Process Technology

Have you ever taken part in a process and thought, “There has to be a better way to do this.” That’s the daily motto of process technicians, employees whose job it is to figure out better ways to produce items through manufacturing. Process technicians help companies make better products in ways that are safer, more efficient and therefore more profitable.

WHAT DOES A PROCESS TECHNICIAN DO?

Simply put, process technicians look for ways to build or produce things better. They are trained to look for inefficiencies in production and find ways to improve the process. By assisting industrial engineers, process technologists help integrate workers, machines, materials, information and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies and analyze production costs.

Process technology can be broken down into two main categories: Chemical technician Chemical technicians use laboratory instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers research, develop, produce and test chemical products and processes. Among their job duties are: • Monitor chemical processes and test the quality of products to make sure they meet standards and specifications. • Set up and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment. • Troubleshoot production problems or malfunctioning instruments. • Prepare chemical solutions. • Conduct, compile and interpret results of chemical and physical experiments, tests and analyses for a variety of purposes, including research and development. • Prepare technical reports, graphs and charts, and give presentations that summarize their results. Industrial engineering technician Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in devising efficient systems to make a product or provide a service. Industrial engineering technicians typically do the following: • Suggest revisions to methods of operation, material handling or equipment layout. • Interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams and formulas. • Confer with management or engineering staff to determine quality and reliability standards. • Prepare charts, graphs and diagrams to illustrate workflow, routing, floor layouts, how materials are handled and how machines are used. • Collect data to assist in process improvement activities. • Study the time and steps workers take to do a task through time and motion studies.

WHERE DO PROCESS TECHNICIANS WORK?

Process technicians typically work full time and inside, either in a factory, a lab or some other kind of manufacturing setting. They generally work regular business hours; however, some overtime may be required to meet project deadlines. Process technicians may also work irregular hours to monitor laboratory or plant operations during second and third shifts.

WHAT’S THE JOB OUTLOOK?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 650 chemical technician jobs in Arkansas in 2018. The field is expected to grow 8% by 2028, better than the national average. Industrial technician jobs numbered 480 positions in 2018; demand for these jobs is also expected to grow by 4%, in line with the national average.

Additionally, there were 350 industrial engineering technician jobs in Arkansas in 2016 and that number is expected to increase 6% to 370 jobs by 2026. This is also well above the national rate of growth for this same job. HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE? Chemical Technologist • Lower range wages (bottom 10 percent) — $27,080 annually/$13.02 per hour • Middle range wages (median) — $38,180 annually/$18.36 per hour • Higher range wages (top 10 percent) — $64,420 annually/$30.97 per hour

Industrial Technologist • Lower range wages (bottom 10 percent) — $32,250 annually/$15.50 per hour • Middle range wages (median) — $47,900 annually/$23.03 per hour • Higher range wages (top 10 percent) — $117,800 annually/$56.67 per hour

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL? CHEMICAL: • STEM concepts • Critical thinking • Information ordering • Monitoring • Deductive/inductive reasoning

INDUSTRIAL: • Mechanical skills • Engineering/technology concepts • Production/processing concepts • Mathematics • Design • Complex problem-solving