Angel

Describe your placement experience.

During my placement year, I worked in the Quality and Regulatory Affairs department of Siemens Magnet Technology in Oxford. My primary role was to address supply quality issues that occurred during production and communicate with the relevant suppliers and internal personnel. 

Collaboration with suppliers and internal engineering teams was necessary to resolve non-conformance issues and reduce disruption to the production process. If disruption occurred, measures were established to ensure continuous product reliability.

I also monitored the compliance of internal processes and procedures with the organisation's established ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems. In our cross-functional monthly executive reviews, I presented the quality performance data of suppliers to upper management.

The achievement I am most proud of is identifying an opportunity to improve the digital tracking of returned components as part of the Customer Service and Returns process. I collaborated with different departments to make an application that was streamlined and aligned with the organisation’s digitalisation goals.

What were the best things about it?

My placement experience strengthened my understanding of engineering principles, quality management, and regulatory compliance. I also learned how to implement different problem-solving methodologies that could reduce the probability of non-conformances in production. 

This industrial placement was a significant learning experience in project management, leading meetings, working cross-functionally and improving my technical knowledge of Magnetic resonance imaging systems. 

I was able to improve on the foundation in manufacturing processes I gained during my first year of university by attending different supplier meetings and understanding the procedures used in their production.

Likewise, this experience provided a solid foundation for the Engineering Management module I later took in my third year, where there was an opportunity to further develop my knowledge on quality statistical control and Lean Six Sigma.

Aside from my technical development, I enjoyed being a part of the community at Siemens Magnet technology. Some of my favourite community building moments were assisting in the organisation of a World Quality Day and celebrating the International Women's Day with different young girls from the surrounding Oxfordshire schools.

"Trying something new and challenging yourself is all a part of learning and adapting and this is what doing a placement teaches you."

Have your career plans been informed by your placement?

Undertaking this placement has broadened my horizons for the career path I want to take after university. 

Before my placement, I thought being an engineer was all about research and development. But, by working with different suppliers and talking to colleagues, I discovered new areas of engineering that interest me.

I’m not sure specifically what I’ll go into, but I know more about the options available, and for that, my placement was invaluable. 

What advice do you have for students considering doing a placement?

Choosing to do a placement year isn’t an easy decision. It is time out of classroom-based learning and away from the university experience you’ve come to know. But trying something new and challenging yourself is all a part of learning and adapting and this is what doing a placement teaches you. 

I would advise students undertaking a placement to show up with an eagerness to learn everyday because that is why you’re there! Don’t forget to network with your colleagues, other industry professionals and fellow placement students as there is a lot to you.

Find out more about our Biomedical Engineering BEng/MEng or our professional training placements scheme.