Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Heat Exchanger • Batch Record • Mass Transfer

Unit Operations

Term from Chemical Production industry explained for recruiters

Unit Operations refers to the basic steps and processes used in chemical manufacturing and production facilities. Think of it like the building blocks that make up any chemical production line - similar to how a recipe has different steps like mixing, heating, and filtering. These operations include common industrial processes like distillation (separating liquids), filtration (removing solids from liquids), drying, and mixing. When someone lists Unit Operations experience on their resume, it means they understand how to run and manage these fundamental industrial processes that are essential in chemical plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities.

Examples in Resumes

Supervised Unit Operations in a chemical processing plant

Optimized Unit Operations to reduce production costs by 15%

Designed and implemented new Unit Operation systems for pharmaceutical manufacturing

Trained junior engineers in Unit Operations and process safety

Typical job title: "Process Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Chemical Process Engineer Unit Operations Engineer Chemical Operations Engineer Production Engineer Process Development Engineer Manufacturing Engineer Chemical Plant Engineer

Where to Find Process Engineers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach optimizing a chemical production process that's experiencing efficiency issues?

Expected Answer: A senior engineer should discuss analyzing current operations, identifying bottlenecks, considering equipment modifications, and implementing process control improvements while maintaining safety standards. They should mention cost-benefit analysis and team coordination.

Q: Tell me about a time you had to troubleshoot a major unit operation failure.

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate leadership in crisis, systematic problem-solving approach, and ability to balance quick resolution with safety concerns. Should include communication with different departments and documentation of solutions.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when scaling up a unit operation from lab to production scale?

Expected Answer: Should mention equipment capabilities, safety considerations, cost implications, and process parameters that need adjustment. Understanding of pilot plant trials and risk assessment is important.

Q: How do you ensure quality control in unit operations?

Expected Answer: Should discuss monitoring systems, sampling procedures, documentation requirements, and corrective action processes. Understanding of standard operating procedures and quality standards is essential.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain the basic principles of distillation?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain in simple terms how separation of liquids works based on boiling points, basic equipment involved, and common applications in industry.

Q: What safety considerations are important in unit operations?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of basic safety protocols, personal protective equipment, emergency procedures, and importance of following standard operating procedures.