Case Study - Lyndsey McAndrew

Lyndsey McAndrew - Toyota Manufacturing UK

What degree are you doing and where?

I chose to study a BSc (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering at The Nottingham Trent University, I applied through UCAS and deferred for a year.

The course integrated theoretical lessons with workshop and practical hands-on lessons. I also liked that there was a lot of course work instead of exams because I felt that this would suit me, as I tend not to perform at my best under exam situations.

What type of placement are you doing/have done? Ie placement, project or sandwich etc?

Sandwich Year.

Was it part of your degree?

Yes.

What company or organisation did you get a placement with?

Toyota Manufacturing UK

What does the company do?

Manufactures cars.

What motivated you towards your particular placement?

I thought that I wanted to work for a car manufacturer after a visit to Jaguar whilst on my first year at university, and thought a year placement would confirm my career aspirations. Luckily it did!

What was the application process like? Did you find it easy or hard?

The process to get the placement started with a four-page (A4) application form. This was followed by a few psychometric tests, which took place at Pride Park Football stadium.

When the results had been analysed I was invited to a assessment day at the plant. The assessment day involved an individual, in-tray problem solving activity in the morning and then a group activity in the afternoon.

Following the assessment day I was invited to a panel interview. I was then offered the position the next day.

I found the overall process long and drawn out as it was all over a period of about six months.

What was it like working full-time?

I had worked full time before, whilst also working a part time job, so I thought it would be an easy transition back into working full time- I was wrong. I think that when you’re on placement you are always trying to prove yourself and push yourself really hard to succeed.

What work were you required to do while on your placement?

As part of my placement I was given two main projects. The first was to support a project in assembly. The aim of the project was to make cost reductions by using process classification and simplification. My role within the team was to design a delivery method to allow an online member to pick part all option parts, based on the TPS (Toyota production systems) principles e.g. standardised work, JIT, Jidoka.

My second project was to help develop process diagnostics within TMUK, to enable the company to use it as a tool for cost reduction by identifying waste with processes.

What are your hours and pay like? Expenses paid?

I worked a 39 hour week, and did between 30-60 hours over-time every month which was paid.

I was on a salary of £14,000.

What support did you receive while you were on your placement from the employer?

During my placement I was formally evaluated three times by my senior. These were carried out by me first completing a standard form giving examples of work I had carried out in the following topics:-

• Project progress to date
• Team Co-operation and sensitivity/ Working in a team
• Analysis / Gathering & using Information
• Planning and organising
• Adaptability / Flexibility
• Initiative
• Judgement / Logical thought
• Personal
• Toyota Knowledge

I then had to arrange a meeting with my senior to get his comments on all the topics listed above, and to agree on development points, so that I could improve.

On top of this I had a standard weekly meeting with my senior, and a monthly meeting with my manager and senior, so that they could monitor my progress.

I was lucky as I worked within a great group of experienced Toyota members, who were all very supportive and patient with me if I needed support or guidance on a particular problem or task. I always knew there was someone there to help me if I needed help; all I had to do was ask, and if the person I asked couldn’t help, they usually knew someone or found someone who could.

How do you feel you have benefited from the placement?

The main area I feel I have progressed in is time and project management. I naively thought I had good organisation skills from university, I was very wrong. But having worked in such a fast pace environment, where everyone is highly motivated, organised and efficient, I now feel I am better prepared for the industrial work place.

I now feel more confident in my own abilities to succeed in both my final year and in my future career within engineering.

Did you get any indication of further work with the employer?

I have recently been offered a job with Toyota pending a medical and attaining my degree.

What advice would you give to students who are yet to apply for a work experience placement?

APPLY! As it greatly enhances your prospects of getting a graduate job, as it makes you stand out from the crowd.