DMAX, Ltd.

Controls Engineering Co-Op

January - May 2024 • Moraine, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed the automotive manufacturing environment which forced me to be on my toes at all times and think quickly and efficiently. I enjoyed receiving a handful of projects and responsibilities that would normally be handled by full-time controls engineers. I was lucky to be given many projects with PLC programming, HMI design, and making changes to electrical schematics. This allowed me to get my hands on many different machines throughout the entire assembly process, which allowed me to see the many parts of the business. I also enjoyed working with those in my group as they were very welcoming and willing to answer any questions that I had throughout my term.

What I wish was different

Something that I wish was different in the midst of it was my training at the beginning of my term. It seemed very tedious and repetitive while I was completing it, but I realize just how much I learned and grew from this. It taught me a great deal about controls engineering and how to program these machines on the floor. This also taught me how to troubleshoot issues and solve issues with these machines on my own. If I had not completed this training I would have been very anxious about making changes to these machines on the floor, however I felt confident and prepared to help out and complete projects of my own.

Advice

Do not be afraid to ask questions about anything that you are not sure of or curious about. The people that I work with are very knowledgeable about controls engineering and are more than happy to help. Be open to learning, there are countless opportunities you will be given to increase your knowledge in different regions throughout the manufacturing floor. Lastly, do not be afraid to problem solve and learn by yourself. I have found myself many times stuck sitting on a problem that helped me to learn more than asking someone.

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Controls Engineering Co-Op

January - May 2022 • Moraine, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed the fast paced automotive manufacturing environment. It did a great job of forcing me to stay on my toes and being able to think quickly and effectively. I loved getting a handful of projects and responsibilities that were normally given to full-time controls engineers to try my hand at changing or adding logic to fix a problem or change a process. Lastly, I was fortunate to be given a multitude of projects with some process outline writeups, PLC programming and logic changes, and HMI design and programming. This allowed me to get my hands on a bunch of different machines, and gave me the opportunity to see many parts of this business and how the company runs.

What I wish was different

The only thing I wish that had been different at the time, is my beginning training in the first portion of my work term. It seemed boring and redundant to me at the time, however I see how great it was for me. That period of my work term has taught me an incredible amount about controls engineering and how to solve my own issues. With that training it allowed me to excel and feel very comfortable when programming actual machines on the floor. Normally, I would have been very overwhelmed with the prospect of having to program these large machines in a fast paced and unforgiving environment, however, I was fully prepared to assist and have projects of my own in these situations.

Advice

If you are first starting your experience here be sure to ask questions about anything and everything. The people that trained me were incredibly knowledgeable about controls engineering and are the best resource to turn to. Along with asking questions don't be afraid to problem solve and learn on your own. There were many times that sitting there being stuck in the mud on a problem helped me learn more than anything else. Lastly, do not get discouraged when something doesn't work or you are stuck on a problem this is a frequent thing in this part of engineering so get used to it and how to deal with it.

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ME Machining Co-Op

January 2020 • Moraine, OH

What I liked

From day one everyone here at DMAX has been hospitable, helpful, and very willing to share their invaluable knowledge. On my first day I was OVERWHELMED by CAD drawings & huge CNC machines but the staff here has already assisted in growing my confidence as an engineer. My favorite part about this co-op is that almost every day I go home feeling like a better rounded, more capable engineer. DMAX also has both machining and assembly, which opens up even more possibilities for engineers looking to Co-op!