Production Engineer - VCM

SUMMARY

This position will be responsible for optimizing plant operations to ensure efficient production of quality products while maintaining safety and environmental compliance, and will lead the process improvement effort through the use of SPC and technical service skills. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Demonstrates strong safety culture through personal behavior and commitment to environmental, health & safety.
• Participates in and supports Westlake’s SIT/USIT, PACE, and SafeStart initiatives.
• Promote and support Westlake’s Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) activities as part of the department team.
• Assist daily plant operations in the production of quality products at specified rates and in compliance with environmental and OSHA regulations.
• Gain working knowledge of the plant in order to identify improvement opportunities.
• Use Statistical Process Control in the continuous improvement effort.
• Assists plant maintenance in achieving reliable equipment operation at minimum cost.
• Prepares monthly and other reports required to keep management informed on performance of operation, improvements made and other items as necessary.
• Assist in the preparation of capital requests necessary to improve plant operations.
• Manage small to mid-sized capital projects as appropriate.
• Participate on cross-functional teams as necessary.
• Maintain information (files and documentation) for plant process, equipment and technology.
• Knowledge of complete process or technology.
• Assist in troubleshooting and solve problems of large systems and processes.
• Successfully manages small teams to achieve objectives.
• Develops basic data, including P & ID’s; heat and material balances; and basic control strategies, for moderate projects.
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required
• Minimum of 0 - 2 years of experience, preferably in steady-state process design or production
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written
• Proficient computer skills, with good working knowledge of all standard company applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.)
• Ability to lead groups of people
• Ability to make sound decisions based upon technical information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and infrequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, much of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators.  Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.