My internship at Vacupack was a valuable experience that gave me the opportunity to apply what I had learned at university in a real manufacturing environment.
Throughout my internship, I was able to work closely with engineers and operators and gain hands-on experience with troubleshooting production equipment, analysing machine and production data, developing SOPs and troubleshooting guides, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. I also had the opportunity to explore ways of improving how machine breakdown information is recorded and accessed, including the idea of a future AI-based kiosk to make troubleshooting information easier for operators to find.
What I enjoyed most about the internship was being given the opportunity to work on real problems and take responsibility for my own work. It helped me understand that engineering in a manufacturing environment is not just about finding a technical solution, but also considering production requirements, quality, downtime, safety and the people who use the equipment every day.
I’m very grateful to Ali Tavazoei and the entire Vacupack team for their guidance, support and willingness to share their knowledge with me. Everyone was welcoming and gave me the opportunity to ask questions, learn from their experience and contribute to meaningful work.
I would definitely recommend the internship to future students who want to gain practical engineering experience and understand what working in a real manufacturing environment is like. It was an experience that helped me develop both my technical skills and my confidence as an engineer.
–Subodhini Jayawardhena