Padnos Co-op 3rd Semester
Jason
Experience Information
Employer: Padnos Iron & Metal
Job Title: Engineering Intern
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Padnos is an area leader in recycling materials. Using state of the art technology, Padnos is able to recycle everything from metal, paper, plastics, and more! Aside from specialty or patented technologies, most everything at Padnos is fabricated in-house stemming from a small engineering team working closely with a facilities, electrical, and operations department. Padnos continues to grow and expand as the future looks bright for this century-old company.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I was able to experience every aspect of a project at Padnos; from meetings, field measurements, design, fabrication, installation, and follow-up improvements. This included coordinating with on-site supervisors, scheduling meetings, design, overseeing fabrication and installation, and following up post-installation with supervisors. This role carried through many projects including a vibratory shaker installation underneath a shredder mill, conveyor rebuild, access deck/stairs/ladder installation, an over belt drum magnet for ferrous material removal, and many more.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
This semester my position helped me develop my design skills with both 2D and 3D CAD software. Also, I experienced more meetings and project management opportunities, which I was able to gain knowledge and skill in. Included in project management skill are vendor communication, coordinating with other departments, oversight of nearly every aspect of a project, and troubleshooting on the way.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this semester was the increase in responsibility and more involvement in projects. Being surrounded by very knowledgeable and supportive co-workers made being more accountable throughout a project more comfortable. This has been a great way for me to learn communication, management, design, and critical thinking skills. Being able to collaborate closely with multiple experienced engineers is a great way to gain knowledge from them, as well as talk through complicated problems and develop innovative solutions.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Working at Padnos has provided me with a vast variety of projects and responsibilities. This variety has been greatly enjoyable to me as it makes each day a new challenge. I've also appreciated being involved in every aspect of a project. These experiences have given me a desire to pursue a career in a project management position, where I can apply all the engineering skills I have gained at Padnos, while also enjoying a variety of work wherever I end up.