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Sample Reports
George K. Larger, III While sitting down yesterday and attempting to begin this report, I could not help but remember my thoughts before my Co-op. I recall wondering what I would be doing during my Co-op and for whom I would be working. Furthermore, would I be able to complete everything assigned to me? Am I good enough to be an engineer? Such questions caused me to reconsider my efforts to get a Co-op on more than one occasion. However, my better judgment got the best of me, and I persevered. And here I am, working for Philips Medical Systems in Highland Heights. My current thought processes are completely unlike those above; I barely remember and am reluctant to admit that I had trouble dealing with such possibilities. After three months of working at Philips, I consider going to work everyday normal. Moreover, I am comfortable. Nevertheless, it took a bit of work and learning to get where I am. My assignments and responsibilities have varied since beginning work at Philips Medical Systems on May 12. For at least a few days, it was uncertain as to where and on which project I would be placed. Eventually, I was placed on the support staff for a confidential CT (computed tomography, formerly known as "CAT") project. My responsibilities included supporting the research and testing being conducted on a CT scanner. Unfortunately, it was evident after a few weeks that there were too many people on the staff and not enough work for all of them. I was consequently reassigned to the support of a new multislice CT scanner for which the prototypes were being constructed. At first I filled in for another employee who was on vacation. My responsibilities included reviewing drawings and creating documents for part design approval. A week or two later, I was included in the prototype building of the scanner, and I was also put in charge of the assembly and evaluation of new parts for the scanner's "couch," which is Philips' name for the bed on which the patient lies while being scanned. The couch on which I have been working is essentially a previous couch model, but some revisions, principally on the couch covers, have been made. It was my job to oversee the receipt and installation of the revised parts. If there were any problems, I brought them to the project supervisor's attention, made recommendations, and in several cases made modifications to the parts myself. I have also had many miscellaneous duties during my tenure at Philips. My supervisor, Hank Novak, occasionally approaches me and informs me that someone is in need of work on a small side project. This may include maintenance on equipment or the creation of an improvised piece of equipment. Finally, I also have lab duties. Co-ops and interns are put on a list to clean the three mechanical engineering labs. Each week, according to the schedule, one of us cleans and organizes the labs. I have never been one to do the kind of work I have found myself doing the past few months. Therefore, I know I have learned much. I knew next-to-nothing about tools and hardware when I began work at Philips. Do you know what a [?] x 20 is? I did not. Prototype building has helped me develop machining and tooling skills as well as practical mechanical skills. It was often necessary to make on-the-job modifications to parts of they did not fit like the design said they should. In addition, I have learned the principles on which Philips medical equipment is designed and built. I would not have been able to describe what a CT scanner does three months ago. Whereas working on prototypes has definitely increased my manufacturing and engineering skills, small side jobs have helped bolster my engineering creativity. For example, I was asked to build a temporary door for a computer server box. I was given a short list of requirements, a glance at the server box and directions to the Home Depot down the street; everything else was up to me. Finally, my people skills have improved. PMS Cleveland is a large company; I have interacted with a large cross-section of people, including engineering managers, engineering designers, line production technicians, machinists and human resources personnel. Working at Philips has definitely been a positive learning experience for me. I am doing work and completing tasks that I have never done. In fact, little I have learned at Case could I apply here. The only course that has prepared me in any way for my Co-op is EMAE 172. I suspect, however, that very few courses exist that could prepare a student for a Co-op. Much of what I have learned can be heard in a classroom, but there is much more to discover that goes far beyond what an education of lectures and study has to offer. Having completed half of my Co-op, I cannot imagine not having the experience. At Case, I have studied and learn all I can in preparation for my future. But I doubt I could prepare for a future in the working world if I had no understanding of it. |
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