Progressive Surface: Round 3
Calvin
Experience Information
Employer: Progressive Surface
Job Title: Controls Engineer Co-op
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Our mission is to be the global leader in the manufacturing and servicing of automated machinery and closed-loop process controls for shot peening, grit blasting, thermal spray coating, and ultra-high pressure water jet stripping applications.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
This being my last semester at Progressive Surface, I continued where I left off; creating manuals, setting up computers, and creating layouts and schematics. I had a lot more responsibility this last time and was challenged with more intensive projects. I worked with another engineer on a stand alone rotary lance project and looked into the different upgrades we could make for it and how it would affect our cost of the finished project when we went through with the changes.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I continued to sharpen my communication skills as well as my ability to visualize different views of a machine and put them together on a drawing to help show the final product. I gained knowledge in the use of an HMI and ladder logic to have an interactive operators screen. I also continued to sharpen my troubleshooting capabilities for computers.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of my last co-op experience at Progressive Surface was that I continued to feel like a valued member of the team and I was able to take on more responsibilities in each project along with the chance to be in the lead for my own project.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience has continued to confirm that Engineering is what I am meant to do. My career goal is to work for a company like Progressive Surface. I have enjoyed working at Progressive Surface throughout my semesters as a student at GVSU.