I started off as a pre-med student in college, where I enjoyed my science classes. But it wasn't long before I began to miss learning about math. This realization prompted me to switch my major to bioengineering, giving me the best of both worlds. After graduating from Lehigh University, I joined Oliver as a Process Engineer in their Axis rotational leadership program. Last week, I finished my first 6-month rotation in the program.
My introduction to the Axis program came during a conversation with a future colleague at a career fair. The program's offering of diverse career paths piqued my interest, as did the healthcare industry. The opportunity to contribute to patient safety and improved quality of life also attracted me to the program. One of my favorite parts about being in the Axis program is getting to work alongside a variety of colleagues. I frequently work cross-functionally with teams like product specifications, finance, and pricing.
Through the Axis program, I get the opportunity to rotate through different roles in operations management, supply chain, and engineering over the course of two years. During my first rotation as an engineer, I was responsible for a variety of projects, each offering unique challenges and lessons. One of the projects I enjoyed most was focused on pouch optimization. Specifically, I was looking at shifting pouches from a narrow web to a wide web, intending to boost manufacturing efficiency.
Essentially, I was looking at how we can make more, high-quality pouches in less time. This was made possible using new technology and enhanced process controls. 제가 이 프로젝트를 좋아했던 이유는 흔히 간과하게 되는 엔지니어링 측면이 이미 가지고 있는 것을 개선함으로써 얻을 수 있는 이점이라고 믿기 때문이었죠. 바퀴처럼 이미 존재하는 것을 다시 발명하는 것이 꼭 필요한 것은 아니고 때로는 기존의 메커니즘을 발전시키는 것이 가장 좋은 방법일 수 있습니다.
다음 Axis 배치 전환으로 공급망 전문가가 되면 편안한 공간을 벗어나야 할 것으로 예상됩니다. 익숙하지 않은 분야로 전환하면 필연적으로 새로운 문제와 기회를 만나겠죠. 새로운 팀과 협업할 수 있는 전망을 생각하면 기대가 되고, 전문직 네트워크를 넓힐 수 있는 방법이 될 것입니다. 지금까지 걸어 온 여정을 회고하면 새롭게 엔지니어링 전문가가 되신 분들에게 인내가 필요한 상황을 받아들이고, 스스로에게 여유를 두고, 하루하루 닥치는 일을 잘 받아들이시라는 조언을 하고 싶습니다.
