An opportunity I have to let go
Friday, July 03, 2009
Yesterday, while I was in my office earlier today, I received a phone call from a number I don't recognized. I answered the phone and a guy asked for me. He introduced himself and mentioned that he is from an oleochemical factory. In short, he was proposing me the production manager position in his factory. Unfortunately, I'm already an educator in a university and currently under a study leave. If only this opportunity came 1-2 years ago, I will certainly grab it. I don't know where he got my number or who recommended me to him. I never asked. This is the third time I received such offer. I'm sure he did not get my contact via my blog. I don't share my hand phone number in my blog. I only share my email and facebook account here.
Head Hunter?!!
This is what we call head hunter. Some of my colleagues (engineers) also received interesting offers once in a while. This normally happens after you have been working as an engineer for a few years. If you are good, people will talk about you. People will recommend and say good things about you. The words spread and out of a sudden, you receive a phone call offering you better position and better pay. This is where you can build your career and later on establish your empire.
Pro and Cons
However, this can be tricky as well (if you are not clear with your career path). Once you become a manager, you tend to be involved in more administration duties. As a manager, you will have a number of engineers working under you, which means almost all the technical responsibilities are being well taken care of. This may perhaps result to the fact that your previous technical knowledge and skills gradually maintains or slightly decreases. The technical knowledge and skills may develop but in a very general manner as your down line engineers will update you from time to time on certain job or issues. In addition, you have to make more important and expensive decisions. It's a risk you have to take and you must make inteligent decisions based on your knowledge and years of experience. The pressure is there,
off course.
Among the beauty of being a manager is the fantastic remuneration package. Besides bringing home higher salary, the annual increment is normally irresistible and the annual bonus are very generous. Some companies provide executive vehicles and subsidies the petrol/fuel. Some even have various types of allowances and the endless benefits.
Remain technical...
I have a friend/classmate who worked as a process engineer few years ago serving for a major oil company refinery. He loves his job very much and is very good in what he does. After a few years, he was offered a position as a manager, however, he rejected it. He informed me that he do not want to be involved with any major administrative matters. He want to be the expert in his field. He then moved to another oil company, become somebody important in his technical field (I'm not aware of his latest position) and receives amazing remuneration package. It's a major decision he has to make because he have to migrate overseas.
Managerial career
I have another friend/classmate, also a chemical engineer from the same university as me. He became an engineer after graduating and after a few years only he stepped up and become a manager. Then, after a few years, he was offered to become factory administrator from a different company. He told me that he has forgotten and lost all his technical chemical engineering knowledge. He has totally transformed and became a factory administrator. All managers in his factory reports to him. It is interesting and amazing because he arrived to that level at 30 years old. In most cases, he get promoted and get better pay via head hunting process.
Conclusion
After few years of servicing as an engineer (i mean performing as a good engineer), an opportunity will come where somebody will call you and say, I want to hire you and give you better salary. Well, you have to really think and decide either to grab the opportunity or not. You would not stay as an engineer throughout your working life. You'll grow, your career grow. You'll become better and better. You'll get more exposed and gained more experiences. As for me, I have decided to be in the academia arena. I have my targets and after several years as an engineer, it's time for me to establish myself in education, research and consultancies.
What about you?
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posted by alzack @ 8:37 PM,
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I'm Now A Chemical Engineering Ph.D Student
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Exactly one year ago, I joined Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as a lecturer in the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering after almost 6 years working as an engineer. Today, one year as a lecturer, I'm officially a chemical engineering Ph.D student. I'm now on my study leave for three years to do my post graduate study - full time research.
I'm thankful to God for providing me the chance to further my studies and I'm planning to complete my research as soon as possible. When I say as soon as possible, that simply means I plan to complete it under 3 years, if God will. I hope everything will be smooth.
I'm going to update the progress of my research from time to time in this blog as well in my personal facebook status. So, if you are interested to get updated with my progress, you can keep on following me in this blog and also via my facebook account.
If God will, I'll be doing an attachment for my Ph.D studies with Helsinki University in Finland. I'm allowed to do my research there for a maximum of 9 months within the space of 3 years. My co-supervisor will be from there, besides my main supervisor, Prof. Dr. Nor Aishah Saidina Amin in UTM.
You might be wandering what is my Ph.D topic? It's something to do with catalysis engineering and developing a process. I will reveal the topic if there are 17 people asking for it... :) ...
Anybody doing their post graduate studies now? or planning to continue their studies? Maybe you want to share something...
Labels: Chemical Engineering, Learning Curve, pH.D
posted by alzack @ 4:30 PM,
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Plastic Types, Characteristics and ... Dangers!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Individuals have a way to identify the type of plastic in many products, especially food storage containers and packaging [Check out the video below... interesting]. Many, but not all, such plastic products have a number – the resin identification code – molded, formed or imprinted in or on the container, often on the bottom. This system of coding was developed in 1988 by the U.S. - based Society of the Plastics Industry to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics. It is voluntary for plastic manufacturers, but has become relatively standard on certain plastic products sold globally. Knowing the code for a particular product, consumers can then inform themselves of the characteristics of the plastic and the risks of using that product.
The seven plastic resin codes are each briefly described below to provide a quick snapshot detailing the name of the resin (i.e., the base material of the plastic), typical products it is found in, dangerous chemicals it leaches, and why they are dangerous.Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) – Used in soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing, detergent and cleaner containers. Leaches antimony trioxide and di(2ethylhexyl) pthalate (DEHP). Workers exposed to antimony
trioxide for long periods of time have exhibited respiratory and skin irritation; among female workers, increased incidence of menstrual problems and miscarriage; their children exhibited slower development in the first twelve months of life. The longer a liquid is left in such a container the greater the concentration of antimony released into the liquid. DEHP is an endocrine disruptor that mimics the female hormone estrogen. It has been strongly linked to asthma and allergies in children. It may cause certain types of cancer, and it has been linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. In Europe, DEHP has been banned since 1999 from use in plastic toys for children under the age of three.
Check out the video below to learn how plastic bottles are made from Polyethylene terephthalate - interesting stuff!!!
bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles, shower curtains, medical tubing, and numerous construction products (e.g., pipes, siding). PVC has been described as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. Leaches di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), depending on which is used as the plasticizer or softener (usually DEHP). DEHP and BBzP are endocrine disruptors mimicking the female hormone estrogen; have been strongly linked to asthma and allergic symptoms in children; may cause certain types of cancer; linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. In Europe, DEHP and BBzP and other dangerous pthalates have been banned from use in plastic toys for children under three since 1999. Not so elsewhere, including Canada and the United States.
Important Note : Two other types of plastic that fall under code 7 are acrylonitrile styrene (AS) or styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Both AS/SAN and ABS are higher quality plastics with increased strength, rigidity, toughness and temperature and chemical resistance. AS/SAN is used in mixing bowls, thermos casing, dishes, cutlery, coffee filters, toothbrushes, outer covers (printers, calculators, lamps), battery housing. The incorporation of butadiene during the manufacture of AS/SAN, produces ABS, 
which is an even tougher plastic. ABS is used in LEGO toys, pipes, golf club heads, automotive parts, protective head gear. Our research on risks associated with AS/SAN and ABS is ongoing.WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY PLASTIC USE : You may wish to seriously consider your – and especially your children's – use of plastics numbered 1, 3, 6 and 7 (polycarbonate), all of which have been shown to leach dangerous chemicals. This does not necessarily mean the others are completely safe, just that they have been studied less to date.
So if you have to use plastic, it is safest to stick to numbers 2, 4, 5 and 7 (other than polycarbonate) whenever possible.
If an item does not have a plastic code on it, or if the type of plastic is unclear from the code (e.g., with #7, it likely will not say it is polycarbonate), your best bet is to contact the manufacturer and ask them directly what type of plastic was used to make the product.
Plastic Tips
Here are some simple tips to help you in working toward a life without plastic, or a life of safer, more informed plastic use.
o Avoid polycarbonate (#7) baby bottles and sippy cups. For baby bottles, try and use glass, polyethylene or polypropylene instead. Sippy cups made of stainless steel (e.g., Kleen Kanteen, Purica), or of polypropylene or polyethylene are safer. Be sure to check the bottle or cup to be sure of the type of plastic it contains. As for baby bottle nipples, try and use silicone which does not leach the carcinogenic nitrosamines that can be found in latex.
o If you must use polycarbonate (#7) bottles, avoid heating food and drink in the bottle. Heat it in a separate container and transfer it to the bottle once it is warm enough for the child to eat or drink. If the plastic is showing signs of wear – scratched, cloudy – discard the container.
o For drinking water, try and avoid plastic bottles. If you do use plastic bottles made from #1 or #2 plastic try not to reuse them as they are intended only for single use. One alternative is a stainless steel water bottle. For storing large quantities of water, glass and stainless steel containers are also available. If you use a #1 water bottle, try to consume the contents as soon as possible because leaching of antimony increases with time.
o Try to avoid heating foods in plastic containers, especially in the microwave oven, which can cause the plastic to degrade and leach chemicals faster. As well, leaching increases when plastic comes into contact with oily or fatty foods, or when the plastic is scratched, worn, cracked, or sticky.
o Use plastic wraps with caution, especially in the microwave, and try to keep the plastic from touching the food. Alternatives include wax paper or paper towels.
o Try and use alternatives to plastic packaging and storage containers. Cloth, paper or cardboard are possibilities for transporting groceries. Stainless steel and glass food storage containers are available.
o Avoid plastic dishes and utensils for meals. Alternatives include glass, ceramic, wood, stainless steel, and lacquer ware. Offer your child or grandchild a non-plastic dish set made of either stainless steel or wood (safely coated with a non-toxic lacquer).
These days, plastic is so omnipresent it can be difficult to imagine life without plastic. Yet, our ancestors managed just fine without it. All it takes is a little imagination, determination and discipline.
p/s: This article is adopted from a colleague who shared this information in my work mailing list. I'm not sure where the information originates. However, I felt that the article is very informative and should be spread. I searched for some related photos to provide better comprehension and visualization to the reader. Hope you like it. I hope it is beneficial to everybody.
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posted by alzack @ 8:28 PM,
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