This blog post explores the manufacturing processes behind smartphones—our daily essentials—and the hidden efforts and responsibilities of the engineers behind them.
What is your phone made of? Metal? Plastic? Glass? But what exactly happens to create it?
The word ‘process’ carries a remarkably broad meaning. While it varies by field, in engineering, a process refers to ‘all steps from raw materials and energy to producing the desired product.’ Still unclear? How about this explanation? The process of producing a smartphone using metals, silicon, plastics, rubber, energy, and other materials is precisely the smartphone production process. This process demands complexity and precision far beyond simple assembly, mobilizing diverse scientific principles and technologies across multiple stages. Only when all these elements harmonize does the smartphone we use come into being.
The chemical and biological engineering I study is a discipline spanning quite diverse fields. It is a major that constantly accompanies all engineering fields based on chemical knowledge, such as petrochemistry, polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, inorganic and nano chemistry, semiconductors, and process engineering. Among these diverse specializations, I am particularly interested in ‘Process Design and Control’. The ‘process’ I explained earlier using the mobile phone example is connected to every part of the world. Viewed broadly, the world is a collection of countless processes. Waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, and living through the day can be seen as a ‘process for the day,’ and attending classes and taking exams at school can be viewed as a ‘process for achieving learning goals.’ Our daily lives are a continuous sequence of one massive process, and the quality of life depends on how efficiently these processes are designed and managed.
In industry, a process primarily refers to large systems (factory operations and product manufacturing), and this is where engineers who design and control these processes shine. Given that resources and time are always limited, engineers must design feasible processes by considering all available mathematical and scientific knowledge, along with numerous conditions (such as preventing environmental pollution and accidents), to achieve optimal results. After the design phase, they must analyze the actual operating process to determine how closely it aligns with expectations and how modifications and controls can be applied to achieve better outcomes.
Here, pause for a moment: Have you ever considered what ethical responsibilities we must bear during the process design phase? A small mistake by an engineer can lead to irreversible disasters, such as the Columbia shuttle explosion or the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Therefore, engineers must constantly strive to prevent such outcomes. It is not enough to merely acquire mathematical and scientific knowledge. We must maintain an open mind to review and research ever-evolving technologies and theories. Simultaneously, we must internalize countless empirical rules (gained through trial and error throughout human history) to cultivate what is called ‘engineering intuition’ – something that cannot be achieved overnight. Engineering is not merely theoretical; it is a practical discipline that impacts real life. Therefore, it demands a commensurate sense of responsibility and ethical consideration.
It requires broad study across many fields: mathematics ranging from basic calculus to handling complex differential equations; physical chemistry and thermodynamics to understand reaction characteristics and judge feasibility; organic and inorganic chemistry to grasp reaction mechanisms and design optimally; and simulation programming skills for realistic process modeling. Furthermore, considerations for the environment and sustainability have become increasingly important in recent times. When designing processes, minimizing environmental impact and finding ways to use resources efficiently have become crucial roles for engineers.
You have likely experienced the truly rapid changes in computer and mobile communication displays firsthand. From large, heavy CRTs to LCDs, with PDPs briefly appearing but disappearing due to cost, and then to LED, OLED, and TFT-LCD—it has taken only about 50 years since LCDs first appeared, and the cycle of transformation is becoming shorter and shorter. And behind it all, there have always been ‘process design engineers’ who ponder and research.
However, this pace of development should not be evaluated solely as a technical achievement. As technology advances, we must also grapple with the new problems it creates—such as electronic waste and resource depletion—and consider how we will address them. For the ‘process design engineers’ who constantly scrutinize inconveniences and shortcomings, relentlessly striving toward better solutions, this world is another vast process. Their efforts will make people’s lives increasingly comfortable and convenient. Thanks to those who strive under the motto ‘Design Everything,’ you enjoy the benefits of civilization today. Imagine the countless processes, born of the blood, sweat, and tears of engineers, contained within that small phone in your hand. While enjoying technology’s benefits, remembering the immense effort and thought hidden behind them is a small expression of gratitude we can offer.
