  The ability to generate, organize, analyze, understand and leverage data for
sound decision making is a central activity of chemical engineers. Chemical
engineers are responsible for the safe, profitable and environmentally friendly
operation of chemical facilities; thus, they are expected to be good at
designing and operating chemical processes. To this end, they make use of
models which involves planning and conducting experiments in the laboratory or
a pilot plant, analyzing the generated data and making use of it for designing
large scale industrial systems. In an operating plant, they need to analyze
data so as to achieve maximum efficiencies, reduce the use of precious natural
resources, minimize environmental degradation, keep the plant safe as well as
to help generate value for the customers and stakeholders. This chapter
provides a non-technical view of how chemical engineers translate data to the
best possible decisions that result in reliable, safe and profitable process
design and operations.
