Computer aided process engineering—an industrial perspective

Abstract

Reviewing past personal experiences with computers in process engineering, plus analysing the present position suggests that Computer Aided Process Engineering (CAPE) has probably not delivered the promise of its early years. Drawing a perspective from other industries, plus observations from the pressures on the process industries suggests that CAPE is an absolute necessity to survival in the next decade. Achieving this will however be very difficult and challenging. It will stretch the ability of the existing engineers to respond to the challenge.