3 replies to this topic

[wkit]

Dear everyone,

I am currently industrial training in one of the refinery, and had the opportunity to attend the six sigma training for refinery process improvement. And i gonna use this six sigma knowledge to take one of the project in refinery to study and take it as my final year research project thesis.

May i know would a chemical engineering graduate with six sigma background add colours in his resume and help in job finding in oil & gas industry in future ?

Edited by wkit, 15 July 2011 - 04:16 AM.

[GS81Process]

Just my opinion, but you should work at developing your engineering competency to best further your career in oil & gas. As engineers we are paid mostly for employing sound judgement in technical decision making.

Statistics are an important tool and it is necessary to make data based decisions, but there is a difference between being a statistician and being an engineer.

Edited by GS81Process, 15 July 2011 - 01:57 PM.

[kkala]

I had to look into wikipedia to know what 6σ (six sigma) is. Its application in refineries can be useful, yet difficult. It may include rational organization of production, with proper forms to complete every day, and systematic check of the quality of products. My understanding is that it is not limited to statistics, but it should intervene in operational procedures, even in the process, to limit off spec products.
If the latter activities are included, it could be interesting for the Chemical Engineer, since he/she would get technical knowledge on a specific process, seen from 6σ view. But your post rather indicates that this 6σ methodology is intended to be applied to the refinery now, won't it? It will need a rather long time to be established, and a young engineer had better deal with a broader activity to get some familiarization with refinery process and equipment. I am living in Greece, where occupation in industry is quite rare today, yet it is a valuable experience for many "white collar" seats you may get in future. I suppose that direct industrial experience is valuable everywhere (for Chemical Engineers), so one should try this way during industrial training.
Of course you may deal with 6σ if you like it (Chem Engineering is flexible), but (in this case) you had better combine it with industrial experience beyond statistics.
I do not know your local market to say whether this could help in finding a job. In Greece 6σ is not known, so it would not help much.

[acer_asd]

Dear wkit

Currently i am involved in a six sigma project on steam consumption reduction in VCM plant. From my experience on working this project i can tell you that without proper knowledge of process and operations on that particular plant, you can not complete your six sigma project.

Regarding your query about job opportunities, i have seen demand for six sigma black belts in automobile industry, service industry but never seen any job opening in chemical industry for six sigma black belts or green belts. Although the company , i am working in (which is a petroleum and petrochemicals company in India) is training its employees for six sigma black belts on a large scale. So it seems that in near future chemical engineers with six sigma black belts will be in demand.

However this is my personal opinion and i request other members who are on a higher position in any organization to tell whether they prefer chemical engineers with six sigma background or not.

Regards