Engineering Intern
Micah
Experience Information
Employer: Trans-Matic Mfg. Co
Job Title: Engineering Intern
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Trans-Matic is a larger company that produces stamped, deep-drawn, metal parts. Essentially, that means that our product comes in as sheet metal, but leaves shaped into parts that are used in a variety of settings. This past semester, I have worked on the production of parts used in water heaters, parts used in automobiles, parts used in door handles, and many more. Trans-Maticýs main headquarters are located in Holland, MI along with branches in Monterrey, Mexico and Suzhou, China.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
Since it was my first co-op rotation at Trans-Matic, I worked mostly on revision work. Revision work involves updating engineering drawings to match changes in the tooling or layout changes made by the toolmaker. However, as the rotation progressed and I gained more designing skills, I was assigned projects that required design work to fulfill requests made by the toolmakers or customers. For example, one of the toolmakers wanted some grating dropped eighteen inches in Trans-Maticýs large 240 press. Although it sounds like a relatively easy task, it was challenging since the grating still had to fit in the confined space provided while following regulations mandated by OSHA. In short, as I gained experience at Trans-Matic, I received projects that tested my abilities while also allowing me to gain new skills.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Going into my first rotation, I had zero knowledge of how presses operate or how parts are formed in the press. I now have an understanding of how the presses functions; such as, how the punches timing works, the general layout needed for certain parts, and the different type of stations used in the presses. Additionally, I gained design skills that are applicable in most engineering environments, such as tooling design and design standards. In short, I gained many skills that can be applied in almost all engineering settings.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Since this was my first co-op rotation, I was quite nervous before my first day of work since I had no knowledge of deep-drawn metal stamping. However, I found the employees of Trans-Maticýs engineering department to be very helpful. They always answered my novice-level questions and gave help and/or references when I needed them. In short, my favorite part had to be the people I have the pleasure to work with since they are always very helpful.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Going into the first co-op rotation, I had no clue what sort of engineering field I planned on going into once I graduate. After experiencing what a workday includes for engineers in Trans-Maticýs design and manufacturing engineering departments, I can see myself pursuing a career in a similar sort of setting.
Internship Format
In Person