My practicum site was ST Engineering located in Middle River. The facility ST Engineering has there is a nacelle manufacturer and MRO. I was applying for internships last spring and landed this one. Because of the wide range of projects done, I figured one of these can be used for my practicum. My site supervisor, Laura Rathburn, was assigned to me through the internship program. A piece of advice I would give to future SGC scholars is to pick a practicum site that offers projects in a field or topic you are interested in. It will not only make your practicum experience more beneficial to you, but the project itself will be easier and something you would look forward to. For me, I really wanted to learn how to use CATIA V5 because it is a new software I was unfamiliar with and I learned how to work in a team on a professional level.
A few of the tasks I performed at this site as an intern involved data logging in Excel, presenting manufacturing processes to shop floor employees, improving work areas, improving product flow, and manufacturing processes in general. For the practicum, I had to create a Statement of Work, organize all part files for the C919 kit carts, use CATIA to create a layout of the carts, and assist my coworker with the new layout of the stockroom.
I have learned a lot from working at ST Engineering. I learned how to use software that are used in day to day life at engineering companies such as Excel, Adobe, and CATIA V5. I also learned a lot about the manufacturing processes and got to see the equipment used and learned what it is used for. For example, I learned the science behind how sanding booths filter out harmful chemicals in the air and how to store waste product such that it is properly disposed.
Through this site, I also learned how science is connected to other parts of society through the importance of safety when manufacturing the nacelles on site. For example, the nacelles produced are shipped out and used on modern commercial aircraft. Therefore, the science behind their production and the engineering must make it safe for those using the project such as passengers on these aircraft. I also learned a lot about environmental regulations and how they affect our manufacturing process. It goes to show that society and the government do care about the environment to some degree and hope to not contaminate it with harmful waste from manufacturing plants and other businesses.
For the future, I have only modified/added one future plan. That is, I hope to learn more about how the aerospace industry affects the environment and hope to be more up to date with milestones in the industry so I am well informed in my field. In terms of future career plans, those have been changed since I started working with ST Engineering. I am hoping to stay with this company until I graduate to see if there is an opportunity for me to get a job there. The work environment is very welcoming and despite their being over 1000 employees, everyone knows each other.
In all, I believe that my practicum experience at ST Engineering was extremely beneficial. I got to not only learn about the aerospace industry, but I also learned how the environment and rules/regulations dictate manufacturing processes. The valuable project management, software, and professional experience gained from this project is also something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.