internship
My time at Spectrum
For my first internship, I worked a 8-month co-op as a Plant Engineer. I really enjoyed being able to mix my day-to-day routine between the desk, and on the production floor!
Context
Spectrum is a manufacturer based in the US which specializes in medical plastics manufacturing. They have many divisions, and the plant I worked at specialized in films and packaging plastics.My plant's entire operation was based around blown film extrusion. All my projects revolved around continuous improvement activities to improve the overall throughput of these machines.
Statistical Process Control
Many machines in the plant had sensors to track production data. I worked on gathering and interpreting this data to find ways we could improve processes and save costs, which was a rewarding experience, for both myself and the company!
Plant improvements
During my time there, I implemented numerous improvements, enhancing both safety and productivity. There was always something to work on!I particularly enjoyed these projects because they allowed me to collaborate with machinists, interact with sales reps, and gain hands-on experience installing systems. Over just eight months, I learned a tremendous amount—not only about film extrusion but also about engineering as a whole.One project I’m proud of was setting up additional resin pumps. I selected the equipment, handled the installation, programmed the controllers, and tested everything myself. It was rewarding to see how pleased the production team was with the results and hear their appreciation.
I also worked on automating pump systems to extract from silos and prevent overfilling.I handled every aspect of the project myself, and it’s something I’m still proud of today!