Hamza Zahur

What motivated you to apply for a co-op/internship?

I was driven to obtain practical and industrial experience in my field in order to get a feel of what I would be doing in the future. In addition, I wanted to network with individuals in my profession and benefit from their experiences.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

My position entails working on the assembly line and engaging with robotic equipment, as well as executing numerous procedures to guarantee production objectives are fulfilled within the time constraints set. The department I work at welds and assembles "CRV" and "Civic" seats for the Honda Manufacturing plant.

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

Yes, I obtained the necessary training to carry out my engineering tasks. For the first two weeks of my placement, I was partnered with an experienced employee to observe them and learn the various tactics. I felt encouraged to ask questions and report any issues I had, which were quickly resolved.

What was your work atmosphere like? 

My work environment is incredibly encouraging and team-oriented. When someone is having difficulty, everyone assists one another, and we work as a team to finish the task at hand.

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your co-op/internship?

I was able to learn and improve my collaboration and time management abilities. I learned how to work effectively in a team and as well as how to manage my time efficiently to fulfill my tasks. I also learned how certain ideas, such as "six sigma" or the "kaizen" technique, are employed in production and how they address problems.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

So far, my experience has exceeded all of my expectations. Since I began, I've developed and learned a lot about manufacturing processes, and I see many possibilities to learn as I go. My hands-on experience relates the theory I've studied in engineering studies to the actual world.

What was your proudest moment?

My proudest moment was when I discovered that the machine had failed to pierce a hole where the screws would be placed along the main line. While working on the frame, I found that the hole had not been punched all the way through, despite the fact that another worker had marked it as such. This would have resulted in the framework collapsing or the wires becoming loose. I informed my team leader, who called a meeting with the rest of the group to inform everyone of the error.

What advice would you offer to students thinking about pursuing co-op or internship?

I would advise anyone to consider a co-op or internship to gain real-world experience in their chosen industry while also networking and saving money to begin paying off student loans early on.