People And Stories: Living the passion for problem-solving as an engineer

Living the passion for problem-solving as an engineer

Tan Kah Yen, wearing a high-visibility Exyte vest, is sitting at a desk working on a laptop. She is smiling, with an open spreadsheet displayed on a monitor beside her.

Tan Kah Yen loves the challenges that come with her work as an engineer.

She enjoys tackling problems with colleagues until they find a solution. At the same time, she contributes to making people’s lives better. That’s what makes her job at Exyte worthwhile. “Originally, I wanted to be a doctor, while being an engineer was not my first choice”, Tan Kah Yen says about the circumstances that led her to pursue a different career. “But I’m glad things turned out the way they did because I genuinely like my work.” Working at Exyte always brings new tasks and responsibilities.

As a professional chemical engineer Tan first worked for a consultancy firm before joining Exyte in 2018. As a package owner, she was responsible for different projects in Exyte’s semiconductor business before switching to biopharma and life sciences. Both markets are extremely vibrant at the moment, and the biggest companies worldwide are investing large sums in production facilities in South-East Asia, Europe, and the US.

The tasks of a chemical engineer

The field of chemical engineering involves converting natural resources into practical, commonplace items. Chemical engineers play a crucial role in the industries that Exyte serves. They are a cornerstone in semiconductor production and development and their work contributes to the safe production of pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages.

They are responsible for designing the necessary procedures to create these products, while also contributing to the conservation of global resources, preservation of the environment, and maintenance of health and safety regulations.

A job with a purpose

“I feel that I can help a lot of people with my work. I might not have become a doctor, but the services and products of Exyte make the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices possible in the first place”, Tan says.

Meanwhile, Tan has taken up the position of Design Manager in which package owners at her current project report to her. While taking up a managing role, Tan is still involved in the engineering work, developing new and improving existing processes, products, and technologies.

“At Exyte, we have a very strong teamworking spirit. I enjoy having these moments with colleagues when you work on something until you come up with the perfect solution for a problem,” she says. “And it certainly never gets boring.”