Plant Systems Engineer Intern Review

My role included responding to any new events arising within the plant that affect the manufacturing process. Such as responding to system failures that occurred on the site. I was given the responsibility to administrate critical equipment such as networking devices and I would almost certainly be maintaining Windows Server operating systems and vmware vSphere extensively as well as active directory management and group policies when requested. I also was involved in projects within the team that are to improve the site as a whole such as networking policies for cybersecurity upgrades and creating more extensive and easy to interpret documentation about the site IT infrastructure that had not existed before.

During my placement at JDE I was introduced to many new systems that I had never come across such as Programmable Logic Controllers. This experience has allowed me to gain insight in how factory automation links to my responsibility as an IT administrator as well as becoming experienced in using the different hardware and software components from Rockwell Automation. This is important within the manufacturing industry as many companies utilise PLCs for automation purposes so being familiar with the equipment has been beneficial for myself. During my placement I was also given the opportunity to develop skills within Microsoft PowerBi by taking part in training offered as part of my placement year. This allowed me to develop and strengthen my data analysis and presentation skills for a real time fast moving environment. As part of my time at JDE, being given more freedom over the IT hardware and software I was already familiar with such as vmware vSphere, Windows Server and networking equipment allowed me to reinforce my knowledge that I had gained in the past at university and apply it in a professional manner to a workplace environment. These skills are critical in IT infrastructure related roles and this placement has allowed me to strengthen that knowledge.

My initial weeks allowed for me to settle into my job role however it was not long until i was given a huge level of autonomy within the team to develop and improve systems where I saw fit. I was given tasks to complete that required elevated permissions on hardware and software which made me feel extremely responsible personally for the security of the IT network. I was also allowed to explore deploying new methodologies to solve problems within the business such as utilising PowerShell to help troubleshoot and automate repetitive tasks. Overall i felt that the tasks I completed had a huge bearing of responsibility on the success of the team and myself over the course of my placement.

My team and line manager always were extremely positive towards anything I was working on and happy to see the progress being made. Accessing support during my placement to help with problems was done informally and met with positive sentiment. I felt like that the team always wanted to see me succeed during the placement year and gave me all the support they could to learn new technologies and also with problem solving where I required it. As my placement took place during the Covid-19 pandemic the work situation was dynamic in working from home and in the plant however the advice from my line manager was coherent and consistent throughout and I was happy to raise any issues that I had to them.

My placement at JDE took place during the covid-19 pandemic so many events were moved online however this is not to say that it spoiled the fun! Many events and diversity initiatives took place on Microsoft teams instead. The company culture at the Banbury plant generally embraces having a coffee break with members of your team or with anyone else to catch up and have a chat. The manufacturing atmosphere at JDE also meant that people were always willing to have a chat even if it is about their job role! Student interns at JDE also have the opportunity to run Student Charity events within the business such as putting on pub quizzes to raise money for local causes. The company supports the charity events as part of a wider scheme.

JDE has provided me with an unforgettable placement experience and has really impressed me that they still offered ample opportunity to develop myself even during the Covid-19 pandemic. The team that I joint was always willing to lend a hand where required and always encouraged self development towards my goals. The workload that I was given was not anything too extreme but it bearded important responsibility and continued the development and improvement of the Banbury site. All work that I completed utilised the skills I gained at university and my own personally developed admin know how to complete my job effectively and strengthen such skills. Being given autonomy allowed me also to best manage my workload throughout my placement to prioritise work depending on urgency. The company culture allowed for me to ask different people about the areas of the JDE site I was unfamiliar with and allowed me to gain insight into areas outside my role such as Process Engineers. I also was given informal tours within different areas of the plant just so I could see how the coffee manufacturing process worked! My expectations admittedly on applying for the placement were met with questions on how effective this placement experience would be for me to develop further but I can safely say that this placement is one of the best and most supportive out there, if given the chance to I would definitely come back to JDE!

Yes

Be honest during the interview process about your achievements. The company wants to see you grow and is looking for someone that's willing to learn new things and interested in the role so mentioning what you could bring to the team is a great way to pitch yourself! The assessment centre process is a good opportunity to ask questions around the role that you apply for as well to the current interns! I highly recommend doing this as they may be able to tell you about something exciting they've worked on! If I reapplied for this placement in the future I certainly would have loved to had known more about the design for the site as a whole so when I join I would already be relatively familiar. I would also ask more questions to the interns not related to my role directly so I could have had a better overview on day 1 for seeing the site for the first time. On day one remember to introduce yourself to your team and get to know them well, you'll be working alongside them for a year so a good impression is a must!