Autumn experience
Hoan
Experience Information
Employer: viastore SYSTEMS Inc.
Job Title: Controls Intern
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
viastore is in an intralogistics company. We practice the art of optimizing, integrating, automating, and managing the logistical flow of information and material goods (Google). In our case, we install warehouse systems, we automate the systems via plc and software, and we manage the systems through viadat as well as providing accompanying services. viastore is a company from Germany. The one I worked at is in the USA, Grand Rapids, with approximately 70 employees.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I was tasked with working on the HMI screens, configuring I/Os, writing plc logic for a few components and programs, troubleshooting programs, conveyors, and testing devices. These tasks are most often related. To design the HMI screens requires knowing tags that come from the plc. These tags provide information in different formats. My job was to find these tags, sometimes, organize them, and simply display them for the operators to interact with or if required send them to other software for further use. Knowing what tags mean, I can use them to my convenience, for example turning on/off an led, a motor, a solenoid, a scanner, and so on. Furthermore, by knowing these tags functionalities, I can decide what logic to write to bring box A in location 1 to a second location, location 2, and troubleshoot problems on the way faced by box A. The conveyor-controlling part is similar to how one would go about controlling the RoboSockey robot, by controlling different devices working together to accomplish an array of tasks. In the industry, companies just use more expensive parts.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I have learned how to complain directly to the supplier. When I was assigned to test different scanners to help determine which scanner would best fit our next project, I ran into a problem with one scanner. Normally, I would ask other engineers for recommendations; however, most people were working from home and doing their projects. So I was in a position to figure this one problem out myself. I emailed the scanner company first and received a call from one of their specialists the next day. It might seem normal, but it was my first time making a direct complaint toward our supplier saying something wrong with the part. To resolve this problem, the specialist came over to our company, took the part, went home, and fixed the scanner. During school, I would normally trust my professors to know the answer regarding the devices given; never was I forced to go beyond them to reach out to the supplier.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part was flying to sites to help install the company system. During the fall and winter, this means getting away from the freezing temperature. Otherwise, there are more problems to face, more pressure, and higher risk on sites which make the job more interesting for me. In addition, I want to observe my colleges at work when going against tough situations.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Controls engineering is a field that I think I want to conquer since there are interesting things I have not to do. As of now, the goal is to experience all what controls engineering has to offer before making any further decisions. Therefore, I would like to stick with this discipline.