Abstract
Chemical engineering has come a long way in the last century and developed to a full fledged discipline. Most importantly, chemical engineering is instrumental in the establishment of many chemical processing industries. Prominent in this group are petroleum cracking, petrochemicals, polymer resins, plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubbers, coatings, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. They are essential components of our foods, materials, shelters, transportations, entertainments, cures of diseases, etc. As a group, it normally accounted for nearly 25% of the gross domestic product in a typical developed economy during the 1950-80's. Intellectually, chemical engineering has contributed to the growth of many disciplines especially bioengineering, biotechnology, materials science, micro-electronics, environmental science and engineering, among others. Chemical engineers are recognized leaders of the industry, business and the society.
However, in the last two decades, chemical engineering has gradually being edged out of social limelight, except when there are industrial hazards and pollutions. Chemical engineer no longer commanded the leadership position and professional respect as once has. Many Corporate giants such as Allied Chemicals, Air Products, American Cyanamid, Union Carbide, etc., have been reorganized, restructured, acquired, merged, some many times over, to such extent that can hardly be recognized to provide aspiration for young engineers. How can chemical engineering, as a profession, attract and retain and best talents? Is it at the risk of being marginalized?
To be sure, progresses of science and technology during the last quarter of a century have ushered in the digital revolution and the knowledge-based economy. We have witnessed important paradigms shift regarding how information transmits, corporations compete, operations run, business models gyrate, manufacturing and service merge, skill upgrades and culture changes. Obviously, chemical engineering cannot be immune from these. Chemical engineers, regardless of his/her job in R&D, manufacturing, services, management or education, will be placed in the whirlpool of the change of time.
Digital revolution will uplift chemical plant and chemical business to a different plateau heretofore unseen. Product and process design, lead time, production scale, physical layout, control mechanism, materials management, customer interactions, technical services will all experience unprecedented changes. Mastering these changes will allow chemical engineers and organizations to maintain competitiveness and sustainability. Furthermore, the advent of information technology, genetic engineering and nanotechnology will open many new exciting opportunities.
The contribution of chemical engineers in the knowledge based economy will be manifested in at least three ways: the mainstream role, the expanded role and the unique role. By performing these roles, the profession of chemical engineering will continue to be in the leading edge of the society.
