Summer placement Student, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing Introduction Review

The work was quick to get started and kept me occupied for the most part. Due to its collaborative nature with other engineers there were inevitably lulls in activity but this was made up for by the scope of activity my placement project took in; allowing a broad insight into the Manufacturing Process for Wide Chord Fan Blades.

My co-workers always seemed to be happy to see me, found time to explain things, point me in the right direction or assist with an aspect of my project. They fully included me in the friendly camaraderie of the office and I never felt like I was merely on the fringes.

Like I previously said, the other engineers - especially my manger - were always eager to find time to answer any queries, give advice or guidance, and provide (most often glowing) feedback. I never felt abandoned or daunted despite the vastness of my project scope.

Some days did have lulls in activity as I waited for others schedules to be free for informal meetings and discussions related to the project, but for the most part I was able to get on with some aspect of my project or even branch off into assisting colleagues with other side tasks; providing further useful insight into typical work activities.

I was empowered to bring my own solutions to the project and take it in a direction I determined to be best, within the broad framework laid down by senior company personnel. I undertook complete ownership for coordinating and leading a cross-site working day with senior representatives from Ansty, Derby, Inchinnan, and my own manger from Barnoldswick, this allowed me to share my vision for implementation on similar parallel projects that were being initiated company wide. I was also given free-reign to arrange a local site briefing for the other New Product Introduction and Core Team Manufacturing Engineers who would be affected by, and benefit from, the work of my main project.

I believe I gained a priceless insight into the technicalities of high quality, high tech manufacturing engineering which I had previously given little thought to. The realities and practicalities of producibility, given cost and time constraints, should be of value in both my final year Masters project and which ever realm of engineering design, production, or consultancy I end up working in.

Friendly, informal (in attire and casual conversation between co-workers), very collaborative in an organic, as and when needed, way.

It all seemed pretty professional with a centrally coordinated induction, function specific networking days, and well organised close out activities. The one blight was the (perhaps unavoidable) late notice of placement location. Four weeks can be a short time to find accommodation.

I was given lots of one on one time with high level engineers, honest and prompt feedback and advise, and always seemed welcome to bring my questions, queries and uncertainties to the more experienced heads. As such I felt very much enabled and propelled to push on and really learn from my placement, as well as further honing general professional working skills such as the confident and articulate presentation of complex ideas, and the logistical task of working around multiple busy schedules.

Higher than prior to the placement, especially with the specific manufacturing engineering function (which was unexpected in itself).

There were only 8 of us based in Barnoldswick so the inter-intern social scene was not as strong as it likely was in Derby, however there were other company social events to which we were welcome and non-company initiated local events to keep us entertained.

Pretty cheap, especially compared with further south (incomparable with London, but cheaper than Derby or Bristol). I guess that's just one more delight of the beautiful North.

Not as vibrant as perhaps student cities like Derby and Bristol but there were still Pubs, Music Nights, and even an annual local music festival to fill the non working hours. I was fortunate to end up with a very sociable house mate and so was regularly entertaining his friends at bbqs on his deck, or just chilled evenings in the house.

For outdoors oriented people the location on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border would be tough to beat. Cycling, hiking, running, kayaking and canoeing trails were all on my doorstep. There was also go-karting, a leisure centre/swimming complex, a company football team, a local rugby club, and a nearby cinema.