Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
Morgan
Experience Information
Employer: Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
Job Title: Engineering Co-op
Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) is the world's leading supplier of instrument panels and cockpit systems, door panels, floor consoles and overhead consoles. Headquartered in Shanghai, the company has more than 90 manufacturing and technical centers in 17 countries and employs over 28,000 people globally. Established in 2015, YFAI is a joint venture between Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems and Adient, a recent spin-off of Johnson Controls.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
This summer my main project was in supporting the advanced manufacturing team while they prepare for the transfer of three manufacturing lines from Michigan/Ohio to a new facility in Illinois. I spent time at the Ohio manufacturing plant to understand and document the line as it is today, helped to gather data for the design of the new line layouts, and several other smaller projects. In addition, I completed a side project on plastic welding, where I gathered knowledge from online and internal resources and compiled guidelines for four common welding processes.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
This semester, I mainly developed skills related to professionalism and work ethic. I've learned a great deal about how a manufacturing company runs, including the large emphasis placed on cross-functional teams. I've seen that a product launch requires input from numerous departments, each with their own tasks that must be completed at certain points in the project timeline, but which all depend on each other. This collaboration requires active communication and documentation to anticipate problems and resolve them in the most efficient manner possible. In managing my own projects I've had to practice these skills, particularly when looking for outside input or feedback on my work. I've also gained considerable knowledge related to automotive interiors specifically (common manufacturing processes, components, and assembly methods) as well as plastic welding and injection molding.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite experience during this co-op was working with an industrial engineer to design the layout for a new manufacturing line. I was fascinated by the vast amount of detail that goes into developing the plan. Together we measured every workstation, part rack, and storage bin; kept track of the plant output for a week to determine how many of every part was used; and created an inventory for every piece of machinery or equipment in the building. This information was combined with the manufacturing engineer's knowledge of the new assembly line stations to allocate space in the facility in the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective manner possible.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This co-op semester taught me to appreciate and understand the work of the advanced manufacturing department, an important part of any product-based company. While my interests still lie in product engineering and innovation, I'm glad I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of manufacturing processes and see how the AME's work supports the design and development of new products.