The Value and Use of Data in Chemical Engineering Practice

The ability to generate, organize, analyze, understand and leverage data for sound decision making is a central activity of chemical engineers. Chemical engineers are responsible for the safe, profitable and environmentally friendly operation of chemical facilities; thus, they are expected to be good at designing and operating chemical processes. To this end, they make use of models which involves planning and conducting experiments in the laboratory or a pilot plant, analyzing the generated data and making use of it for designing large scale industrial systems. In an operating plant, they need to analyze data so as to achieve maximum efficiencies, reduce the use of precious natural resources, minimize environmental degradation, keep the plant safe as well as to help generate value for the customers and stakeholders. This chapter provides a non-technical view of how chemical engineers translate data to the best possible decisions that result in reliable, safe and profitable process design and operations.