Crane Pumps & Systems

Engineering Co-op

May - August 2023 • Piqua, OH

What I liked

Crane Pumps and Systems really care about their co-ops, and the projects I was given were very meaningful to the company and provided great experience. Company events were common such as Dragon's Baseball games to make lasting connections. I was given full responsitibiltity over my projects and worked closely with many different engineers in different roles. I also had scheduled lab time for more hands-on experience. Some of the projects I worked on included designing and purchasing parts for a new testing station and completing a study on dimensional discrepancies in 3D models that I presented to the heads of engineering. I felt very valued at Crane and learned a lot about the industry and engineering as a whole.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had been assigned more projects that involved more lab time. Although I had scheduled time in the lab at the beginning of the session, I wish I had been able to lead tests for my own projects instead of assisting with projects the lab technicians were working on. I spent more time at my desk than in the lab and it would have been nice for it to be more evenly split.

Advice

My advice would be to take intuitive on all projects. I felt nervous going into the co-op because I had no prior experience in the industry. I had trouble feeling confident in my ideas and was looking for guidanace. It would have been more beneficial for me to try to solve the problem and look for next steps on my own before asking for help. That being said, if you need help, everyone there is extremely willing to give advice and work through the problem with you.

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Engineering Co-op

January - May 2023 • Piqua, OH

What I liked

I was given a lot of projects that were important. One of my projects was to design a table to put on lift legs that is used to test pumps. I had to use solidworks to design the table and then contact other workers to source the table out. Another one of my projects I like had a lot of testing and research. I was testing breakaway torques of bolts with different factors.

What I wish was different

I wish I had done more hands-on work. For the first part of the term I was helping out a lot in the lab but as time progressed on I was not in the lab as much because the workers did not need help. I liked the hands-on experience because it helped with knowing what I would be working on. Other than that I do not think there is anything else I wished had been different.

Advice

I would say my number one piece of advice is to take initiative. A lot of the time you need to take action to get your projects done. Another piece of advice would be to set up a schedule and set deadlines. It helps manage your time and gives yourself a sense of urgency.

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Engineering Intern

January - May 2023 • Piqua, OH

What I liked

I enjoyed the fact that they allowed me to be in control of my own projects and allowed me to work through the problem solving steps. The people with in the company were also super helpful and kind and great to work with. Everyone I interacted with where very nice. I also enjoyed how I was able to work with my hands and work on my design skills in SOLIDWORKS. This experience I feel has set me up really well for my future in engineering.

What I wish was different

I did not have any major problems with the company. They only thing I wish was different was my level of preparation for this rotation. I wish I was more experienced in SOLIDWORKS before beginning my rotation. That would have helped a lot at setting me apart from other co-ops.

Advice

A piece of advise I would Gove to anyone looking to work here is to just be willing to ask questions as early and often as you need. Everyone is so willing to answer question and help you out, so reaching out for help shows your level of commitment to completing the projects they assigned to you.

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Engineering Co-op

January 2023 • Piqua, OH

What I liked

The way the company approaches the co-op experience is very beneficial; they understand that the purpose of being a co-op is to learn and get valuable experience, and they give those opportunities to you. You get to choose what projects you work on and work with you to make the experience what you want it to be. For example, I had been working on a new product development project and let them know I enjoyed it, so they put me on the team as a dedicated member. Help is made readily available whenever you want, and they are happy to provide any assistance you need with projects.

What I wish was different

I wish the assigned projects had firm due dates. Many projects can linger without being worked on because they are very low priority, but they would still be great to finish and learn from. The project owners could do a better job of pushing to get their projects done so that the co-ops feel more urgency. The work environment can feel a little too laid back at times and it is not the most productive.

Advice

I would tell other students go full force into their projects and learn as you go. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, but ensure that you continue to work on projects. I would also recommend looking into a problem before asking questions; try to solve the problem on your own, then ask questions if you cannot solve it. The experience will be what you make of it, so throw yourself at your work and keep working hard at it.

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Engineering Co-op

August - December 2021 • Piqua, OH

What I liked

I was able to work on several major design projects during the semester which was excellent experience. Small company feeling with large corporate support means you get to know most people well, and you won't be limited to small projects.