Co-op Ambassador:
Grace Westbury
Major: Industrial Engineering
Graduation Date: May 2018
Co-op Company: Robert Bosch LLC (Anderson, SC)
Why did you decide to co-op?
I decided that co-oping would not only give me hands-on experience for IE, but I also wanted to co-op because there are so many routes that an IE could go in terms of manufacturing, healthcare, corporate, or even transportation. Because there are so many options, I really wanted to experience one area in depth before graduating. I enjoy being able to say I have experience in manufacturing, since this is one of the biggest areas to employ IE concepts! The time away from the classroom was great, as well as the pay. While these were nice, I really did it for the experience!
What types of projects did you work on?
While at Bosch, I was able to help with systems improvements projects for the production floor. My first semester was very much getting acclimated to the environment and adjust to working. The projects I was assigned first semester were small, yet still I was given some responsibility. My second term, I was project manager for a major disposition project and was able to completely restructure the returns process for my department. I was also able to work on smaller analysis projects and data collection for the department returns. I am looking forward to the third term and the projects that I will have!
Describe your relationship with your mentor(s) and other colleagues:
Bosch does a great job introducing co-op students to the people they will need to know for their work. I am grateful for how respectful the company is of co-ops. I was treated as an engineer, not like a student at a co-op or intern level. I feel like I got to know the people who not only worked in the office areas but also on the production floor. It was more of a family relationship in the office verses a strict professional relationship. This made talking about the good and the bad very easy. If there were ever things that needed to be worked on, the relationships were strong enough to be able to handle the criticism!
What was your most memorable moment on assignment?
I think the best moment on assignment was when I accomplished my project for project manager. I had strict time constraints and very little help from the department, so it was great when it all went well and the new process was implemented and began working well!
What aspect of your co-op assignment do you feel will be the most beneficial after you graduate?
The most beneficial part of my co-op assignment will be the connections that I have made, and the work experience I have under my belt. It was great to be able to see the ins and outs of a manufacturing plant and learn the lingo and how things work. Even though things will not be exactly the same in another setting, but I know that a lot of these concepts will carry over well into other companies. I am looking forward to applying them after graduation.
Describe how you feel you changed/grew as a person and student as a result of your co-op.
I know that I had communication skills before entering my co-op, but know now how to communicate in a professional setting. This is one thing that the classroom will never be able to convey. I also know that I work well in real group assignments as well as on my own. I have been able to apply some classroom knowledge, but I also know that working is so different than school, and I feel so much more prepared for work after graduation. This is all due to my co-op experience!
Describe an instance where you applied something from your coursework to your co-op assignment, or vice versa?
Dr. Riggs loves to call on his IE students that have co-op experience in his class. Once or twice I was able to answer his questions because of my co-op! I was also able to apply Dr. Neyens’ human factors class on the production floor. We were able to relocate sensors and replace some mats on the floor for a more safe and comfortable experience for the employees! I also know that I will have to apply my VBA skills and write macros when I am back in the spring!
