Importance of Exposure 1

[Hemang.vad]

I want to make my career in process design. If i directly join an EPC company (Jacobs Worley...etc), does the lack of any actual site exposure (production, process experience) will hinder my growth and progress in designing field in longterm?
How important is site exposure to process design engineer working in EPC?

 

[georgeverghese]

A few years prior experience in field operations or operations support helps, preferably in downstream plant.
In most EPC companies, career progression strictly in engineering discipline is somewhat limited. In process licensor companies, there may be more opportunities for growth within process engineering at main operating centres. Otherwise, many discipline engineers end up in a rut if they are reluctant to move on to project management after say 10years or so. In any case, its a hard life for engineers starting off with EPC companies with long work hours, next to impossible schedule commitments, foul tempered senior and lead engineers.

 

[1503-44]

EPCs (C=construction) are often contraçted to do construction, construction supervision, startup and the first year's operations. Many engineering desk jockies do not want to go to the field for extended periods of time to do such things. I suspect that you will have ample opportunity to acquire field experience, if you want to, no matter what company you choose.

--Einstein gave the same test to students every year. When asked why he would do something like that, "Because the answers had changed."

 

[geesaman.d]

You would tend to think field experience is important in getting a desk role at an EPC, but in my experience, it's definitely not a prerequisite. I tend to think a smaller EPC would have the organizational agility to seriously consider it though.

I suspect that field experience is so scarce and valuable to the big EPCs, you may end up on their field teams. The bigger the company, the more segmented the experience of any given role. Many of the desk engineers I interface with at major EPCs are 100% focused on wildly detailed quality plans, enforcement of multi-layered spec packages they've never read, and fights with the vendors over every exception and clarification that they passed through from the end-user's defective specifications. (Whatever it takes to run up the EPC hours to 11% of total project cost and avoid contacting the end user). I suspect that particular role is a popular entry-level engineering path at those EPCs. If those individuals have field experience, I don't see it in their day-to-day decision-making. (Occam's razor though - maybe my product just happens to be the most poorly-specified product they deal with, and they put their newest engineers on our project because it's least valued in the overall project.)

 

[pmover]

after spending 8+ years in operations, i joined an EPC firm and never regretted it. my fellow engrs were outstanding and competent in their field of expertise. Yes, there was a lot to learn, but that is life. i made several site visits to resolve construction and initial operating issues. I survived several corporate changes and was involved with some very large projects; including several small projects. one such project was a Compressed Energy Storage Project (CAES) that was not built due to bad economics (could not sell electricity > purchasing electricity).

the process engrs were very good at what they did. one act the process guys did was meet 1/week at lunch and discuss engr matters on a world scale. yeah, some patents were created, but i know very little of the results from those lunches.

without a doubt, there was good camaraderie throughout the organization and excellent leadership. i occasionally think of my employers and this EPC firm ranks #1. I did not care to live in Houston, TX.

That being written, there are choices to make, just relax and enjoy yourself and do not sweat the small stuff - it is all small stuff!

 

[pierreick]

Hi,
George is spot on. To me, it's important to be confronted to equipment.
Pierre