Manufacturing Engineering Undergraduate Review

Personally, I enjoy a challenge. There was a lot of scope to improve processes, which always gave me meaningful goals to work towards, and a purpose. However, occasionally I would become slightly down in the dumps, because it was incredibly demotivating and difficult to implement a change in my area.

Hugely valued. I enagegd with a huge number of employees within the company, within most areas of the business. Although it may be difficult at first, once you have gained trust, the people directly around you really value you. This is a company that is very people / relationship based, especially within Manufacturing

I was extremely lucky enough to find myself in a senior team, with hundreds of years of management between them. I was never micro managed, but likewise never felt that I couldn't ask for support, and that it wouldn't be useful. In all cases I went for support, no one had the right answer, but they could help with tools and techniques to allow me to get there myself.

Varied. Sometimes overstretched, which meant I couldn't always give each project my undivided attention. However, during the turbulent period I worked in, the scope would change so quickly, and therefore our focus would too. Often I would have to take responsibility and go after what I thought was needed, without fully knowing how much work it would ential.

I was fortunate that I was given time to adopt responsibility, and it grew over the year. Especially as my team many senior figures, meaning that responsibility really did fall on me. However, as I discovered this is the nature of the car industry, so if this is something that motivates you (and scares you a bit - as it should!) then you will enjoy it. Saying that, I spoke to many of the students doing the same placement as me around the company. Some didn't have as much responsibility. If this is something you crave my advice would be to always be honest (it really does help), and to say yes to every opportunity.

I did not receive any formal skills based training as a requirement of this placement. Unfortunately a lot of training opportunities had been stopped, and there was no set training criteria for us to achieve. However, the people based skills, the hours of informal management techniques, and the immersion into the production processes were hugely valuable. The people and seniors in the company really wanted to pass on their knowledge, and for you to gain an honest insight into every area of the company, especially manufacturing. To make process improvements, you really needed to comprehend (to the best of your ability) the current process

Again, it varied. It started well, but as we encounter difficulties, and reshuffling took place, the atmosphere declined. It then picked back up again. As with a prior answer, this is the nature of the automotive industry, the atmosphere really was ever changing, even within the one year I was on placement.

There was no set agenda or criteria for us to meet for the placement. Each of us were put in what seemed like random teams, though I believe the teams all initially picked from the pool of students. Personally, I found this great, as it meant we were so widespread around the business, and your placement really was whatever you made of it. However, to answer the question, the placement 'set up' was very poor. This does not mean that it was any less valuable, if you are willing to push yourself.

I almost always felt extremely valued by my direct team and others I worked with. The amount of time and effort that was invested was really humbling. However, as I mentioned before there was no placement specific training, or any formal training provided. Online or classroom training courses were available if you took the initiative, and I completed a few of them. You also have to opportunity to use your ELS vouchers - a company initiative - which can fund up to £200 towards a fun activity or skills based training of your choice.

Within a manufacturing improvement team, the opportunies are clear. There is a persistent drive to improve our processes, culture, and workplace. However, there are many key hurdles that the entire industry is facing at the moment, which means that job security will need to be a consideration. If you are willing to take this this risk, then the opportunities to make lasting, meaningful change are probably more available than ever before (due to electrification etc.)

Personally, I chose to live closer to my home site, which was Solihull. I lived with other students on the same placement, and had a great time, occasionally going out with the wider group of students. There were a couple of Facebook groups and things that were set up so if you fancied a night out you could post on there. I know that Coventry and Leamington were livelier and had a bigger population of placement students living there.

Solihull was a very expensive town to live in, its mostly filled with middle class families. It's good fun, but honestly Birmingham is so close that its much easier and cheaper to head there. The X2 / X1 buses go straight into town from Solihull. Birmingham is a good laugh, with plenty places to eat, drink and dance. Personally I loved having a drink in Digbeth (area of Birmingham), which reminded me of trendy parts of Glasgow, and has a heavy Irish influence. Digbeth's even closer to Solihull as well. Another option is King's Heath, again which is great fun and full of students. (This advice is tailored for students staying around Solihull)

Again, Solihull had a couple of places (Turtle Bay was decent), but honestly just head to Birmingham City centre, Digbeth, or King's Heath. Plenty bars and clubs to keep you busy till the wee hours. Couple of favourites were the Hare and Hound in Kings Heath, and Digbeth Dining Club. Went to a few of the clubs in Birmingham City centre, all fairly standard club experiences, nothing mind blowing. But yeah, get out of Solihull pronto

Not so much. I'd assumed that there would be JLR rugby and football teams, considering Solihull alone employed 10,000 odd workers, mostly male. There were a few football teams set up by workers, but not formally JLR, and I managed to join one just through word of mouth. It was 9-a-side, and good fun. I volunteered once every fortnight with a company called SoLo, based in Solihull. This was not found or advertised through JLR. It was a shame, as JLR owned football pitches right next to the Solihull site, but I believe they let a team 'Birmingham Exlies' play here, instead of using them for their own teams.