consultants and experts

A sixth resource that you can seek as a plant engineer is your external consultants and experts. These are the professionals, organizations, or institutions that specialize in plant engineering or related fields. You can hire them to provide you with specialized services, advice, or support for your problem. You can also collaborate with them to develop, implement, or evaluate your solution. They can bring you fresh ideas, innovative solutions, or best practices that can help you solve your problem faster or better.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re a plant engineer with a problem to solve. What resources do you turn to first?

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1 Your own experience

2 Your colleagues and peers

3 Your industry standards and best practices

4 Your online tools and databases

5 Your training and education

6 Your external consultants and experts

7 Here’s what else to consider

Plant Engineering

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