The Trump administration has proposed to eliminate the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board by October 2026, citing fiscal responsibility and redundancy. Industry experts oppose this move, warning it would remove crucial disaster prevention oversight despite the agency's modest $14 million budget. Meanwhile, recycling advances continue: Eastman expanded molecular recycling operations to 110,000 metric tons annually in Tennessee, while BASF launched Europe's largest battery recycli...
Jun 27, 2025•8 min•Ep. 118
Did you know that today — June 23 — is International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)? Launched by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in the UK in 2014, the event has since grown into an internationally recognized awareness campaign celebrated by various organizations, institutions, and individuals around the world. Each year, INWED adopts a specific theme to focus on women’s contributions to engineering and STEM. This year’s theme is “Together We Engineer.” From the days of Cleopatra to cont...
Jun 23, 2025•25 min•Ep. 117
In this episode, Traci and Dave focus on training evaluation as the final component of instructional system design. Dave explains that evaluation has two aspects: specific (assessing whether students learned what was taught in a particular course) and global (determining if training improves actual job performance). The key insight is that evaluation methods should align directly with learning objectives. If objectives are correctly written to be objective and measurable, they define how student...
Jun 20, 2025•19 min•Ep. 116
In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum will read an article from Lauren Neal, Chemical Processing’s Workforce Matters columnist. This column “ Small Acts, Big Impact: How Micro-Behaviors Shape Teams ” was published to our website June 4, 2025 You know that feeling. You’re in a team meeting, presenting a solid idea, and someone smirks. Another person rolls their eyes. Then silence. No one says a word. That’s a micro-behavior. A subt...
Jun 13, 2025•6 min•Ep. 115
In this episode, Executive Editor Jonathan Katz reviews the top news stories for May 2025. Trump's budget cuts and EPA changes reshape the chemical industry amid expansion.
Jun 06, 2025•7 min•Ep. 114
In Chemical Processing's Distilled Podcast, we discuss flaws in operator training, focusing on "time to train." Companies can waste millions of dollars by not optimizing training duration, often using fixed-length programs regardless of trainees' prior experience. Feedback loops to adjust training time based on individual competency and learning objectives are imperative. Indeed, proper assessment could identify struggling trainees and high performers who could be fast-tracked.
May 23, 2025•21 min•Ep. 113
This episode from Chemical Processing's Distilled podcast shares industry best practices for chemical plant reliability and maintenance. Key recommendations include understanding equipment failure modes through predictive maintenance techniques like vibration analysis and thermography, developing balanced preventive maintenance programs that avoid over-maintaining equipment, and conducting thorough root cause analysis using methods such as 5-why analysis and fishbone diagrams.
May 16, 2025•6 min•Ep. 112
With Easter just behind us and chocolate consumption hitting its second-quarter 2025 peak, it’s a good time to reflect on the theological and processing developments that have got us where we are today. In this In Case You Missed It Episode, Chemical Processing's Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum brings the written word to life, and Seán Ottewell, editor-at-large, provides the story. The original column was posted to the site on May 5, 2025. Chocoholics unite!...
May 09, 2025•6 min•Ep. 111
Executive Editor Jonathan Katz highlights the news of April 2025. Trump's EPA eases regulations while confusion stalls recycling innovation and Dow delays climate investments.
May 02, 2025•11 min•Ep. 110
Olivia followed all the right steps. As a chemical engineer at a major manufacturing plant, she had a mentor – a senior colleague who gave her great advice on career growth, technical skills and workplace challenges. She networked, took on projects and worked hard. Yet, after years of effort, she was still in the same role, watching others get ahead. Then she met Rahul, a senior executive who didn’t just advise – he advocated. This In Case You Missed It episode features a column by Lauren Neal ,...
Apr 25, 2025•6 min•Ep. 109
This Earth Day, the chemical industry finds itself at a crossroads in an era of deregulation. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, you learn early on all the things that put the city on the map. Two local cartoonists, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, gave the world Superman. The city pioneered traffic safety with the world's first electric signal in 1914, forever changing how streets operate. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame calls Cleveland home, as does the house from "A Christmas Story," where the warnin...
Apr 22, 2025•9 min•Ep. 108
In this episode, Traci and Dave discuss the importance of practice in operator training programs. Practice is often overlooked despite being crucial. Realistic scenarios that mimic real-world conditions, including time constraints and environmental challenges, are beneficial to anchoring lessons learned. Feedback loops are also necessary to evaluate individual performance and improve training programs. The new concept of micro training, in addition to having operators teach others, helps operato...
Apr 18, 2025•21 min•Ep. 107
In a recent episode of Ear on Processing from Chemical Processing’s sister brand Processing, chief editor, Jesse Osborne, sat down with Greene Tweed’s business development manager for life sciences markets. They discussed the importance of sustainability for process manufacturers and outlined how Green Tweed’s FFKM products are assisting in that regard. Enjoy this bonus episode of Distilled.
Apr 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 106
Trade organizations express concern over rising costs and supply chain disruptions. This episode takes a look at how the Trump administration's whiplash tariffs will impact the chemical industry.
Apr 11, 2025•8 min•Ep. 105
A power shift is underway at the EPA as former American Chemistry Council representatives are positioned to assume key roles under the Trump administration, potentially reshaping the agency's regulatory approach. Meanwhile, safety concerns remain paramount as the U.S. Chemical Safety Board continues investigating a deadly reactor explosion at a Louisville food additive plant that claimed two workers' lives. The CSB has also released new reports analyzing recent industrial accidents to prevent fu...
Apr 04, 2025•7 min•Ep. 104
Electromagnetic flow meters are volumetric flow meters that use electromagnetic induction to measure liquid velocity. This measurement method is highly accurate at measuring water-based fluids as they pass through a pipe. They are cost-effective, long-lasting and compatible with existing technology. However, there are things to consider before investing in this technology. Chemical Processing chatted with Joseph Incontri, director of marketing North America at Krohne, to help us understand the p...
Mar 28, 2025•30 min•Ep. 103
In this episode, Traci and Dave discuss how learning objectives fit into instructional system design. Learning objectives should be measurable, not subject to interpretation, and directly testable. Unlike vague goals like "understand distillation," effective objectives specify demonstrable skills.
Mar 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 102
I’ve never seen a piece of equipment that didn’t do what it was supposed to. That doesn’t mean it did what its user thought it could do. In solids processing, we often struggle with a piece of equipment because it was a poor selection or installed improperly. There are eight specific steps to ensure your equipment choices accurately represent your product and operations. Column " 8 Steps for Solids Equipment Selection " by Tom Blackwood and narrated by Traci Purdum....
Mar 14, 2025•8 min•Ep. 101
An Inuit man who was left to his own defenses in the Arctic after being exiled from his family had to fashion a knife out of his own frozen feces…. In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum talks about the Ig Nobels and improbable research that makes you laugh and then makes you think.
Mar 07, 2025•6 min•Ep. 100
Washington leaders visited the accident site on the two-year anniversary of a train derailment that contaminated air, soil and water. A landmark step toward promoting sound science and advancing U.S. competitiveness has also been taken. LyondellBasell’s Houston refinery, in operation for over a century, is closing due to high maintenance costs and shifting market dynamics.
Feb 28, 2025•5 min•Ep. 99
Job analysis is a crucial component of instructional system design that identifies essential skills and knowledge needed for a job, moving beyond inefficient shadowing methods. However, it's often poorly executed or skipped entirely. Effective analysis should focus on specific behaviors, consider environmental factors, and adapt to technological changes like automation.
Feb 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 98
"Teamwork matters. Teamwork saves lives." That’s the battle cry from Eduardo Salas, the Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline chair professor in Rice University’s psychological sciences department, and Scott Tannenbaum, president at The Group for Organizational Effectiveness Inc. This episode uncovers the ways teams can save lives. The deadly Pemex chemical leak serves as an example.
Feb 14, 2025•9 min•Ep. 97
Work that began in the 1800s is still going strong with the help of a teacher, Motörhead and hypothetical, superheavy elements yet to be discovered.
Feb 07, 2025•8 min•Ep. 96
In this news roundup, Executive Editor Jonathan Katz highlights significant policy shifts, with Trump's energy initiatives reversing environmental protections and renewable energy commitments. Chemical industry regulations face changes with TSCA reform and EPA appointments of former industry executives. Additional developments include expanded PFAS reporting requirements, biofuel research funding and Covestro's U.S. manufacturing expansion.
Jan 31, 2025•4 min•Ep. 95
In this episode of Distilled, CP’s Editor Traci Purdum chats with David Strobhar, founder and principal human factors engineer for Beville Engineering. Dave is also the founder of the Center for Operator Performance. The two discuss Instructional System Design, a systematic training approach developed by the Air Force to create efficient, measurable, and effective training programs across diverse industrial workforces.
Jan 24, 2025•19 min•Ep. 94
In today’s episode, Chemical Processing’s Editor-in-Chief, Traci Purdum, will be reading this year’s Chemical Industry Outlook , written by Martha Gilchrist Moore, chief economist and managing director of the American Chemistry Council, Washington, D.C. Martha and the ACC have been offering Chemical Processing a glimpse into their economic crystal ball for several years. Here is what’s in store for 2025....
Jan 10, 2025•11 min•Ep. 93
Welcome to our first episode of Chemical Processing's Distilled podcast in 2025. This podcast and its transcript can be found at chemicalprocessing.com. I'm Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief of CP. I, like many folks, use the new year to reflect on the past year and find inspiration for the next 365 days during the “Bermuda Triangle” time between the holidays and New Year. You know those days that all mesh together, and you don't know whether it's Tuesday or Saturday, and you've just had a handful o...
Jan 03, 2025•11 min•Ep. 92
In his final news roundup of the year, Executive Editor Jon Katz highlights: Global plastic pollution treaty stalls amid negotiations. DuPont loses lawsuit secrecy bid. EPA closes PFAS chemical review loopholes. Bhopal lessons persist. Chemical facilities warned about winter safety risks.
Dec 20, 2024•8 min•Ep. 91
As a technical expert in a chemical facility, your knowledge is the backbone of operations. However, as your responsibilities increase, transitioning from a purely technical role to one in leadership can be challenging. Developing an inclusive approach not only strengthens team cohesion but also boosts overall performance. Here are five tips for how to evolve from a technical expert into an inclusive leader. Based on a column from Lauren Neal “Technical Expert to Inclusive Leader: How to Evolve ...
Dec 13, 2024•6 min•Ep. 90
Her journey exemplifies professional growth through curiosity, adaptability and seizing unexpected opportunities. Anne Berg, vice president of Manufacturing, Agricultural Solutions Americas at BASF, was recently inducted into the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Her remarkable 28-year career spans multiple countries and roles. Starting as a process development engineer in Germany in 1996, she has worked in manufacturing leadership positions in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the United States....
Dec 06, 2024•28 min•Ep. 89
