In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the manufacturing processes behind the smartphones we use every day, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and efforts of the engineers involved in those processes.
What is the smartphone you’re holding made of? Is it metal, plastic, or glass? And what processes did these materials undergo to become the smartphones we use today?
The term “process” has a very broad meaning. While its usage varies slightly by field, in engineering, a process generally refers to the entire sequence of steps involved in producing a desired product using raw materials and energy. To put it more simply, the entire process of producing a cell phone using materials such as metal, silicon, plastic, and rubber, along with various forms of energy, can be called the cell phone manufacturing process. This process is not merely a simple assembly task but a complex and precise integration of technology. Various scientific principles and cutting-edge technologies are applied across numerous stages, and only when all these elements work together in organic harmony can the cell phone we use be completed.
Chemical and Biological Engineering, the field I am studying, is a discipline that encompasses a wide range of areas. It is closely linked to numerous engineering fields based on chemical knowledge, such as petrochemicals, polymer engineering, electrochemistry, inorganic and nanomaterials, semiconductors, and process engineering. Among these subfields, I am particularly interested in “process design and control.” The “process” I mentioned earlier using the example of a cell phone is, in fact, connected to almost everything around us. Broadly speaking, the world can be described as a collection of countless processes. Waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, and going about your day can also be viewed as a “process for managing the day,” and the process of attending classes and taking exams at school can be interpreted as a “process for achieving learning objectives.” Our daily lives consist of countless processes occurring in succession, and our quality of life can vary depending on how efficiently these processes are designed and managed.
In industrial settings, processes primarily refer to large-scale systems and production facilities, and it is precisely at this point that the role of engineers responsible for process design and control becomes crucial. Since resources and time are always limited, engineers must utilize all available mathematical and scientific knowledge to achieve optimal results. Furthermore, they must design processes that are realistically implementable while simultaneously considering numerous conditions, such as preventing environmental pollution, improving energy efficiency, preventing safety accidents, and ensuring economic viability. Their role does not end once the design is complete. They must continuously analyze the actual operating process and evaluate how closely the actual results align with the predictions made during the design phase. Furthermore, they must constantly consider which aspects need improvement and control to achieve better performance.
At this point, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on the ethical responsibilities engineers must uphold during the process design phase. Historically, there have been numerous instances where errors in engineering judgment or failures in safety management have led to major disasters. Notable examples, such as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and the Columbia space shuttle disintegration, demonstrate just how critical the safety of technical systems and engineering accountability are. Engineers must not limit themselves to merely acquiring knowledge of mathematics and science. They need an open mindset to learn and evaluate constantly evolving technologies and new theories, and they must internalize the empirical knowledge and lessons accumulated over time. The so-called “engineering intuition” is not formed overnight but is cultivated through extensive study and experience. Since engineering is not a discipline confined to theory but a practical field that directly impacts society and human life, it demands a correspondingly high sense of responsibility and ethics.
Process design requires broad academic competence. Knowledge across various fields is required, ranging from basic calculus to mathematical skills for handling complex differential equations; physical chemistry and thermodynamics for understanding the reaction characteristics and feasibility of materials; organic and inorganic chemistry for analyzing reaction mechanisms and designing optimal systems; and simulation and programming skills for modeling and predicting real-world industrial environments. In addition, the importance of environmental protection and sustainability has significantly increased in recent years. When designing processes, it has become a crucial role of modern engineers to consider not only productivity and economic viability but also sustainability factors such as reducing carbon emissions, resource recycling, and improving energy efficiency.
You have likely experienced firsthand the rapid changes in computer and mobile display technologies. We’ve evolved from the large, heavy CRT displays of the past to LCDs; while PDPs were used for a time, they gradually disappeared due to issues with market competitiveness and efficiency. Since then, the industry has progressed through LED-backlit LCDs, TFT-LCDs, and OLEDs, and recently, high-performance OLEDs and next-generation display technologies have become widely adopted. In just a few decades since the commercialization of LCDs, display technology has advanced at an astonishing pace, and the cycle of technological innovation is becoming increasingly shorter. Behind these changes have always been countless process design engineers dedicated to researching and developing better manufacturing processes.
However, the pace of this progress should not be evaluated solely based on technical achievements. This is because as technology advances, new problems—such as the increase in electronic waste, the depletion of scarce resources, and rising energy consumption—also emerge. Therefore, alongside technological innovation, we must also consider how to solve these problems. For process design engineers, who constantly identify shortcomings and seek better solutions, the world itself is another vast process. Through their continued research and efforts, our lives will become safer and more convenient. Thanks to the people who strive to design a better world under the belief of “Design Everything,” we are able to enjoy the benefits of civilization today. The small cell phone in your hand contains the sweat and effort of countless engineers, as well as the results of sophisticated manufacturing processes. As you enjoy the convenience of technology, please take a moment to reflect on the countless hours of research, deliberation, and sense of responsibility that lie behind it. That, in itself, is a small expression of gratitude for the technological civilization we enjoy.
