Operational Management - Service Parts Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement experience over the past year at Nissan (NMUK). From the outset my department were very friendly and welcoming , instantly making me feel like a part of the team. Within the first month I had high levels of responsibility and was trusted to host and attend supplier meetings by myself. My department were always happy to help me if I required assistance and no task was too big or small.

Although the nature of my placement limited the amount of teamwork opportunities (as I managed a portfolio of suppliers), I still felt valued and appreciated as each member of the department had expertise in different areas - allowing me to share knowledge and training my peers had never received. As my placement got further underway I continued to feel more valued. This was a result of gaining more knowledge and experience, thus becoming a more effective and efficient member of the team. When my training was complete, I felt like an equal among my peers and was treated as such.

From the outset I was introduced (and sat at the desk beside) my mentor within the department. Throughout my time at Nissan my mentor ensured I was happy and enjoying the experience whilst monitoring my training and progress. My mentor took me to his supplier meetings, giving me an insight into how to host my own. My mentor was always happy to help and get involved with any issues whenever asked and he made sure my time at Nissan was a positive experience.

Due to the nature of the job, work flow varied from day to day as the work load depended heavily on supplier performance/ factors which influenced demand and supply. Every day brought new obstacles to tackle which could not be foreseen. For example, a hurricane in Thailand destroyed a suppliers factory, causing supply for some critical parts to stop. To overcome this issue, I had to look at logistics, possible substitutes and communicate with both suppliers and customers to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Whilst work flow did vary, I was always either steady at work or busy as daily tasks, supplier meetings and other projects kept me busy throughout my time in Service Parts.

Although I was a placement student, my level of responsibility never reflected this. Instead, I was always treated as an equal. During my time at Nissan as my knowledge, experience and confidence grew, so too did the level of responsibility I was trusted with. My work (emails, meetings etc.) was never monitored (unless I asked for help).

The skillset and knowledge I have gained over the past year from NMUK goes hand in hand with my degree. Fundamentally this placement was about demand, supply and thus efficiency. With demand and supply being at the very core of Economics (my university course) I found this placement incredibly interesting and relevant to my future career. Aside from the technical training, the knowledge and experience I have gained over the past twelve months has undoubtedly made me more employable and ready for the workplace. This year has taught me how to act in a professional environment, improved my 'soft skills' and also provided an insight into working life after university.

The atmosphere within my department is one of, if not the main reason why I have enjoyed my placement so much. As everyone else within the department has worked in Service Parts for several years, there is a certain rapport which is welcoming and light hearted. The atmosphere has enabled me to develop and gain insight much quicker as everyone is always willing to help.

The overall placement was organized very well as I followed a structured training programme from my first day. This programme was closely monitored throughout.

Before starting the placement, a private facebook page was established and all placements on my intake were invited to join. This page provided a platform to meet students in a similar situation, and as a result, a weekly pub session ensued.