Category Archives: Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing

Renewable Technology Designer – Eco NRG

Access to Internships (A2I), Engineering, Environmental Work, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing, Mining, Environment and Natural Resources,

energy

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

The internship was at a small company that provides quotes and installations for various renewable energy technologies across the south west. Because the team I was working alongside was so small, I had a varied range of roles. I sized up heat demands for new builds and selected the pumps that would be installed for many projects. I relayed the potential energy generation and panel layout for solar PV projects. During the internship it quickly became apparent that my IT skills were far beyond that of anyone who worked for the company, so I was put to work updating the website, which hadn’t been touched in years.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I gained some real world work experience in the renewables sector – something that I never managed to engage in during or between years of my degree!

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

Adding a layer of IT fluency no-one else had, taking over the website, social media management, and some aspects of administration, allowing others to focus on more technical aspects of the company. Most notably, I discovered techniques and simple software that drastically reduced the time needed to convert architect blueprints into usable measurements for heat loss calculations.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

During the second half of the internship business really slowed down – which is really to say that the first six weeks were unusually busy, and during that period I had very little downtime. When the technical side of my job got more quiet it was then I turned my attention to the IT side of things, but even then this did not completely solve the boredom that came up from a lack of work to do.

Junior Electronics Engineer – Michael J Watts Consultant

Access to Internships (A2I), Employer Feedback, Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing

technology-computer-chips-gigabyte

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My job was the design and development of prototype electronic design products. I worked on soldering and analogue design and also embedded software development.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My biggest achievement was bettering my programming skills as a whole.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

My experience surrounding electronics and I provided a different approach to looking at his problems.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

I met problems using components I had not used yet. Everyday day I have been learning new skills. I also learnt how to properly design PCB schematics which was something we did not learn at University.

“We have found Exeter graduates to be of extremely high calibre both technically and as employees; enthusiastic, thinking ‘outside the box’ and providing high quality work” – Line Manager

Mathematics Module Development Assistant – University of Exeter (CEMPS)

Education, Teaching and Research, Employer Feedback, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing, Mathematics, Student Campus Partnership (SCP),

calculator-scientific

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

To design and create a mathematics online-learning resource for engineering conversion course students as part of a small team. This involved planning and producing a zero-credit module on the ELE platform, selecting mathematical content to include, researching additional content, writing lectures and notes using ELE platform and LaTeX, creating quizzes and problem sheets to test understanding and liaising with academic staff to verify our content was correct.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learnt how to plan, organise and time-keep a large-scale project. Our employers had no mathematical expertise, which gave us complete responsibility for the project’s quality and validity.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

My employer now has a mathematics e-learning resource that can be used by engineering conversion course students for multiple years to come. This content can also be sent out in file format to explain what the course will entail. In addition, it will be advertised among professors at the university as a learning/revision tool for first and second year students. It is also held by the university’s IT department as a leading example of a high-quality online learning and teaching resource created using the ELE platform.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

Firstly, I found myself tasked with producing content which I didn’t understand since the courses for mathematics and engineering students differs slightly. I overcame this problem by asking an engineering professor for a relevant textbook from the library and taught myself the content. I then wrote my set of lecture notes and gave it to my fellow colleagues who also had never encountered this content. They questioned bits that didn’t make sense and I made corrections until we all agreed the content was explained well.

Secondly, we had to decide what content to put in the module and how to structure it. Whilst the team had strong ideas of what mathematics we would need (such as Algebra, Calculus, Vectors, etc) none of us were engineering students. Our strategy was to seek advice from an engineering professor who made additional suggestions we hadn’t considered (such as Numerical Methods and Statistical Testing). The professor also offered us her module as a template structure for our content. This was later adapted and changed since we felt the structure could be improved.

“Evan has acted in a professional manner and remained focused on the project objective. As a result of this, he has produced some very high quality resources using a wide range technologies and the tools within ELE” – Line Manager

Environmental Monitoring Technician – Air Quality Monitors

Administration, Employer Feedback, Geography, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

University of Exeter Internships, UoE Internships, A2I, SCP, SBP, GBP

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

During my internship my role included ‘on-site’ visits where I calibrated equipment and becoming part of the sales team where I worked within the officer and dealt with clients. I also did general office work as well as analysing results for the monitors and helping to solve any potential issues that may have occurred.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

The internship helped me gain an understanding of what working life is like. I also gained skills in managing the public and with communicating with clients. Additionally, I improved on some of my university skills, including the use of GIS and report writing.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was very efficient in carrying out all tasks given to me and produced operating manuals that will continue to be helpful to the company.

“Sarah is keen, hardworking and very enthusiastic. She carried out all tasks quickly and efficiently and was happy to do anything to help” – Line Manager

CALM Technical Support Officer – Centre of Addictive Layer Manufacturing

Employer Feedback, Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

UoE Internships, University of Exeter Internships, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My role was to support the team with business projects involving making prototypes and 3D CAD models. This could be for engineering applications or for artistic use of the manufacturing process. I also helped maintain the machinery and helped with presentations to companies.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

This internship has allowed me to gain experience related to my engineering skills but applying them to business situations.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I got stuck in to working straight away. I was asked to work with external business clients from the offset and was very successful in this work, with clients commenting to the team on how well I supported them.

“Adam proved to be a valuable member of our team” – Line Manager

dsouza

Intern – Fozmula Ltd

Employer Feedback, Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

Universtiy of Exeter Internships, UoE Internships, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

I was responsible for continuing the development of a new oil depth measurement probe, including testing and design improvement. I also carried out extensive research regarding product compatibility and which of the company’s products are compatible with the many different types of fuels and fluids.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I developed many skills, including testing and improving products in an industrial environment, solving real world product issues using previous knowledge and working to deadlines and routines set by employees. I also developed many social skills, such as working on projects with other employees and regularly performing research by phoning and emailing other companies. Achievements include producing a database of all of Fozmula’s existing products, continuing with the development of a new measurement probe and solving issues with the design and making a successful presentation to the board of directors in the final week. After I finished work I was encouraged to apply for next year’s internship, which I would definitely be interested in, since I have realised I would like to pursue a career in electronic engineering design.

“Mike fitted in with the engineering team very quickly. We allocated various packages of work to Mike and he was able to pick these up with very little input and supervision from the rest of the team” – Line Manager

Assistant Manufacturing Engineer – Tods Aerospace and Defence Ltd

Employer Feedback, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing, Mathematics,

Universtiy of Exeter Internships, UoE Internships, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My role was to create and amend manufacturing documents in accordance with TQ requests and to create MIS or MISP jobs under supervision.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I really relished the opportunity to learn more about engineering at a leading aerospace and defence company. The skills that I developed particularly during the course of this internship were organisation and time and workload management as the instructions that I helped to create or altered had strict timelines from when they left the manufacturing office to their production and eventual delivery, so being organised was essential.

“Charles showed confidence, intelligence and enthusiasm” – Line Manager

Graduate Technology Engineer – Plessey Semiconductors Ltd

Employer Feedback, Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

Universtiy of Exeter Internships, UoE Internships, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My task was to stop CVDW6 from producing ‘chimney’ defects at the contact plug. I ran various experiments to solve the defect problem and allow the tool to be used in production. These included varying physical parameters and gas flows for both the deposition and etchback processes. Possible elimination of the problem was achieved by introducing a tungsten spacer prior to the main deposition. The project also included learning to operate the films toolset, assisting with process transfer and development.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I have developed a deeper understanding of microelectronics and more effective communication skills.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I managed to solve the manufacturing problem.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

My first impression of being in the company was being swamped by acronyms, but much to my relief I managed to pick them up, and meetings no longer seemed to consist of people spouting code.

“Kat has become a valued contributor to the team. She responded to any requests with enthusiasm and energy and she performed every task professionally.” – Line Manager

Mechanical Engineer – Theta Technologies

Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

Universtiy of Exeter Internships, UoE Internships, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

I spent time researching and learning the industry and how the company works. I designed and carried out experiments to gather data and then analyse and report said data. I also managed and conducted an individual project using NACE techniques, again conducting my own experiments and data analysis. I also designed and manufactured pieces of experimental equipment including C.A.D drawings.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

Understanding the NDT industry and techniques as well as conducting and completing my own project.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I collected and analysed vast amounts of data which has been used to prove/disprove certain hypotheses and also used in presentations to clients. Additionally, the equipment I designed and manufactured is now being used in the experimental procedure.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

My own project began with some problems however with the use of new equipment I was able to overcome this and achieve some good results.

Trainee Project Engineer – ND Precision Products

Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering and Processing,

Engineering Internship, SCP, SBP, GBP, A2I

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My tasks included measuring products for repair jobs to create computer models of the product for the workshop team, assisting in designing tooling solutions and creating models and engineering drawings for a variety of products including repair jobs and tooling solutions. I was also trained in how to operate precision grinders and a CNC Lathe as well as a large variety of measuring equipment. I also improved some of the company’s advertising materials to be more suited to the oil and gas industry.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I vastly improved my knowledge of manufacturing techniques which improved my engineering drawings and design creativity.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I lightened the workload for my colleagues and taught the design engineer a few things about the SolidEdge ST6 program.

Did you encounter any problems during the course of your internship and if so, how did you overcome them?

I had very limited knowledge of manufacturing processes so some of my drawings were not helpful to the manufacturing team. I overcame this problem by getting training on some of the machines and showing some drawings to the experienced manufacturers to get a vast amount of advice.

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