ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK
CONTROL ENGINEERING Knowledge of software engineering is essential in developing and managing an organisation’s control systems.
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onsidered an emerging discipline within the engineering sector, this field explores the different ways in which control systems can be successfully incorporated into an organisation’s operations to raise its efficiency and output. As nearly every industrial company needs a specialist to manage and supervise current processes, there is a high demand for graduates looking to enter control engineering, with large employers such as ABB, Shell and General Electric jockeying alongside smaller companies that develop devices and equipment.
Career overview Control engineers work to increase a company’s competitive edge, give it a more consistent manufacturing benchmark, and improve on meeting necessary environmental and quality control requirements. This is all typically done on top of boosting efficiency, reducing margin for error, and cutting operating costs through automation. Because of this, however, graduates need to be adept at handling vital complex and sophisticated control systems.
Trends and developments Advancements in processor technology have not only led to more powerful products filling the market at a lower cost, but also resulted in a higher number
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STEM Career Guide 2021
of systems and devices with built-in intelligent controllers capable of autodiagnostics. As such, control engineers may find themselves managing an entire network of interlinked auto-diagnosis systems on the job. From a business standpoint, rising energy costs around the world have culminated in firms tasking control engineers with the responsibility of placing special care on lowering energy consumption at manufacturing plants and facilities. On the other hand, however, advancements in wireless technology and information transfer systems have also raised the pace on production plant floors, making real-time process enhancements part of a control engineer’s responsibilities.
Career highlights Flexibility and options Companies typically conduct their own recruitment schemes and training programmes in different areas, such as R&D, and production and maintenance. Graduates can choose which area suits their skills and aspirations best. Moreover, there are different ways in which graduates can enter the field.
Diverse range of tasks From designing, developing and testing control systems to reporting on their effectiveness and efficiency, a wide and diverse range of tasks in this line of work face those either in, or looking to enter, control engineering. Ownership from start to finish Control engineers often claim that being able to observe a complete system come to life from start to finish – along with improved efficiency of processes – is highly satisfying. Skills required in control engineering
• Knowledge of software engineering • Numeracy skills • Critical thinking skills • Ability to learn quickly • Adaptability • Self-motivated • Good time management skills
