Production and process engineers
£44,843
Average salary
38 hours
Average weekly hours
2.93%
Unemployment rate
Definition: Production and process engineers
*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 2127
Production and process engineers advise on and direct technical aspects of production programmes to ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency. This unit group incorporates: planning and quality control engineers who plan production schedules, work sequences, and manufacturing and processing procedures to ensure accuracy, quality and reliability; and chemical engineers who undertake research on commercial scale chemical processes and processed products, design and provide specifications and direct the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of chemical plants and control systems.
Common tasks include:
- studies existing and alternative production methods, regarding work flow, plant layout, types of machinery and cost;
- recommends optimum equipment and layout and prepares drawings and specifications;
- devises and implements production control methods to monitor operational efficiency;
- investigates and eliminates potential hazards and bottlenecks in production;
- advises management on and ensures effective implementation of new production methods, techniques and equipment;
- liaises with materials buying, storing and controlling departments to ensure a steady flow of supplies;
- undertakes research and develops processes to achieve physical and/or chemical change for oil, pharmaceutical, synthetic, plastic, food and other products;
- designs, controls and constructs process plants to manufacture products.
Qualifications
Production and process engineers usually possess an accredited university degree. After qualifying, periods of appropriate training and experience are required before membership of a chartered engineering institution. Incorporated engineers possess an accredited university degree, BTEC/SQA award or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at Level 4. All routes are followed by periods of appropriate training and relevant experience.
*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.
Employment status: Production and process engineers
Regional employment: Production and process engineers
Future employment: Production and process engineers
Top 12 industries: Production and process engineers
Alternative & related job titles: Production and process engineers
Engineer, pharmaceutical Engineer, explosive (coal mine) Officer, productivity and costs (coal mine) Engineer, production Consultant, engineering, chemical Engineer, chemical Engineer, production and planning Consultant, industrial Superintendent, production (MOD) Leader, section Engineer, plastics Adviser, production Engineer, improvement, continuous Engineer, industrial Engineer, petrochemical Coordinator, project (manufacturing) Engineer, product Engineer, control, production Engineer Engineer, systems, manufacturing Consultant, production Engineer, process
Equality focus: Production and process engineers
Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.
Breakdown by gender
£39,107
Female average annual salary
£44,843
Male average annual salary
35
Female average weekly hours
38
Male average weekly hours
Average pay per hour: Production and process engineers
Workforce gender: Production and process engineers
Breakdown by region
£58,400
London - highest annual average salary
£36,500
East of England - lowest annual average salary
41
South West (England) - Highest average weekly hours
36
London - Lowest average weekly hours
Average pay per week (£): Production and process engineers
Average weekly hours by UK region/nation: Production and process engineers
Breakdown by age
20 years
Lowest annual salary (£17,207)
53 years
Highest annual salary (£51,100) at this age