Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Plant Engineer
A Plant Engineer is responsible for providing technical infrastructure and process engineering support to the operation. They ensure all equipment is operating and oversee preventative maintenance compliance and effectiveness. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Plant Engineers.
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Main Responsibilities of Plant Engineer
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Plant Engineer:
Analyze
Analyze designs of feeder and distribution facilities.
Analyze equipment failures.
Analyze, recommend and implement process improvements by applying established operational standards.
Assess
Assess mechanics technical and troubleshooting skills.
Assist with
Assist Contractors, truck drivers and visitors with their tasks.
Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in conformance with the contract.
Assist Operations and Maintenance crews where required.
Assist reliability analysis team to determine calibration and part strategies.
Assist roll out an operational strategy in line with your unit's business strategy.
Assist with commissioning new equipment.
Assist with tests carried out by the unit and support investment projects.
Assure
Assure plant compliance to Federal, State and Corporate environmental laws, rules & regulations.
Author
Author tech transfer related projects plans, assessments, and process validation protocols.
Champion
Champion a focus on Process Safety in design and operation.
Champion for challenging existing practices.
Champion the Maintenance Excellence (ME) process.
Coach
Coach, develop, and mentor employees in areas of responsibility.
Collaborate with
Collaborate and build strong positive relationships with various external engineering providers.
Collaborate with other divisional teams to overcome project challenges and provide optimal solutions.
Collaborate with Production departments on resolution of issues concerning facilities and equipment.
Communicate
Communicate and assists Chief Engineer as required.
Communicate status of shift to following shift and others who require the information.
Complete
Complete engineering and material requisition work packages.
Complete preventative maintenance tasks on electrical control system components.
Conduct
Conduct analysis of Bad Actors and improve reliability of equipment.
Conduct performance tests, collecting and analysing operating data and profitability.
Conduct regular inspections of the facilities to detect and resolve problems.
Contribute to
Contribute to the development of long-term business and organizational strategies.
Contribute willingly and incorporates the ideas of others.
Control
Control and source maintenance tools, equipment and spare.
Coordinate
Coordinate building space allocation and layout, communication services, and facility expansion.
Coordinate the daily start-up and shut down activities.
Coordinate with other functions in plant compliance to all environmental laws and regulations.
Create
Create and maintain a culture to identify and implement continuous improvement ideas.
Create the right team to drive the process.
Define
Define minimum standards for instrumentation hardware and software components.
Define roles and responsibilities.
Design
Design appropriate programs to reduce all downtime.
Determine
Determine need for outside / technical assistance and coordinates efforts.
Develop
Develop and complete tasks and projects in a timely manner.
Develop and maintain contracts and equipment for, HVAC.
Develop and maintain part inventory.
Develop and maintains parts inventory and cycle counts.
Develop and mentor the Facility Engineer.
Develop a set of viable alternatives for management.
Develop a work environment within manufacturing that promotes trust, teamwork, quality, and safety.
Develop conception of projects through CAD systems and other relevant software tool packages.
Develop, define and produce optimum fibre designs for proposed telecommunications networks.
Develop, evaluate, train, and mentor employees.
Develop his / her business network.
Develop, implement, manage and inspect the tasks assigned to the engineering team.
Develop mechanisms for monitoring, trending and reporting all equipment and systems performance.
Develop, monitor, and ensure timely completion of short and long term goals and action plans.
Develop plans for long range site essential investments to ensure infrastructure integrity.
Direct
Direct manufacturing and operations staff in the execution of validation protocols.
Direct reporting responsibility for maintenance associates, as well as any contractor firms.
Direct efforts of internal and external resources.
Direct quarry operations and ensure sufficient rock inventory for production.
Drive
Drive cycle count accuracy and reduced spare costs.
Drive the implementation of the Global Reliability Program (GRP) across the site.
Ensure
Ensure all equipment is operating.
Ensure all PM work orders are complete and up to date.
Ensure all project costs are within the allotted approved capital expenditure.
Ensure all regulatory compliance as applicable.
Ensure all work orders are completed on time.
Ensure and maintain facility is compliant with all relevant FDA, GMP and SOP regulations.
Ensure compliance of code and standards in work package designs.
Ensure compliance to all state and federal regulations.
Ensure compliance with all site specific polices and safety requirements.
Ensure compliance with federal, state and local codes.
Ensure production of quality product in compliance of federal and state guidelines.
Ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
Ensure & reinforce personnel to adhere and follow all Quality & Compliance Policies and Procedures.
Ensure safety and reliability requirements are met by working closely with refinery stakeholders.
Ensure technical support and develop relationships with business partners.
Ensure the adherence of safety policies, practices, and procedures.
Ensure the sustainable and responsible development of the unit.
Ensure to manage the calibration program within the block.
Ensure to perform planned maintenance activities in accordance to minimize unplanned downtime.
Establish
Establish a preventive process to identify potential equipment problems and equipment failures.
Establish a process to trend and identify equipment problems and failures.
Establish open lines of communication.
Establish policies and procedures within all areas of responsibility.
Facilitate
Facilitate periodic client meeting addressing technical and operational facility matters.
Focus on
Focus on energy usage reduction and sustainability initiatives for the plant.
Follow
Follow practices that are in line with our client-centric business vision.
Help
Help develop and implement the vision for the factory of the future.
Help develop and maintain a healthy and safe work environment.
Help roll out an operational strategy in line with his / her unit's business strategy.
Help set OSH priorities for his / her unit in line with corporate objectives and follow up on them.
Help to ensure communication of needed information to all associates, and to the Support Center.
Identify
Identify and design distribution work orders for relief and modernization of facilities.
Identify areas of risk with respect to compliance.
Identify and recommend process that can improve current plant processes.
Identify equipment and facility deficiencies and ensure the initiation of corrective action.
Identify, prioritize, and provide resources to meet the annual operating plan and budget commitments.
Implement
Implement cost reduction opportunities and means to strengthen the organization.
Inform
Inform Operations Manager of any possible overspending before it happens.
Initiate
Initiate disciplinary action when company policies and procedures are not being followed.
Initiate maintenance requests.
Install
Install, move, repair, and remove equipment and utilities within the building.
Interact
Interact effectively with stakeholders at appropriate levels of the organization.
Interface
Interface with plant inspectors, boiler inspectors, and local code enforcement officers.
Interpret
Interpret plans, drawings and specifications related to operation of plant equipment.
Involve
Involve operators in the maintenance of their equipment.
Issue
Issue purchase orders for equipment as required.
Keep
Keep a watch on new technologies and share them within the organization.
Lead
Lead by example, demonstrating competency in all food and work safety practices.
Lead development of technical plans and reports as required by the contract.
Lead initiatives to improve existing assets and deliver incremental productivity.
Lead safety culture and promote positive change.
Lead the Continuous Improvement Program for cost savings, energy utilization, and maintenance.
Learn
Learn and deeply understand the management systems and strategy.
Leverage
Leverage and reinforce utilization of HR tools and resources.
Leverage data to optimize PM plans and materials of construction for robust asset performance.
Leverage site project management team to execute scopes of work.
Maintain
Maintain accurate logs on all equipment in hospital and provides for a safe working environment.
Maintain a clean and orderly work area.
Maintain a high level of professionalism, productivity and effectiveness.
Maintain a master plan for future improvements / expansion of the plant.
Maintain, approve and monitor daily, weekly, and long-term work schedules for the engineering team.
Maintain communication through radio or cell phone with other personnel.
Maintain relationship with the pilot facility host and contractors.
Maintain the Plant in a clean and orderly condition at all times.
Make
Make sure Facility meets all EHS requirements.
Manage
Manage an efficient, 5S'd Storeroom where all spares are identified and stocked according to plan.
Manage any statutory inspections, liaisons with insurance companies and other duties in this area.
Manage capital and non-capital projects.
Manage contractors on site to ensure they meet legal and company requirements.
Manage day to day pilot facility operations and local resources.
Manage facilities as needed.
Manage Lab databases and quality and EH&S reporting system.
Manage projects, recommend actions and resolve problems.
Manage the engineering needs of the bakery and the hourly engineering staff.
Manage the operational deliverables of the Preventive Maintenance and Facility Modification programs.
Maximize
Maximize synergy and foster collaboration among Cascades' groups, units and business units.
Monitor
Monitor our business partners' application of methods and technologies.
Monitor the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems.
Obtain
Obtain approval to proceed with proposed action plans.
Operate
Operate Personal Computer.
Operate Plant equipment as directed by the Shift Engineer.
Optimize
Optimize process performance through the use of Operational Excellence tools and techniques.
Oversee
Oversee activities of the maintenance staff and the condition of the plant.
Oversee design, construction, modification and maintenance of equipment, machinery and facilities.
Oversee preventative maintenance compliance and effectiveness.
Oversee activities of key subcontractors who provide on-going services to the contract.
Participate
Participate as technical expert in site regulatory inspections as needed.
Participate in all required safety training.
Participate in gap analyses and risk assessments to support process tech transfers.
Participate in professional development, both internal and external.
Participate in the resolution of investigations and CAPA affecting operations.
Perform
Perform calibration reviews, calibration modifications.
Perform other work related duties as assigned.
Perform plant clean-up and preventative maintenance activities.
Plan
Plan and develop drawings for overhead / underground lines, cables and conduits.
Plan, organize and oversee plant projects.
Prepare
Prepare and analyzes alternatives.
Prepare for and actively participate in internal and external Quality / Regulatory audits.
Prepare reports with state and federal government as well as compliance reports.
Prepare tendering documents and contracts for external sourcing.
Promote
Promote and evaluate implementation of new technologies.
Promote a culture that reinforces Company s values and expectations.
Promote safety as a core value in their approach to design and execution of work at their facilities.
Promote sound occupational health and safety management.
Provide
Provide day-to-day operational leadership to mechanics and all associated personnel.
Provide detailed layouts for machine and downstream installations for new and existing business.
Provide leadership for the continuous improvement and optimization of manufacturing processes.
Provide subject matter expertise for calibration frequency and revisions.
Provide technical expertise to the team.
Provide technical infrastructure, design and process engineering support to the operation.
Provide technical support to the PCO and ECR teams.
Read
Read and interpret fibre network design drawings, and outside plant records (data, maps).
Record
Record and maintain R&D related data.
Relate
Relate risk and gain to critical success factors and recommends action.
Respond
Respond to problems and initiates emergency communication protocols as appropriate.
Respond to facility issues and problems, including emergency situations, on a 24 / 7 basis.
Review
Review and improve the combustion control logic and philosophy related to the DBA grate technology.
Review and maintain project activity logs.
Schedule
Schedule and supervise all outside contractors.
Set
Set daily / weekly agenda for activities of the maintenance crew.
Share
Share resources, knowledge, and accountability to benefit the objectives of the business.
Solve
Solve equipment issues during production shutdowns.
Supervise
Supervise and evaluate performance of engineering team while providing ongoing supervision.
Support
Support Facilities team with repairs as necessary to meet manufacturing needs.
Support plant engineers in all phases of assigned multidisciplinary capital projects.
Support R&D and engineering teams with equipment and process design and development.
Support the team in the preventive and predictive maintenance follow-up.
Take
Take and compile routine plant readings and maintains production and consumption records.
Take appropriate actions to close any identified training gaps.
Test
Test newly installed machines and equipment to ensure fulfillment of contract specifications.
Train
Train and assist plant Personnel in carrying out safety.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot and improve existing processes.
Update
Update and write equipment and utility systems SOPs and work plans.
Use
Use a collaborative team approach to all design changes and capital projects.
Use a variety of hand-tools and computers / devices for performing and documenting work.
Utilize
Utilize new technology and lean manufacturing principals and processes to maximize efficiency.
Validate
Validate all systems and prepare required documents for all installation.
Verify
Verify documentation on work performed on equipment.
Work with
Work closely with the plant's Steering Team to effectively deploy Maintenance Excellence.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Plant Engineer:
Manufacturing Environment
Operations
Chemical
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Plant Engineer:
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving attitude
Leadership
Organizational capacity
Analytical ability
Innovation
Highly motivated
Initiative
Judgment
Multi-task
Attention to detail
Conscientious
Efficient under pressure
Function autonomously
Innovation mind set
Open to different ideas / approaches
Positively influence partners and colleagues and guide them towards best practices
Shift priorities according to changes in departmental / facility needs
Show initiative
