Summer 2024 Internship
For this internship, I returned to the company I worked with in 2023 to build upon my previous efforts in enhancing maintenance procedures and operations.
I continued my work in mapping out the robust polyurethane manufacturing plant and warehouse, but with one important difference. This time, through the use of a laser measurement tool and a tape measure, I created a to-scale map of the entire plant using Microsoft Visio. This map documents every one of the hundreds of machines and thousands of warehouse racking spots while also maintaining accurate spacing and room sizes within 6″ of error. This documentation did not exist in a usable form before my work began. Additionally, I added some interactive features, including a satellite image overlay, and collaborated with the fire safety contractor to document every existing fire extinguisher to ensure maximum safety for the plant operators.
My next project was organizing the logistics for a warehouse revitalization effort. An outside consulting agency recommended that we reorganize the warehouse layout to increase operational efficiency. With the help of a fellow Purdue Industrial Engineer, I worked to create an updated map of the new layout and delegated and supervised the exact roles and responsibilities that many employees would need to undertake to move the racking into their new spots without affecting day-to-day plant production.
Another project I completed was further revamping the maintenance request system used in the plant. I used the Smartsheet software that the company had recently adopted for project planning to create an interactive form that would allow photo submissions for requests and would email the correct maintenance technicians based on the work needed.
The last project I worked on was creating the framework for a plant floor Kanban project. I documented existing quantities of critical resources for day-to-day production that were previously being ordered as needed, which led to delays and issues in production. I mapped out the current locations of these items and set new locations based on feedback from the operators. I also designed potential Kanban cards that may be used when this project is implemented in the future.
