What is it exactly that you do here?

For starters – My sincerest apologies for the lack of blogging lately, I have had some very important …umm… meetings and documents to attend to.

Anyways – People always ask me what I actually do at my job, I mean, the fact that I am working in Barcelona just isn’t enough to satisfy their needs. Well, if I am answering in Spanish I usually play it simple and say something along the lines of… I am working at a company that makes industrial robots, not like Terminator, but used to assemble cars and what not.

neat side note – The industrial robots I work with were actually used in the newest Terminator movie in a few scenes to assemble the human-like robots.

But, if I have the chance to answer in English I take full advantage of my knowledge of the language (sounds ridiculous, but you never know how much you rely on something until you have been without it for an extended period of time). Usually my answer varies, but in jist it is – nothing but everything. I know what your thinking, huge plot killer, right?!? Well, unfortunately the economy has taken a huge hit on the industry I work for and there just isn’t much for me to do… but there is an abundance for me to learn.

Unlike all of the other internships I have had, I have not been given projects, responsibilities, daily tasks, etc. to be completed. I have been given something completely different, the key to the company. My boss and co-workers have said “Kevin, if there is something you want to do or something you want to learn than just find the right person to talk to and do it”… quite the offer indeed. Some of the most interesting things I have had the chance to do/learn about are:

• Worked with the engineering division helping to assemble a cell consisting of 5 robots doing tasks such as spot welding, material handling, and laser cutting.
• Completed a basic programming course on the software and hardware used with the robots (manipulators)… and got my certificate to prove it!
• Worked with colleagues as well as customers and suppliers around the world

Helping to make documents and work as transparent as possible

Helping to establish future working terms between customers and suppliers

• Learned about the sciences and technologies behind a brand new hot-stamping/forming process being implemented within the next year.
• Worked with the press automation division to get a test-cell consisting of 3 robots to be able to significantly reduce the cycle time of a manufactured part.

Looking back on my summer, I probably could have been more proactive with my time and opportunity, but I have enjoyed my experiences here and have gained a lot.  I have two more weeks left and I hope to make the best of them. I am planning on working a bit with the purchasing group to learn a little about supply-chain and how it is implemented in the global industry as well as a more about the new hot-stamping/forming process. If you have any last minute ideas or suggestions I should look into before I leave, I would be interested in hearing them.