Product Quality and Service Support Review

Working at Toyota was an experience that I will never forget. The support you are given by your managers and work colleagues is superb. The opportunities available to you are both important to the company and interesting to you, making you feel that you are making a real contribution to the business.

From day one I was made to feel welcome and valued. My colleagues were very down to earth and willing to help and assist me when needed. I got on with everyone in my department and have met some true friends along the way.

My Manager was willing to put aside time for me when needed to support my projects. I was able to gain extra training in areas in which I thought lacked which helped me fulfill my job to a higher level.

Due to the nature of the PQSS department, I had some days where I was very busy and others where I could just get on with my weekly tasks. However I always had something to be getting on with. When I was very busy I often found the projects interesting and worthwhile.

I was given more responsibility that I had originally believed I would have when joining Toyota. You really are treated as an important member of the team. In my experience I was able to get involved in numerous projects and task, some of which were up to a senior management/director level.

Taking this year placement at Toyota has been a huge benefit to me. My time management skills have improved, along with both my communication and leadership skills. My computer based skills have improved dramatically, having taken the advanced excel course offered by Toyota, and my proficiency in all office based programmes has increased.

The general atmosphere in the office is very good. It is a very hard working department, but the humour in the PQSS department is second to none. Being in one of the larger, louder departments was a great experience and although it is a busy department, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The placement scheme is well laid out and structured. You are given a thorough induction, and the process of interim and annual reviews helps to make sure you are fulfilling the objectives set for you at the start of the year.

There are many opportunities for training in Toyota, I was fortunate to be able to take part in Intermediate and Advanced Excel training, Presentation, A3, PDCA and health and safety training. On top of this there are centre visits, conferences, factory tours and many other opportunities you can get your hands on!

Toyota offers its graduate scheme exclusively to its placement students. This means you already have a good chance of getting onto the scheme if you have gained a placement and performed to a high standard. I would love to go back to Toyota on the graduate scheme due to the positive experience I had on my placement year.

The sports and social club at Toyota is superb. Offering a range of different activities, experience and nights out that are great value for money and genuinely some of the most enjoyable nights out I have had. The students in the year I took my placement were all on the whole very sociable making it easy to organise nights and meals out. I met some great friends at Toyota that I have stayed in touch with and met since coming back to University.

Living costs in and around Epsom are high, our rent was fairly expensive compared to student accommodation, however the salary did cover my needs and more. With regards to going out, drinks are more expensive as you would expect being closer to London, but by picking the right nights you can still have a very good night out without spending a fortune.

The nightlife in Epsom is an.. experience? There are only two clubs, however there are plenty of good pubs in the local area. Going into Kingston/London is an option due to the train and tube links.

The sports and social team offered various activities such as Karaoke nights, quiz nights, tickets for gigs etc. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved.