In this blog post, we will talk about the process of making cell phones, which are essential items in our daily lives, and the efforts and responsibilities of the engineers behind them.
What is your cell phone made of? Metal? Plastic? Glass? If so, what process is it made through?
Process, the word “process” has a very broad meaning. Although it may vary from field to field, a process in engineering refers to “all the processes from raw materials and energy to the production of the desired product.” Does this make sense to you? How about this? The process of producing a mobile phone using metal, silicon, plastic, rubber, and energy is the mobile phone production process. This process requires more complexity and precision than simple assembly, and various scientific principles and technologies are used in multiple stages. All of these must be harmonized to create the mobile phone we use.
The chemical and biological engineering that I am studying is a discipline that covers a wide range of fields. It is a major that always follows all engineering fields based on chemical knowledge, such as petrochemistry, polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, inorganic and nano, semiconductors, and processes. Among these various sub-majors, I am most interested in “process design and control.” The “process” I explained earlier using the example of a mobile phone is related to all parts of the world. If you look at it broadly, the world is a collection of numerous processes. Waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, and going about your day can be seen as a “process for the day,” and taking classes and taking exams at school can be seen as a “process for achieving learning goals.” Our daily lives are a series of one huge process, and the quality of our lives depends on how efficiently these processes are designed and managed.
Processes in industry mainly refer to large systems (factory operation and product production), and this is where engineers who design and control processes shine. Engineers must design a feasible process by considering all possible mathematical and scientific knowledge and numerous conditions (e.g., prevention of environmental pollution and accidents) for optimal results, as the resources and time available are always limited. After the design stage, they must analyze the process that is actually being operated to determine how closely the actual process matches our expectations and how to modify and control certain parts to achieve better results.
Have you ever thought about what kind of ethical responsibility we should have in the process of designing a process? A small mistake by an engineer can lead to an irreversible disaster, such as the explosion of the Columbia and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, so engineers must constantly strive to prevent such disasters. It is not enough to acquire mathematical and scientific knowledge; one must also have an open mind to review and study new technologies and theories every day, and at the same time, one must internalize numerous empirical rules (empirical rules obtained through numerous trials and errors since the beginning of human history) to develop what is called an “engineering sense,” which cannot be achieved in a short period of time. Engineering is a practical discipline that affects real life, not just theory, so it requires a corresponding level of responsibility and ethical consideration.
A wide range of studies are required in many fields, including basic calculus, mathematics for dealing with complex differential equations, physical chemistry and thermodynamics for understanding the characteristics of reactions and judging their validity, organic and inorganic chemistry for identifying reaction structures and designing them optimally, and simulation programming skills for simulating realistic processes. In addition, consideration of the environment and sustainability has become more important in recent years. When designing a process, it has become an important role of engineers to find ways to minimize the impact on the environment and use resources efficiently.
You have personally experienced the rapid changes in computers and mobile communications displays. From large and heavy CRTs to LCDs, and then to PDPs, which disappeared due to their high cost, to LEDs, OLEDs, and TFT-LCDs, it has only been about 50 years since the first LCDs appeared, and the cycle of change is getting shorter and shorter. And behind it all were the “process design engineers” who were always thinking and researching.
However, this pace of development should not be evaluated simply as a technological achievement. We must also think about how we will deal with new problems that arise as technology advances (e.g., the problem of e-waste and resource depletion). For “process design engineers,” who are always looking at inconveniences and shortcomings and constantly striving for a better direction, this world is another huge process, and people’s lives will become more comfortable and convenient in the future. You will be able to enjoy the benefits of civilization today because of the people who work hard with the motto of “Design Everything.” Imagine the countless hours of hard work and sweat that went into the tiny mobile phone in your hand. While enjoying the benefits of technology, remembering the countless efforts and worries behind it is a small expression of gratitude we can make.
