Alfonse Ly

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

I wanted to see how my academics could be applied in the real world industry. The best way to do that as a student was to obtain a co-op/internship position.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

For the majority of my co-op, I was a trainee on the Industrial Engineering Team at Siemens Canada's Peterborough Milltronics Plant. I mainly worked on mechanical designs, construction of machines and CAD. I also had the opportunity to learn about and work on lean manufacturing processes. 

Did you receive training to perform your engineering duties? Please Explain.

Yes. For the first month of my co-op, I was at Siemens Canada HQ in Oakville. There, we had training about their engineering operations in the different Siemens operating companies. In these, I learned about their technology, their projects and had an overview of how Siemens Canada operates. I also had the opportunity to attend different sessions from McMaster's DeGroote School of Business for economics, presentation skills and sales. 

What was your work atmosphere like? (flexibility, formality, team-centric, supportive)

My work atmosphere was a mixture of sorts. I got really close with my team in Peterborough, and our working dynamic evolved to be more flexible over time. The industrial engineering team was extremely supportive! They knew I was only there for a few months and made sure I could make the most of my time there. I was placed into projects on the spot and was able to work and learn alongside very skilled engineers of different disciplines. They put much effort into making sure that I understood what I was doing and made sure I knew that I had help if need be.

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your Co-op/Internship?

I was able to learn and experience the complexities of a design process in industry. Here, I was able to hone and add to my skill set in design and CAD. I also polished my communication skills with presentations and meetings with co-workers and executives. I'm also very appreciative as the team I worked with exposed to me what a fully-operational, well managed, and fun engineering team should look like. 

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

I didn't know what to expect when I began my co-op. I thought that because Siemens was a larger organization, there was a possibility that I'd be not as focused on as I was merely a 4-month co-op student. However, I was overwhelmed by the support I had, and by the end of it, how much I had enjoyed my time there. 

What was your proudest moment? 

There was a project where I was asked to design from scratch, a machine that was used on the floor to save on costs. I was able to design concepts, document, prototype, then finally seeing it built and function in the plant.

What advice would you offer to current students thinking about pursuing Co-op/Internship?

Apply everywhere and don't give up. I can't even recall the number of applications I sent out, but there were a lot. I do remember only having a handful of replies for interviews and one offer letter. 

Doing a co-op or internship was a way for me to experience what I was studying in industry, and affirmed that I made the right decision in choosing my field of study. I would definitely recommend to everyone to experience one if they had the opportunity. I had so much fun, and only hope that others experience the same!