Co-op Ambassador:
Melissa Messinetti
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Graduation Date: May 2021
Co-op Company: The Boeing Company
Why did you decide to co-op?
I decided to co-op to gain engineering experience in industry to supplement my engineering coursework at Clemson. Participating in the co-op program has allowed me to explore career options in mechanical engineering before I graduate and begin working full time.
If you received multiple offers, what made you select the company you chose?
The Boeing Company was a good match for me and I was interested in working in the aerospace industry. The scope of my assignment is wide and will prepare me well for future full time positions.
What types of projects did you work on?
My work was focused on optimizing and maintaining Broetje Automation solutions. The Broetje machines perform drilling, fastener insertion, and collar installation to permanently attach internal frames and structural components of the 47 section of the 787 Dreamliner. I worked on several projects to decrease cycle time and downtime, and improve machine reliability.
Describe your relationship with your mentor(s) and other colleagues:
At Boeing, I have two technical mentors and a peer mentor who are incredibly supportive and helpful. My primary technical mentor and I have a great relationship and work together every day. His patience, and willingness to take time to explain concepts and ideas to help me learn and strengthen my skills made my co-op experience invaluable. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work with passionate and talented engineers.
What was your most memorable moment on assignment (Biggest “Aha!” or biggest “Oops!” moment)?
One of my biggest “oops” moments occurred while completing a trial for a project I was working on. After beginning the trial, I learned that the machine was executing differently than how I expected and had prepared. With limited time, I developed a recovery plan to continue the trial with minimal impact to production.
What aspect of your co-op assignment do you feel will be the most beneficial after you graduate?
I have a better idea of how my engineering coursework translates into industry and have a greater appreciation for what I am learning in my classes. I better understand what a career in engineering is like and the diversity that exists in the field.
Describe how you feel you changed/grew as a person and student as a result of your co-op.
One of the most rewarding experiences for me was working on diverse teams with people from other departments every day. Having the opportunity to represent my department in meetings and present my work, was responsibility and leadership experience I did not expect to have as a co-op.
What was the most challenging part of your co-op?
One challenging aspect of my co-op assignment was learning Boeing acronyms and jargon. In meetings, I would take note of what I did not understand and would ask my teammates afterwards. After a few months I learned, but it was overwhelming and frustrating at first.
Describe an instance where you applied something from your coursework to your co-op assignment, or vice versa.
On assignment, I relied on the skills I learned in ENGR 2080 (Solidworks) to interpret part and assembly drawings to develop “quick reference” documents to expedite repairs of critical tools. I was also able to translate my skills in Solidworks to design and reverse engineer various parts in Catia for 3D printing and machining.
