Co-ops and internships have given me the opportunity to put my classroom learning into use in real engineering situations. Each engineering student at the University of Cincinnati completes five co-op semesters as part of the undergrad engineering program. I will have six semesters of engineering experience when I graduate because I also worked as an engineering intern the summer after my first year of college.
Engineering Intern, Atlantic Tool & Die Co. (Sharon Center, OH)
The ATD facility I interned at was a welding and assembly shop for automotive components. I worked with the engineering group to construct new fixtures and repair existing ones. I learned how to wire and program PLCs, use machine shop equipment such as a mill and lathe, and assemble fixtures with optical sensors and pneumatic valves. I gained my first experience in the professional world and learned to communicate well with the production employees to make the fixtures more efficient. My hands-on experience with manufacturing has enabled me to have a better idea what makes designs easy or hard to produce.
Business Operations Military Spares Co-op, GE Aviation (Evendale, OH)
This was the first of my three semesters co-oping at GE Aviation. I was located at the headquarters in Evendale, so I was able to become familiarized with the large organization that is GE Aviation. I was in a group that was responsible for managing sales and inventory for spare parts for military engines such as the F110 series. I worked on several projects to move old unsold inventory and tested a new ordering system and logged defects in it. I learned about the business side of an engineering company and how to communicate well with people across a large company. I became proficient with Excel and took a hands-on class to learn how jet engines work. These skills have been invaluable to me during my subsequent co-ops.
Thermal Systems Co-op, Unison/GE Aviation (Dayton, OH)
Unison Industries is a subsidiary of GE Aviation and has several different plants in the Dayton area that manufacture ducting and thermal management systems for GE and other aviation businesses. The group I was in dealt with thermal management, specifically oil coolers. I ran two design assurance tests on a new oil cooler valve design, wrote engineering test reports, and presented test results in technical reviews. I gained experience collecting accurate and usable data in a test lab. I learned about how to write technical documents and give technical presentations. This communication and testing experience has been helpful when giving technical presentations during other co-ops and in lab classes.
Passport 20 Configurations Co-op, GE Aviation (West Chester, OH)
The GE Passport 20 is a regional business jet engine that was in the final stages of development and certification during my co-op rotation. The group I was in was responsible for engine external configurations, which includes all the tubing, ducting, wiring, and more that is between the engine core and nacelle, or outer skin. I designed a bracket to allow a component to pass the certification fire test. I worked with three other bracket designs through GE's process of design reviews and authored five Change in Design Documents. I gained experience working with international team members in China and Mexico which will be useful in the future as companies become increasingly globalized. I learned about GD&T, technical drawing reading, and how to perform a tolerance stack-up which will be important skills for any engineer.