I started off as a pre-med student in college, where I enjoyed my science classes. But it wasn't long before I began to miss learning about math. This realization prompted me to switch my major to bioengineering, giving me the best of both worlds. After graduating from Lehigh University, I joined Oliver as a Process Engineer in their Axis rotational leadership program. Last week, I finished my first 6-month rotation in the program.
My introduction to the Axis program came during a conversation with a future colleague at a career fair. The program's offering of diverse career paths piqued my interest, as did the healthcare industry. The opportunity to contribute to patient safety and improved quality of life also attracted me to the program. One of my favorite parts about being in the Axis program is getting to work alongside a variety of colleagues. I frequently work cross-functionally with teams like product specifications, finance, and pricing.
Through the Axis program, I get the opportunity to rotate through different roles in operations management, supply chain, and engineering over the course of two years. During my first rotation as an engineer, I was responsible for a variety of projects, each offering unique challenges and lessons. One of the projects I enjoyed most was focused on pouch optimization. Specifically, I was looking at shifting pouches from a narrow web to a wide web, intending to boost manufacturing efficiency.
Essentially, I was looking at how we can make more, high-quality pouches in less time. This was made possible using new technology and enhanced process controls. Le projet m'a plu, car j'estime qu'un aspect de l'ingénierie souvent négligé consiste à améliorer ce que l'on a déjà. Il n'est pas toujours nécessaire de réinventer les choses et, parfois, le meilleur moyen d'agir consiste à améliorer les systèmes en place.
Alors que je m'apprête à effectuer ma prochaine rotation Axis en tant que spécialiste de la chaîne d'approvisionnement, je m'attends à sortir de ma zone de confort. La transition vers un domaine inconnu promet de nouveaux défis et de nouvelles opportunités. La perspective de collaborer avec une nouvelle équipe m'enthousiasme et me permet d'élargir mon réseau professionnel. En réfléchissant à mon parcours, je conseillerais aux nouveaux professionnels de l'ingénierie de faire preuve de patience, de s'accorder des moments privilégiés et de prendre chaque jour comme il vient.
