Alice Keene
Current Role
Process Engineer
Rhodia
Winder, GA
Education
2005, BS, ChE & German, Iowa State University
What do you do in your current role?
As a Process Engineer, my primary function is to provide daily support for our high-temperature reactors and our flaking and grinding processes. I work with the operators and other engineers to improve the processes increasing consistency, reducing batch cycle times, decreasing raw material charges, implementing batch automation to reduce operator interaction, and operating the equipment more efficiently.
One major initiative I have been involved with was a Six Sigma project to increase throughput on one of our product families. As the process owner, I helped identify key areas for improvement, and I designed the in-plant experiments to test our range of proposed settings. Following the experiments, I revised the logic for the automation so that the batches can be run at the best settings with minimal operator interaction. The project resulted in cycle time reductions and excess raw material savings which result in savings of $1.3 million annually.
Why Rhodia?
When I joined Rhodia, I hired into the Foundations for the Future program for new engineers. Foundations is a five-year rotational program where I get to do three different engineering jobs at three different plant sites. I am nearing the end of my first rotation in process engineering at our Winder, GA plant, and I am excited to be moving to a project engineering role at our Vernon, TX plant. The opportunity to get a wide range of experience at several manufacturing sites which all run different processes was too valuable to pass up. The network of Foundations engineers also provides a chain of communication among the different businesses and plants. Additionally, Rhodia is committed to community involvement and outreach, which is something I have enjoyed being a part of. At my plant, we have hosted a community open house, done chemistry outreach in the local schools, and sponsored a build day with Habitat for Humanity all within the last year.
How do you like to spend your free time?
My favorite activity is spending time with my horse, Sunny. I like to ride both in the arena and on the trails, and Georgia has some beautiful parks with riding trails. I also swim, and I've recently taken up running, too. Additionally, I sing in a group called the Lyric League, where our motto is, "we sing for the joy of it." When I get some time at home, I can often be found in the kitchen, trying out new recipes.
