Past Webinars

PIChE – Webinar on Qualification Testing Plan of Neat Resin Properties

Presented by Engr. Thelma Zamar Stewart

Date: February 24, 2022

Commentary:

To few of us, in the chemical engineering world who have had not a chance to explore the field of resins, “Neat Resin” sounds foreign to our ears. Not until you have had the opportunity to attend PICHE-USA sponsored webinar on February 24th. The information presented was more than enough to fill in our less informed and curious mind about “Neat Resin”.  Engr. Thelma Stewart’s webinar presentation on Qualification Testing Plan of Neat Resin Properties substantiates the inherent protocols of Quality Control on material testing. Material testing is an important stage of the process especially in product development. As Engr. Thelma Stewart mentioned, “that even until today, testing plan on Neat Resin had not changed at all. The same “old” process is used. Furthermore, Engr. Thelma discussed that “in order to establish a good testing plan on Neat Resin, one should have a solid foundation or background in Organic Chemistry, Strength of Materials and Physical Chemistry. The principles from these subject areas are necessary to have a better understanding on the Thermal, Chemical and Physical properties of Neat Resin. It is very important also that as part of the testing plan, one should develop a “Test Matrix”. Test Matrix is an important tool in testing protocols and procedures to establish standardization on Neat Resin used in the aircraft and aerospace industry.

On a personal note, to many of us who are relatively “frequent flyers”, the next time we fly, we can feel safer knowing that the resins used in that aircraft underwent rigorous testing based on an established testing plan and referenced to established standards (ASTM, ASQ, Military). Avoidance of product failure is rest assured.

---------By Celso C. Paguntalan

LIGHTS, CAMERA, FORMULATE – A webinar presentation by Danny Aguilar.

A commentary by Engr. Celso C. Paguntalan

The brevity of this 20-minute presentation was solid and substantial. Through this webinar, Mr. Danny Aguilar, a licensed Chemical Engineer and a Quality Management consultant shares his professional career story on how he blends and applies the principles of chemical engineering and Quality Management Systems (QMS) into film or movie production. If one has to argue “whether or not science is an art” or vice versa, then this webinar presentation has put closure to such philosophical debate. Science is an art and art is a science. As Danny declares it in his presentation that one complements each other. Both science and art are man’s tools to systematically understand and describe the world around us.

The “LIGHTS, CAMERA, FORMULATE” webinar captures the harmony between science and art. Mr. Danny Aguilar was able to infuse the principles of Chemical Engineering into the mechanics of movie making. Just as we dealt with inventions and researches in science, so too with film industry. Just as we learn and apply the process flow of raw materials from in-coming to the finished product and to its distribution, similarly, the steps in film making follow the workflow starting from the material, i.e., the “the concept story” as it is brought to its development, production, post production and final distribution. Along with this entire “production process”, there are always some deviations or mistakes. This is where Mr. Aguilar applies his skills on root cause analysis or FMEA (Failure Mode Efficiency Analysis) methods, to analyze, evaluate and identify the root cause of the deviation. The application of several methods such as the Turtle and Fish Bone diagram learned from QMS were handy also.

To become a Chemical Engineer, it is being taught through schooling or other forms of education. But for a person to be an artist, such as a film maker, it is both earned (through birth) and taught, coupled with a burning passion within. Is Mr. Aguilar an Engineer or an Artist? He is both. These two areas of science are able to co-exist in his persona. Can we be like him? Maybe or maybe not. We all have other talents to explore.

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N.B. – To date, Mr. Aguilar’s movies under Carpe Diem Pictures are:

1. Looking for Andrew – a feature film now available on Amazon Prime

2. Lily is here – a family drama file also available in Amazon Prime.

3. Camino Catharsis – a documentary filmed in Spain.

4. Few upcoming films are:

a. Hidden Demons – a supernatural horror film which Danny co-wrote and will be filmed in the  

Philippines.

b. Take me to Banaue – a romantic comedy and will be filmed in February 2022.

c. Broken Chords – a musical film drama featuring a two-time Emmy nominee.