AirLife Engineering Co-op Rotation #1 Experience - EGR 290
Isabelle
Experience Information
Employer: AirLife
Job Title: Engineering Co-op
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
AirLife is a global leader in consumable breathing products focused on respiratory, anesthesia, and patient monitoring medical devices. They manufacture and distribute these medical devices to global markets while always upholding their values of quality, patient care, and excellence. They make products such as endotracheal tubes, resuscitation bags, oxygen masks, cannulas, anesthesia circuits, and nebulizers.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
As an engineering co-op, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of tasks and projects to support product improvement, testing, and validation. I gained experience testing products in the engineering lab, writing my own study to explore a product, and working with the test lab to design a new testing fixture. As part of the rotation, I had the opportunity to learn about other areas of the business and observe how different departments, such as marketing, regulatory affairs, engineering, and sales, work together to run a successful medical device business. When testing in the lab, I was tasked with setting up tests, collecting data, reading testing protocols, and following ISO and other medical standards. I used equipment such as the Instron for some tests, but the majority of tests were performed with pressurized air and were specific to testing airway medical devices. When writing my engineering study, I gained product knowledge, developed test methods, performed testing, solved issues that arose during testing, and analyzed data. I also got to work with the test lab engineers and lab technicians to design a test fixture for leak testing that improved efficiency and precision. During my co-op, I performed testing for different medical devices and worked closely with other engineers to improve products to uphold AirLifeýs high quality standards and ensure our products function above and beyond expectations for customers.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Through this experience, I have gained a lot of technical and professional skills. I learned how to perform testing in an engineering work environment, write engineering studies, and how medical airway devices are tested based on standards. Before working at AirLife, I did not know a lot about airway management devices, but since working here, I have worked with and learned a lot about different medical devices, their importance, how they work, and how they are manufactured. In addition to technical skills, I also learned a lot about how to collaborate and communicate effectively with other engineers and departments. These are skills that will help me in my career as an engineer.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this co-op experience was being able to work on a variety of projects and tasks. I really enjoyed working on my own engineering study but also getting to help other engineers with their projects. I also enjoyed working in the test lab and getting hands-on experience with numerous medical devices I had never seen or known much about before. I appreciated how everyone I worked with was so friendly and kind, and I felt comfortable asking questions because everyone would take the time to help me out or direct me to someone who could. It was a great experience for me, and I enjoyed my time working at AirLife.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience has made me realize I want to work in the biomedical engineering field in my career. By being able to experience what it is like to work at a biomedical engineering company, I learned that I really enjoy working on products that are important and have a direct impact on peoples lives and health. I have always had an interest in the biomedical engineering field, but working in it has made me realize it is where I want to be. I am excited to keep working at AirLife in my second and third co-op rotations as part of GVSU's Engineering Co-Op Program.
Internship Format
In Person