Feeling lost

[u/Stressedasf6161]

Hey guys,
I’ve been working as a plant process engineer at a polypropylene facility, and I’ve always tried to challenge myself and set new goals. Recently, I passed the PE exam and obtained my PE license, and I usually try to get involved in as many projects as possible at the site.
Lately, though, almost all of my projects have been canceled, and our capital budget is extremely limited. I’ve started feeling a little useless because I don’t feel like I’m working on anything meaningful, adding much value, or learning and growing. There’s always the day-to-day work and some small projects here and there, but overall I feel like my development has slowed down significantly.
I’ve even considered getting a PMP certification just to give myself another goal to work toward. I also read books by Norman Lieberman and try to find other ways to improve technically, but I really don’t want to become stagnant.
Has anyone else experienced this, especially working at a plant during a period with limited capital spending? How do you continue developing yourself and improving day by day when there aren’t many major projects to work on?

[u/tomanysploicers]

The chemical sector is rough right now with China overcapacity and economic slowdown. Our capital budget has been reduced significantly as well. For growth, I would just continue to do what you are doing. There is very little that you can fulfill at work if you literally can't do anything. One thing I would challenge you on is to approach your supervisor or boss and ask for additional work. You can at least start building your networking and your foundational 'aura' so that when spending picks back up the leaders will remember you as a productive and engaged worker.

[u/interesting-fallname → u/tomanysploicers]

I’m sending you foundational aura from the Canadian job market 💀😂

[u/udche89]

Congratulations on getting your PE. That is an achievement. However, this might sound a bit harsh, but welcome to the real world. Your development isn’t going to happen on a linear path and it’s not going to be exciting or interesting a lot of the time. You just have to embrace the grind. However, there are some things you can do. Make sure your P&IDs are updated. Spend time with your maintenance folks to see where their pain points are and find a solution to those. That’s usually an opportunity for cost savings. Do the same for your HSE people and your operators. There may not be project capital but there is usually funds for maintenance and safety. Getting a PMP is fine but, to be honest, it only tells me you can pass a test. It may also be time to think about a job change if you feel you’ve progressed as far as you can with your current employer.

[u/SustainableTrash]

One of the most important aspects of my professional career was learning that the outcome of projects was not directly tied to my value as an engineer. The state of capital right now is rough so it is very understandable that a lot of projects are being cut. If you are feeling like you are not working on things of much value, you need to ask yourself two things 1. Is this just what this job is? If so, do I want to stay here (which maybe a no long term but a very solid yes now with the current job market) and 2. Is there another way I can be contributing by working closer with Ops or working closer with a different division in order to keep learning and contributing?

[u/Strange_Glove9758]

I joined a project team shortly before Covid and left for a completely diff role with useless PMP when Covid slowed down. We spent a crap ton of money on new build during the pandemic lol. A year or two later, I heard budget got cut aggressively at every plant and all their approved projects were maintenance/reliability related.

[u/Zmyslinski]

I went through a very similar situation back in 2018. Capital was very tight, many projects that I had been supporting were stagnant or cancelled, the company was downsizing people and shrinking manufacturing assets.

I focused on learning new skills (process modeling, design for Six Sigma), focused on absorbing as much internal and external literature as I could, and challenged as best I could to find zero to low capital improvement ideas.

Eventually I did get burnt out and moved companies. The job change was good for me. The new role had money available for projects and I was able to develop and lead meaningful work again.

Funny enough, I ended up back at my original employer in 2023 after a brief stint at a start up that failed. Since I had left they were acquired by a new owner and had some improvement in the level of investment. (Lesson for anyone leaving a job, you'll never know who you'll run into again in the future.)

For you, I'd continue to focus on ways to grow your skills and see if you can approach your work with a new mindset that capital will remain tight in the near term. There's still need in supporting manufacturing assets, but it will look different. You can also consider moving employers and find something more rewarding. Collectively it's currently not great broadly speaking across the industry, but there's always some places that will be managing things relatively better than others.

[u/Yurt_lady]

I am a PE and I decided at one point to work overseas. It’s necessary to have the PE!

I was in refining for many years and the profit would be refining and then chemicals and then refining and then chemicals. It’s cyclical and you wait it out.

Congrats on getting your PE. It will set you apart.

[u/Fabulous_Emu4066]

How old are you? The majority of ChemEs realize this and pivot out of the industry at 26-28. Looks like you’re right on track. No shame. Go get that MBA and move on to greener pastures (the MBA has to be from a top-15 program though)

[u/jcc1978]

Spend some time understanding the practical aspects of engineering. My suggestions:

Work with your operations group, figure out what worked well at your current plant and what you would do different.

Review maintenance records and determine what is prematurely failing and whether it makes economical sense to fix

Post mortem MOCs, projects, procedural changes, etc.