EPC Interview
" We partake in a lot of automating and digitalization where we can .” He explained that digitalization and automating processes are slowly but surely becoming more prominent in the industry , but overall , it needs to happen faster . “ Many industry experts have experience but have not adapted to the newer applications .”
Sinitiere said that site turnaround and maintenance areas tend to move at a swifter tempo . He also conceded that capital projects sometimes require a lengthier time commitment . Project processes can sometimes resemble the gathering of newly found puzzle pieces because nobody can afford the luxury of rigidity . “ You have equipment available ; we have people available ,” Sinitiere explained . “ It boils down to looking at the sequencing and timing because sometimes the equipment or materials are out of the control of someone they are relying on .” Sinitiere experienced this when he previously worked in coatings . “ You had to manage the use of raw materials .”
He is optimistic that things are moving in a more positive direction as people are now willing to read the market with a more realistic eye . The supply chain is still skittish ; people are not taking for granted that what they need will be available immediately . Sinitiere believes predictability is another key driver because recognizing what is occurring upstream will provide indications of what to expect from the subsequent process .
Populating Energy ’ s Future
The knowledge gap is an issue that is consistent across the industry . “ There is a growing amount of infrastructure that we need to build or maintain , and because of the gap in the industry , there is less expertise , when previously there was the expertise of 20 , 30 , or 40 years in some cases ,” said Sinitiere .
He acknowledged that the industry needs to be more proactive in recruiting and retaining more people . “ We have a lot of good ideas for moving forward , including training and apprentice programs , but it can be hard to implement them in a lot of cases because day to day everything is urgent ."
Sinitiere , like most industry experts , knows what needs to happen to retain new individuals . “ We have to slow down in terms of when we get somebody in , really onboard them , train them well for a while , and make sure that we provide them with as much information as we can . We must keep getting better at that .” Better late than never , the industry is attempting to increase its presence . “ We have constantly evolving workforce development programs . We continue to go into schools earlier to help guide future graduates toward the right path .”
Eager students have the opportunity to introduce fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to established mindsets .
“ We need to continue to adapt ,” said Sinitiere . His advice to graduates is to be persistent and say to potential employers , “ I have transferrable skills . How can you work with me ?” He further advised , “ Be bold in that because that is what we need .”
Staying Relevant – The Key to Growth
Referring to his clients , Sinitiere said , “ We support them , and they support us . And we get involved in events that are relevant to the industry .” Events are a way for Sinitiere and his colleagues to stay current . “ We come to events like The Heat Exchanger World Americas Conference and Expo to know what is happening in technology , what is currently occurring with the workforce . All those hot topics are found in one place , which is beneficial to every professional , regardless of where they are in their career .”
Sinitiere has been in the industry for 20 years and believes he has another 20 in him . “ I have seen the rate of change and adaptation celebrated , and I do not believe that it is going to slow down . There are challenges , but the flipside of that means there are opportunities .”
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