3rd Semester with JR Auto
Gunnar
Experience Information
Employer: JR Automation
Job Title: Cost and Concepts Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
JR Automation is an Automation company based out of Holland, MI. We are growing very fast and now have around 800 employees; with a significant percentage being hired in the last year. JR stresses a family type atmosphere, and is really a great company to work for. Everyone around the company is willing to take time out of their day to teach you something or lend a hand with a project you are working on and need their expertise.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
As a cost and concepting engineer, my job was to work face-to-face with customers to come up with custom automation solutions that JR would provide them. I would then write-up a concept proposal document, often referred to as a quote, that would present my concept, how that concept worked, and how much it would cost the customer to purchase that machine.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
In my (2) semesters in the quoting department, I have picked up a wide variety of skills; the most important in my eyes being the ability to lead a team of co-workers to come up with a cost for a machine. I routinely led meetings with all of the heads of each department, to get their input on my concepts and the cost I had put to building that concept. This is a skill that I hope will set me apart from other students from different school, as it is a skill that can only be learned by being out in the field.
Favorite Part of the Experience
I really loved the work that I got to do every day, the creativity that I was allowed to have when coming up with potential automation solutions, and the respect that all of the departments heads began to show as I became a more experienced quoter. Above all, however, the people of JR are absolutely amazing and made coming to work every day exciting. It is really fun to be a part of a fast growing company, and I think that JR is a great place to be an intern.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
I know that after (2) semesters of working in this department, that I really like interacting with customers and the challenge of designing and selling my ideas to other people. It is rare to find a position where an engineer gets to do some in depth design work, while still getting to be endlessly creative; but JR definitely offers that type of opportunity to all of its employees, even the interns.