Having spent a substantial time in Food and Pharma in a capacity of Design, Start-up, and Calibration from Field and Lab instrumentation and equipment through to the HMI wanting to return after a 10 year endeavour which included Power along with Water and Specialty Chemical. The question is how is this return percieved? Having similarities within the industries, (eventhough from the outside looking in it may be seen to the contrary); it would seem the return would be acceptable.
Similarly, if the arena has been primarily with a DCS such as Bailey Infi 90, Westinghouse WDPF, and ABB System 6(FP), as well as variuos HMI such as Wonderware, Intellution and not the latest and greatest Delta V, is this considered inadequate?
Does it benefit the Engineer to shell out the funds for the Delta V training to make the move? or is it money down the drain?
Feedback on this or any other thoughts on changing fields would be appreciated.

 

Food and Pharma are technically similar but very different in other ways. Food people like to run their plants fast, in automatic if they can. Objective is to minimise cost per can. Most of the cost is production. Pharma people tend to run their plants slowly and very carefully. Objective is to make the stuff reliably. Most of the cost is research into the stuff. Technically (control wise) Petrochemical, specially batch is not very different, but there they are more concerned with avoiding explosions. Most of the cost is feedstuff. Your systems experience is fine - in food (in the uk) PLC's predominate, in pharma DeltaV and similar so called hybrids tend to be more popular. Petrochemical is still mostly DCS, which is where you seem to have most experience. But that does not men that your skills and experience are not relevant in food and pharma.

Move to the pharma industry - and get them to pay for your training.

 

Thank you for your consideration, and insight. I have some decision making to do.
Regards