At WAMIC, our key service offerings centre on 3D scanning, reverse engineering, CAD modelling, 3D printing and Industry 4.0 adoption. So while WAMIC staff spend time teaching and demonstrating how to refine the technical skills necessary to participate in our service and applied research projects, we spend an equal amount of time working on non-technical skills. 

An engineering supervisor once said to me, “A manufacturing firm is looking for entry-level employees who not only know how to operate equipment or use a software but can also show up, listen well, and work hard. These skills add significant amounts of value.” 

Our experienced researchers and technologists take time to teach the research assistants many skills, such as using a notebook every day to record what they did and why they did it; then transferring these notes to the project report template at the end of each week. Research assistants are required to report on their progress, success and challenges to the team at a weekly stand-up. Research assistants participate in meetings with clients where their ideas and opinions are valued.  

Research assistants are aware of the project budget and are empowered to engage with vendors and sub-contractors when sourcing parts. Research assistants accompany technologists on off-site jobs to become familiar with other companies’ visitor protocols and learn customer service skills when interacting with the client. Research assistants work in cross-disciplinary teams and so, learn how to communicate with their electronics, mechanical and programming colleagues. 

During this term, I was able to work on designing and prototyping a basketball training device allowing me to work on my CAD modelling and prototyping while beginning to engage with the electronics and programming team to ensure my mechanical work interfaced with the control systems. 

After working at WAMIC, the Programmable Logic Controls course was easy because I had learned so much about PLCs from the team I was working with. 

By the time my second co-op rolled around in May 2023, I had more experience under my belt and was beginning to become more confident in my skills and abilities. Through this co-op I further refined the skills from my first one when I built an automated spooling system for a wire manufacturer and a proof-of-concept heat pump for another outside industry partner. I added to my skills by learning about working within the confines of manufacturing process and business constraints.  

It was during these projects that I really began to develop confidence in my abilities. The heat-pump was particularly challenging, and I experienced a lot of failure in the early stages, however once I saw the complex piece of engineering I had designed and prototyped begin to function correctly, I knew what I was capable of. 

The term 10 Mechanical Systems Design course project was easy after the heat pump. 

Over the past year I have developed my leadership skills. Neil’s feedback has been that I demonstrate patience as I share my knowledge on programming tool paths and designing for manufacturing, etc. I demonstrate humility as I will be quick to concede when I don’t have the answer. I am not afraid or ashamed to ask a research assistant for help when I know they are stronger in a particular skill. In this role I also gained additional experience in working with research assistants from different cultures which enlightened me to facts such as – “not everyone learned to use hand tools as a child.”

Leading, teaching and mentoring people was the hardest thing I did at WAMIC.

During my time at Niagara College and WAMIC the biggest take away is that the challenge of working in an innovation/research and development setting is not understanding the big picture. The challenge is accepting that it is not a perfect world and success comes from learning to solve the little issues that are going to come up.

I am excited to be joining the team at Riganelli Engineering where I will be embodying their stated mission, by continuing to “provide everything you need to engineer, prototype, launch, and market exceptional products.”