Quality Placement Student Review

My placement year at Knorr-Bremse has been a rewarding learning experience; one that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone considering embarking on a year out in industry. Initially the business environment is a stark contrast from university life, but as I have adjusted to working in a professional environment, I have enjoyed my day to day life at the company more and more. The placement has given me an in depth knowledge of the quality management systems in place at a large global engineering company, building on my degree knowledge of business operations.

Because the project I have been working on will affect a number of employees across the company, I have had interest and support from these colleagues since I started. Even members of staff working in other departments have often shown an interest in my work, or have just been generally interested in my time here as a placement student. Being given work that actually makes a difference has ensured that I have never felt undervalued at the company.

Right from the beginning of the placement there were a number of support systems in place at Knorr-Bremse to make sure I felt comfortable in my new job. Aside from regular meetings with the Human Resources placement supervisor to air any problems that may have arisen, my manager has always given me constructive advice and direction when available, and colleagues have always been happy to help resolve any issues I’ve had. Luckily I’ve never had any serious issues over my time here - if I did, I have no doubt that either my manager or Human Resources would be able to deal with the issue quickly and effectively.

As with any job role there will likely be some days that are busier than others. When I first started my placement there was a lot of new information to understand, and a lot of systems and processes I had to get up to speed with – most of which I had never come into contact with before – so it felt a little overwhelming at times and progress was slow. However, after the first few months, things started to pick up as my project gained more ground, and now I find myself busy every day, driving my own actions in addition to completing tasks and entrusted to me by my colleagues, as well as working on occasional side projects which further increase my workload.

My main project over the course of the placement has involved driving the creation and implementation of a new quality management system, a system the company genuinely needs in order to improve its efficiency. Aside from leading software purchasing decisions worth tens of thousands of pounds, and project managing implementation, the system will be used by dozens of employees after I leave, meaning my time at the company had and will continue to have a real impact on business operations.

I have learnt how to conduct myself in a professional business environment, improving my soft skills when interacting with other employees and clients outside the business. My computing capability, my research skills, and my analytical approach is much improved, and I have bettered my time management. I have also gained a real world example to apply academic theory to. All of this will advance my level of study in my final year of university (particularly my dissertation), in addition to preparing me for any future job role after I graduate.

The general atmosphere is very relaxed. The workplace compromises of open plan office space, so it is very easy to communicate with my team and the other colleagues around me. There are no restrictions on food/drink at desks, and personal calls are allowed within reason. The company gives employees the option of flexi-time; this means I am responsible for keeping track of my own working hours, but the added flexibility is a blessing for my personal schedule, especially on a Friday where the earliest possible finishing time is 12:30pm. In general the company treats its staff very well.

The placement scheme is well organised, hosting a large number of students, each with their own pre-tailored job roles and projects. Personally, my aims and objectives for the year were outlined to me at the beginning of my placement by my manager, with regular reviews to track my progress. On a broader level, key dates are well planned and communicated, including a trip to the Munich headquarters, end of year presentations, etc.

Right at the beginning of the placement, the company takes all the students on a two day training course in preparation for the year ahead. My managers, and other members of the Quality team, have been on hand throughout the year to give me help and guidance in areas of work that have been new to me. Even clients and other professionals from outside Knorr-Bremse have been happy to offer advice on my position given that I am still a student – another reason why a placement year is a unique opportunity in the business world.

All placements students at the company are automatically considered for the competent Knorr-Bremse graduate scheme. The placement effectively qualifies as a yearlong interview, so by showing a good work ethic and progress in a given field, there is a high chance of being offered a graduate job, as the company is expanding and looking to add to its growing talent pool. To have a job already lined up before starting the final year of university would give peace of mind and motivation to complete the course – not something every company can offer.

The social scene amongst placement students at Knorr-Bremse is particularly strong, as you’d expect with a large group of students all from the surrounding areas. All the students usually have lunch together every day in the canteen, and there are regular social events outside of work run by the graduates – ranging from casual drinks at the end of the day, to go-karting, bowling, meals out, etc. The friendships I’ve made at the company have extended far beyond this – the company has been a great place to meet new people and socialise.

The Knorr-Bremse site is situated in Melksham, but I have a yearlong tenancy with two of the other placement students in the neighbouring town of Trowbridge; a short 15 minute drive away. The cost of living and socialising is fairly standard, although in Wiltshire student accommodation is very hard to come by as there are no major universities in the county. However, the majority of placement students commute from Bath or Bristol each day, which although slightly more expensive, opens up countless options for living and socialising.

The nightlife in Melksham and the surrounding towns is very limited compared to what you might expect at university. There are plenty of decent pubs and restaurants to cater for casual eating and drinking, but nowhere for clubbing or gigs. However, as aforementioned, Bath and Bristol are only a stone’s throw away, boasting some of the best nightlife and entertainment throughout the country. I have never found the limited local nightlife a problem whilst working in the week.

The company has a broad range of activities available for employees to partake in outside of normal working hours, aside from socialising specifically with the placement students. For example, I have enjoyed playing once a week in an indoor football session ran by colleagues at the nearby sports centre. Other examples include company triathlons and sports-days, as well as seasonal parties and other casual social events all year round. There’s always something to be getting involved with here at Knorr-Bremse.