Controls Engineering Co-op
Marshall
Experience Information
Employer: Herman Miller
Job Title: Controls Engineering Co-op
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Herman Miller is a publicly traded global player in the furniture industry, with net sales over $1.8 billion. HM and its subsidiaries have facilities in four states, China, and the UK. I worked at the Spring Lake location, also participating in events at the main site in Zeeland.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
This summer, I worked with machine controls, handling electrical drawings and documentation. I set up inputs and outputs in electrical panels and had them installed according to my design. I installed safety features and the electrical systems controlling them. I worked with PLC installation and programming, setting up and modifying the controls that determine how machinery behaves under certain conditions.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I learned countless things about controls systems and PLCs. I learned how to work with inputs and outputs and numerous electrical components. I refined my programming skills and deepened my knowledge in now how to apply them to PLCs. I learned how to design electrical systems and how to add components to existing electrical panels.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of the co-op was when I finished a project that helped one of the operators with his day-to-day tasks. When a machine would have an error, he would need to manually fix it, taking time and effort. I had the opportunity to automate this process, completely removing that hassle from his job. Seeing the process work that I designed was truly gratifying.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Herman Miller has become somewhere that I love to work. The culture here and the team I work with perfectly align with what I'm looking for in a long-term career. The projects that I'm working on challenge and motivate me and I enjoy the kind of thinking that they inspire. This co-op has provided a lot of clarity and reassurance that I'm working somewhere that I can hopefully contribute to full-time once I graduate.