EPC vs OEM = Superficial Engineering vs Real Engineering? 15

[romulus2009]

The thread title says it all really,

But let me expand on what I mean just for a second.

Going from a highly specialized graduate level degree in engineering to an EPC company in the Oil and Gas industry, I get the very distinct feeling that the work I do right now is a sort of superficial or "fake" engineering. Although my work is referred to as "engineering", I feel that it comprises mostly about knowing things rather than DOING things. In this business it seems all that you have to do is know everything there is to know about whatever equipment you are responsible for. Why? Because the OEMs /Vendors are the ones doing all the "real" engineering utilizing all the CFD, FEA, CAD, non-linear partial differential equations solving tools while at an EPC level it seems that NPSHA = Hsurface + Hstatic - Hloss - Hvap is as complicated as it gets.

Also, I feel that because of this, an engineer doing hard core engineering in an OEM has an advantage, and is able to move to an EPC and actually be a real asset, while the only real benefit an EPC guy can be to an OEM if they went the other way would be mostly in management more than engineering.

Am I the only one that has this feeling? Do you get OEM jobs that are a lot less technical as well?

The main advantage I see of EPC engineering jobs is that you get decent variety in the type of activities, you obtain a wider breath of knowledge and you obtain good management and interpersonal skills all the cost of forgetting your engineering basics and fundamentals and not ever truly getting that real understanding of engineering concepts that comes only when you dig into the hard core theory.

It's a lot more practical knowledge vs true/detailed understanding.

Curious to know your thoughts on this.

Romulus

 

[rbulsara]

You need both technical know how and practical business skills to succeed.

It also depends how you measure success. If making money is one of them, business skill wins. If you really want to know, most of OEM knowledge can be found in text books and publications. That alone does not get you very far in life.

There is a reason why non-technical (or less technical at least) managers make more money, in general, than the technically competent engineers they manage.

On the other hand, it is also true that in an economic downturn, technical skills help to hang on to a job more than managerial skills, even if at lower pay.

You cannot put a price on experience of practical knowledge, political connections, leadership skills, financial brain, feasibility and constructibility sense, etc. This is something cannot be had by reading books or going to schools.

A lot more is needed to be a successful professional, be it consulting, entrepreneur, EPC (contracting) or OEM or research.

You can be an expert aeronautical engineer, but you still need a skilled pilot to make it fly and business manager to make the airline a viable business. Everyone has a place in the process and everyone affects collective success or failure.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[controlsdude]

OEM vs EPC

I dont see the point in discussing this subject.

opinion here
If you like overall picture and putting huge projects together, revel in people skills, and endless meetings, then EPC. If you like getting into the details of a certain area of expertise than thats what you like then OEM.

If you dont like what your doing then change jobs, who says you have to work where you work. Life is too short to be stuck in a job that makes you miserable.

 

[rhodie]

Generally speaking, if a person with only OEM experience were to submit a resume to an EPC, he would quickly be called in for an interview and quite likely be hired.On the other hand, if a person with only EPC experience were to submit a resume to and OEM, it would most likely be thrown in the garbage immediately.Make of that what you will.-Christine

If the company is worth working for, they'll simply hire the best engineer for the job. Talent scouting is more difficult than snap judgements.

 

[Twoballcane]

Hmmm I don't know about that. I would think that an OEM would take in an EPC because that person knows the bigger picture. The EPC can help to improve OEM's product and even come up with new product for the industry.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[Mr168]

Give a budding EPC engineer one year in the field, and he will quickly learn that all that is on paper is not quite what it seems. Constructability is the hard part.

 

[iooi]

EPC engineers are about integrating all the equipment designed by OEM engineers to meet an overall "system" performance. OEMs are supposed to experts in the design, construction and installation of their equipment e.g. generators, transformers. EPCs as system designers are supposed to know enough about each to integrate them in such a way that makes it easy to install, operate and maintain. Clients then operate and maintain for the design life of the asset. That's the theoretical setup anyway. So engineers at every stage are supposed to be doing "real" engineering but just that everyone's focus is slightly different.

EPCs are also supposed to be your project delivery specialists from conceptual design to FEED to detailed design. This requires a knowledge of all major equipment and what impact each will have on schedule and cost. EPCs essentially manage a balancing act between technical aspects of the system (calculations, modelling) and commercial aspects of the project (cost, schedule).

But having worked with a few EPCs and operators I can say that most engineers are confused as to what their real purpose is and what part they play in overall engineering supply chain. So to be honest, I'm not surprised that young engineers may feel like they're not doing real engineering because the industry itself is in urgent need of repair.

 

[csd72]

The in depth design loses it lustre after a while, it is than that you will find it more satisfying to look after the bigger picture rather than just a small part.