What Does a Process Engineer Do?

Home » Candor Blog » What Does a Process Engineer Do?

Jul 5, 2022|People and Safety

What typically comes to mind when you think of an engineering job? Of course, one might think of a train engineer or mechanical engineer, but there are more positions that range within this particular job category. 

For instance, there are agricultural, aerospace, and even environmental jobs. However, one of the job titles in high demand is a process engineer. 

What does a process engineer do?

A process engineer’s primary task is manufacturing raw materials into products. Their purpose is to produce sustainable and economical products, incorporating that into technological development. They also utilize ideas that are usually for chemical engineering and implement them into their line of work.

Since a process engineer is to implement chemical and biochemical processes, the role is often in high demand and vital in various industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and especially manufacturing. 

If you are interested in a process engineer position and want to learn more, here in this guide, we will go through what there is to know about the job, what they do, and why it’s different from a manufacturing engineer.

What Is a Process Engineer?

A process engineer refers to someone who can use chemical and biochemical processes to produce products. They do this by utilizing either a formula or a series of ingredients to create one whole product, primarily solid, liquid, or gas-based. 

For instance, they can engineer vaccines, medicine, and other pharmaceutical products. 

Another factor is that they also help in food and drink production, such as converting milk to baby formula, grain, yeast, and other elements into beer, salt, milk, and consumable bacteria into cheese, churned milk, or cream into butter. 

Any possible solid, liquid, or gas you can think of, a process engineer most likely helped in its creation. 

Although they deal with manufacturing products, process engineers are often mistaken for manufacturing engineers. Generally, they handle specific tasks similar to that of a manufacturing engineer. 

However, these two job positions are very different, and we will go over how later in this article. 

What Does a Process Engineer Do?

Most notable for their work in the manufacturing industry, they are in charge of supervising, controlling, and designing processes and machinery. 

Generally, a process engineer’s task is to use various materials to create everyday products that we often use, such as shampoo, hand sanitizer, cleaning solutions and products, or pharmaceutical products.

It’s essential to determine that a process engineer deals with the processing of products themselves. Aside from being compared to a manufacturing engineer, process engineer’s often deal with tasks that are usually for a chemical engineer. 

The significant difference between a process engineer and a chemical engineer is that while they deal with the processing of chemicals and biochemicals, a process engineer’s primary focus is on the specific mathematics and physics section.

Process Engineer Tasks

Though aside from handling the production of products by using raw materials, process engineers are tasked with various responsibilities. Some of those responsibilities include the following tasks.

Design, Supervise and Implement New Equipment

Process engineers ensure that all technology and machinery are fully functional and up to date to prevent technical issues for new factories to use.

Manages Budget for Products, Machines

Process engineers maintain finances for materials, equipment, products, maintenance, and other factors. 

Supervision Over Equipment and Processing

They ensure that the equipment is functioning correctly and efficiently, which usually consists of regular updates, maintenance, and upkeep. Another factor they implement is risk assessments, which generally refer to the equipment undergoing a series of tests in the event of technical issues, risks, and hazards. 

Another task that process engineers are in charge of is supervising the processing. They strive to maintain the manufacturing process. 

Records Data, Records, and Other Presenting Data 

They report these to upper management, keeping all upcoming records and updates organized so upper management is up to speed on what’s going on.

Technician Assistance for Technical Issues with Machines

Aside from supervising the equipment to ensure its fully functional, process engineers are tasked with assistance should the technician handling the equipment have issues or have queries involving said equipment themselves.

Designing and Organizing in Installing New Equipment

Usually, this task entails that the process engineer is responsible for developing and planning the new equipment. Once they have both the design and planning finalized, they will determine where and how it will be placed within the factory.

What Is a Process Engineer in Manufacturing?

When it comes to the tasks of a process engineer in manufacturing, rather than dealing with the building, cutting, welding, etc. They only deal with organizing, supervising, and managing the manufacturing process. 

Since their job only handles chemical and biochemical processing, they aren’t entirely responsible for the tasks that an average manufacturing engineer would be, which is also the case due to both job positions’ collaborative work. 

The process engineers maintain and supervise the products to ensure they follow safety guidelines. Then the PCB manufacturing process builds the product based on the design specifications the process engineers envisioned. 

However, even though process engineers handle manufactured products and equipment design, they are not in charge of certain aspects.

What Is the Difference Between a Process Engineer and a Manufacturing Engineer?

One of the many reasons both a process and manufacturing engineer is often compared is that they often work together. However, both positions are entirely different. 

For instance, a process engineer’s purpose is to produce using either a formula or a series of ingredients, primarily handling chemical and biochemical properties. On the other hand, the job of a PCB assembler is to assemble and build itemized and counted products.

Overall Thoughts

So what is a process engineer? It is someone who can use chemical, mechanical, and biochemical processes to produce products. They are often mistaken for manufacturing engineers, but both are entirely different. We hope this guide helps you in learning more about this position.