Chemical and Process Engineering
Find Profile by Name
Operations Engineer
Su'ad Barakat, Fonterra
| Earning: | $49-55,000 |
| In a nutshell: | Finding ways to make milk processing plants more efficient. |
| Why? | “I can make people’s jobs easier.” |
Pathway: Macleans College, Year 13: Statistics, Classical Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
University of Auckland: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majoring in Chemical and Materials Engineering
Massey University: Masters in Dairy Technology
Su’ad Barakat chose a career that combines the theoretical with the practical. “I wanted to study science at university, but I wanted to be able to apply what I learnt and be hands-on, both at university and in my career. Engineering was the way to do that for me.”
Su’ad decided she wanted to work in the food industry after getting some experience with process engineering. After completing her degree and summer work in the industry, she took a graduate position dealing with operations in Fonterra milk processing plants.
“So far I’ve been given the opportunity to work on improvement projects. These begin with a business case, where a potential improvement in our products or processes has been identified by me or another employee.”
A current project focuses on bottling milk with as little waste as possible. “We always slightly overfill the bottle to ensure the customer gets their litre of milk, so I have been using a statistical analysis to get an accurate fill, rather than a slight overfill which is a cost to the company.”
To find a solution to such problems, Su’ad does a cost analysis, gathers data about the possibility and interacts with the production team. Then she manages implementation of that solution to make sure it works in the long term.
“There is no routine to my job, which is very appealing to me. One day I’ll be completing a task on my own, another day I’ll be working in a team. I am constantly problem solving and trying to find more efficient ways of doing things.”
It helps to have an analytical mind that is always on the lookout for potential problems. She also has to be a ‘people person’ and be able work with everyone from maintenance engineers to managers.
“I find working with the operators most rewarding. When my project makes their work easier and gives them more information about the process they are operating, I feel like I have succeeded.”
Posted May 2012
