JEE JAP HAW

Reflecting on My Internship Experience at Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd. 

1.0 Introduction

Figure 1.1:  Logo of Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd

          Hello, Everyone, my name is Jee Jap Haw. I just finished my industrial training and currently pursuing my final year in Chemical Process Engineering. Here, I would like to share my knowledges and experiences gained through this 12 weeks industrial training experience gained.

         My industrial training attached to Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd was in conjunction with the course of  Industrial Training SMJG3206 that required a duration of 12 weeks: starting from 10 Jun 2019 until 30 August 2019.

         Figure 1.2: Photo taken on the last day of my internship

          For my industrial training. I was chosen to do my industrial training in Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd. In this company, I have been placed in the PE2 Department (Low Density Polyethylene Production Department). The main reason why I choose to do my internship in Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd. because of this company’s popularities as Malaysia’s largest olefin and polyolefin as well as one of the largest polyolefin producer in Southeast Asia, which owned 13 production plants, 2 co-generation plants and 3 tank farms. I also believe that this company can provide me a platform to practice and apply my engineering knowledge and skills at the real life industry as well as have an insights into the future professional life of a production engineer.

Figure 1.3: Low Density Polyethylene Resin

          Generally, the main product of this department is low density polyethylene resin, which can be divided into 3 different grades: film grade, coating grade and injection molding grade. Under this department, I not only get to apply all my knowledge to real industry but this internship also brush up my soft skill in taking a step forward to approach people from different department. In general, this internship provided me a clear view on what is actually the role of production engineer and their passion in manufacturing department.

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2.0 Activities Involved

2.1 Basic Plant Operating and Troubleshooting Knowledge

Figure 2.1:  Photo taken inside Centralized Control Room

          As I was placed in a production department, it is crucial to  understand all the theories and facilities that has been used in designing the plant. Before going any further on how production engineers in my department operate and manage a plant, I was first exposed to the whole process of the LDPE plant included main process, utilities, process safeguard and emergency shut down system, which allowed me to familiar myself with the production line. From this, I not only learned how to read Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) and Emergency Shut Down (ESD), but also acquired basic plant operating and troubleshooting knowledge.

2.2 Software Exposed

              Figure 2.2: Yokogawa Centum VP                Figure 2.3: Honeywell Uniformance PHD graphic

          Throughout my internship, I also get to learn new software in controlling a process such as Yokogawa Centum VP and Honeywell Uniformance PHD Graphic. Besides, I also used these software to analyze a plant upset or equipment efficiency and used the available information to avoid future upsets.

2.3 Hand On Experience

        Apart from that, I also had my hand on experience truly working in production department on plant inspection, scheduled shut down and start up operation. By performing assembling and disassembling operation of the equipment, I could say that I really learnt a lots of things by understanding their working principle and their inner components better as well as their standard operating procedure. Not only that, I also learned new engineering troubleshooting knowledge and skill such as pipeline isolation and line tracing.

2.4 Meeting Involved

1. Daily Morning Meeting with Maintenance Department

To summarize all the quality index, utility consumption, preventative maintenance jobs that has been             done, permit that has been issued out and safety and environmental issue (if any).

2. Monthly Quality Meeting with Technical Department

To discuss on the quality issue and come out with action plant for customer feedback.

3. Vendor Meeting

To discuss on the equipment issue faced by PE2 department with supplier.

4. Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Meeting

To discuss on the funds that are used by a company for the purchase, improvement, or maintenance of long-term assets.

5. Equipment Maintainability Meeting with Reliability Department 

To discuss on the inspection method (bore scope, Non-Destructive Test etc) on plant equipments.

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3.0 Achievement

3.1 Successfully Improve Heat Exchanger Monitoring 

          One of my biggest achievement during my internship is I successfully developed an interface on Honeywell Uniformance PHD Graphic to allow my department to monitor their heat exchanger in terms of efficiency. Previously, this interface doesn't existed in PHD graphic and they only used Microsoft Excel to monitor the heat exchanger. By utilizing my heat transfer knowledge, I used the existing data from Distributed Control System (DCS) to generate an equation, which allow long-term online monitoring on heat exchanger in term of efficiency and operational lifetime and thus improve scheduling of maintenance.  This achievement had proofed my value and make my contribution worthy to PE2 department. Here, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude to Mr Karthik who entrusted this huge project to me.

3.2 Participate in Management of Change (MOC)

Figure 3.1: Standard Operating Procedure that I had been constructed

          Not only that, I was assigned to generate a step-by-step instructions that describe on how to perform a routine activity on the new Gas Chromatography (GC) shelter.  Before that, I have to monitor the revamping process which done by operator and understand the start up and normal running configuration and the process flow diagram of the new GC analyzer.  With the help of the engineers from my department, I successfully developed my first ever standard operating procedure. 

3.3 Trial Run Coordinator

          During my internship, I also get to involve in a trial run where the main objective is to improve our product quality. In this task, I was chosen to become the coordinator for this trial run and work to assist project teams with the coordination of resources, equipment, meetings, and timeline. In order to meet the main goal of this trial run, I attended in a meeting with Plastic Technical Center to follow up on important actions and decisions from meetings.

          After that, I have to develop a game plan to undertake the task required to be done for this trial run and ensure that this trial run adhere to the frameworks. As this trial run involved in sample collection, I have to communicate with technicians in my department to make sure everyone understand the message delivered. In short, this experience had trained me to work as a team in managing a project and deal with people from different department in order to achieve the main objective.

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4.0 Conclusion

           Overall, I had a very good internship experience at the Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd. and this internship has significantly improved my knowledge of the workings of the engineering worlds and left me with skills that will be useful throughout my future career. Not only that, I have discovered my strength and weakness and this internship also provides a platform for me to eradicate my weakness and practise my strength and the most important things is this had reconfirm my decision in becoming a production engineer.

           Despite of expose myself to the real plant operations and real engineering world, I also get to make a lots of new friend from different backgrounds. As they are very generous in sharing their experience, I learnt how different each people in dealing with their career target and also the future which they vision in Lotte Chemical Titan. I could say, without them, I wouldn't be who I am today!!! During my final year, I will definitely work harder and harder so that I can continue my engineering journey at Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn Bhd after graduate.

          Hereby, I would like to show my sincere thanks to Dr Nurulbahiyah binti Ahmad Khairudin, my industrial training coordinator for assisting me in getting ready and successfully managed my industrial training placement. Besides, I also would like to express my deepest thanks to Prof. Dr. Aminaton binti Marto, my faculty supervisor who came all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Johor and pay me a visit to further understand my training progress in spite of being extraordinarily busy with her schedule.

Figure 4.1: Group Photo with Company Supervisors and Visitng Supervisor after presentation (from left to right)     

Mr. Foo, Prof. Dr. Aminaton, Me, Mr. Koh

        In addition, I am also grateful for having a chance to meet so many wonderful people and professionals who led me throughout my internship. Their sacrifices towards their time in assisting me are much appreciated and their professional knowledge sharing and precious guidance make my industrial training become extremely valuable. Hereby, I would like to express my deepest sense of appreciation to:

George Edwin A/L Jesudason Pereira (PE2 Manager)

Koh Cin Cong (PE2 Senior Production Engineer, Industrial Supervisor)

Foo Siang Ching (PE 2 Area Owner)

Karthik A/L Vasutheavan (PE 2 Production Engineer)

Amiruddin bin Mohtar @ Mokthar (PE 2 Production Engineer)

Lau Shi Ying (PE 2 Process Senior Engineer)

Saw Ping Lih (Cogen 2 Senior Engineer)

Tan Kai Xuan (PE 3 Industrial Trainee)

Lo Ye Shen (QM2 Laboratory Chemist)

Figure 4.2: Group Photo with Production Engineers from PE2 Department (from left to right)     

Mr. Foo, Mr. Karthik, Mr. Koh, Me and Mr. Amir

Figure 4.3: Photo with PE2 Manager  (from left to right)

Mr. George Edwin, Me

Figure 4.4: Farewell Party ( from left to right)

Lo Ye Shen, Me, Mr. Billy, Ms Lau and Tan Kai Xuan

"Thank Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn. Bhd for providing me this golden opportunity, which make my internship become meaningful and valuable."

Hopefully can see you guys again after graduate!