Manufacturing vs. Design

It is official -- I have been in the manufacturing world for a year now. This manufacturing experience comes after one year in design. I can say that manufacturing is a more stressful place, where things are always needed "yesterday." Processes are continually being updated for clarity. But, manufacturing can also be more exciting than design. It all depends on what you like, but for me it has been more fun in manufacturing. I suppose I can take the knowledge I get in manufacturing with me if I move back to design. It is the hands-on experience that I am really enjoying right now.

On a side note, congrats to the Red Sox for winning the 2007 World Series!! It's so great to be in Boston right now!

Responsibilities

In the working world, there are many daily tasks you can have. In addition to your own individual work and projects, this includes meeting with your teams and internal customers. There are about 3-4 meetings I go to each week, one being a staff meeting with the other engineers, in addition to daily meetings. You can expect to work with Quality, Test, and other Process Engineers, as well as people that are not engineers. That is why it is important to be able to communicate to different audiences.

I have been working as a process engineer for two months now. It is different from what I did before and is not something you learn specifically at school, but it is a nice change of scenery. I think rotations into different areas are a benefit, both now because it helps you learn more now and for any future jobs. The knowledge I receive from this job will be beneficial for my career as a Mechanical Engineer.

Benefits

My mom and stepdad will be visiting me on Thursday. They love coming out here to see me because I can show them around Boston. I have been exploring the city these last few weeks, partly so I can show them new things while they are here. I hope to show them a little of Harvard Square, including Harvard Yard and Harvard Stadium. There is a lot of history to learn about in Boston, especially near Harvard.

I am fortunate to work for a company that allows modified time so that I can take Thursday off and work a few hours other days to make up the time. Right now I am saving up my vacation days for December, as I will have to take a week off before Christmas to see my sister graduate from Northern Michigan University. It is a good idea to weigh benefits (dental, medical, vacation time, etc) when you are looking for a job because they are important in your balance of life and work. Even if you don't have a family of your own right now, it can't hurt to look closely at the benefits a company offers.

Exploring Boston

Lately I have been exploring the city of Boston more. I used to rely on my roommates to show me around but would like to go see it on my own now. The MBTA subway ("T") is great, especially since it is a short drive from where I live. It costs $1.70 to ride the subway, plus up to $5.00 for parking. There are also commuter rails, buses, and ferries in the public transportation system. Overall, it is worth it because you save money (no expensive garages to pay in Boston and less gas used) and avoid headaches (from driving into a congested city where even GPS gets confused!). When my family visits, I learn more about the different areas of the city because we explore on foot.

I would love to work in the city just so I could use the T to commute there. My current commute is 70 highway miles per day, and that is something I could do without. At my last job in Ann Arbor, MI I took the bus every day, and that was so great. I hope that is something I can do in the future!