Facilities engineers design and maintain systems in manufacturing plants, including utility systems and specialized systems. They work with manufacturing engineers and project managers to determine production machinery and process flow. They oversee ongoing operation and maintenance, and may work on new construction or refurbishment projects. Multiple engineers may be hired to focus on specific aspects of the operation.
Facilities engineers are involved in creating the various systems that drive a manufacturing plant. In addition to designing the layout for the manufacturing process, a person in this position will also be actively involved in the design of the utility systems within the space, including energy sources, climate control, water and lighting. Depending on the application, he will also be involved in the design and maintenance of more specialized systems, such as chemical handling or environmental controls.
In addition to being actively engaged in the design and construction of plant systems, the structural engineer will also often oversee the ongoing operation of the various systems. The technician often specifies the maintenance schedule for each operating system within the building, including any downtime for parts replacement and efficiency testing. Depending on the size and complexity of the plant, a company may choose to hire more than one plant engineer. This provides an opportunity for each of the engineers to focus on specific aspects of the overall operation and work to ensure that all systems are running at peak efficiency.
During the design process, the structural engineer will often work closely with manufacturing engineers and construction project managers. Together, this team will determine the best options for production machinery, as well as define the production process flow in the plant. Once the project has been completed and put into operation, the Facilities Engineer will work with the maintenance crews to ensure that day-to-day systems related tasks are performed, as well as establish a more comprehensive recurring maintenance schedule.
A structural engineer can act as a consultant on a building’s refurbishment or new construction and production design and transfer his or her duties to others at the end of the contract term. In other cases, he may find a permanent placement with a sole proprietorship, either by staying in one site or traveling to new sites when the company chooses to open a new location.
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