Skills Crucial in Improving Employability - Essay Example

My experience University Student Id Course Introduction I gained a lot of experience from Obeikan Glass Company which is a glass manufacturer. Obeikan Glass Company is a subsidiary of the Obeikan investment group that started its operations in the year 2011. The company exposed me to various operations that contributed a lot to the development of my career as a professional engineer. My management skills were developed as I was exposed to different management situations in the company. Besides, I developed my project and time management skills where I was working towards shaping my skills to improve my future career. I learned various issues concerning the safety and health in the workplace. Company background Obeikan Glass Company is a manufacturing facility that is located in Yanbu industrial city which is next to the Jeddah port. The facility was commissioned by a French company that is globally recognized for its excellence in glass manufacturer with great supervision systems to guarantee quality. Obeikan Glass Company deals with clear float glass for glazing where the glass is being produced in accordance with the international standards. In Obeikan Glass Company I was exposed to various glass types with automotive and coating where the company majored in producing 3mm to 15mm glass but later started manufacturing different sizes that could go to around 3660 X 6000 making the consumers make choices from various options. Personal and technical skills Through the training that I acquired from Obeikan Glass Company, I managed to develop many of my professional skills as an engineer. I was exposed to various professional activities that were necessary for my future career as a professional engineer. The training took three months where I was developed experience in different departments in the company hence playing a crucial role in my future management in an engineering company. I was trained in various ways that can guarantee security in the plant, especially during the operations. My duties and responsibilities during the training included checking the emergency issues that posed the potential injury to the people. I could check the glasses, belt, shoes just to ensure that the people who were in the manufacturing plan were secure and free from any form of injury. My duty included writing a report to the management concerning the level of security in the production area. I could ensure I provided a daily report concerning the safety status in the organization. My experience also included my six months work where I was helping in the installation of tools. It is through the experience that I learned how to assemble equipment in preparation for the installation process. This knowledge assisted me in making sure that I develop the necessary skills in my profession. For instance, in developed the skills that are needed in the process of assembling the equipment in preparing for installation. I worked in the Batch house as controller where I had the duty of making sure that I keep track of the manufacturing process. My duties involved checking the quantity of materials that were entering in the manufacturing process. I had the duty of making sure that the right qualities and qualities of the materials necessary for manufacturing glass were used in the manufacturing process. I was working for eight hours in the shaft where I could control the materials being dispatched. On a daily basis, I could send around 150 to 155 batches in the shaft. Besides, I was responsible for filling the reservoir in each shaft. I could write a report concerning the shafts that I was responsible for monitoring. In the report in could provide the level of work in each shaft and the general status of the shafts. I was responsible for making sure that each shaft was in good condition and if not I was expected to report. Reporting the conditions in each shaft daily assisted in making sure that no disruption of the production process. In the case of any mechanical challenge, I could report the problem the earliest I could to ensure continued production. When I was working in the shaft, I had the responsibilities of transferring the materials from the reservoir to the measuring scales and weighing each item. I was expected to make sure that the necessary quantities and qualities of the items were used in the production process. I ensured that the materials were inspected after being taken from the reservoir to ascertain the level of quality before weighing them to determine the quantity. Besides, I had the duty of making sure that the products were of high quality through controlling the production process at the source of the materials used in manufacturing. In the course of making sure that high quality is achieved in the manufacturing process, I could transfer the materials separately. Transferring the materials separately ensured that the materials were not contaminated hence ensuring high quality of the final products. Besides, I assured that the process employed in the process manufacturing the products could assist in achieving the quality objectives of the company. For instance, I monitored the functioning of the mixture to make sure that the right quantities were used in the mixing process. Besides, I ensured that I add water depending on the wetness to make sure that I obtained the best mixture that could guarantee quality. In the production process, I made sure that the materials were mixed in a way that ensured quality in the production line. The materials that were involved in the production process of glass included silica sand that was around 70% forming the main content in the glass manufacturing material. Soda also formed part of the glass manufacturing material where around 15 to 20% was used with approximately 15% of the material content. Around 5% of limestone and 1% of coal also formed part of the manufacturing material. Limestone played a crucial role in the process of making sure that the glass was hardened. Sodium was used to make sure that bubbles that might be contained were removed while coal was crucial in burning the material. I ensured that the necessary quantities and qualities were used to guarantee the right quality of the final product. Working in the manufacturing area assisted me in making sure that I learned the necessary process that helps in maintaining quality. For instance, I worked in the weighing section for three months where I gained a lot of experience concerning the techniques of weighing the materials to be used in the production process. I learned the need for making sure that the right weights of the materials are used in ensuring that quality levels are achieved (Kumar, 21). I could print the receipts for every day to submit showing the materials received in the plant. While in the weighing section I was expected to make sure that I write a report on daily basis. Team management skills My experience in the company I gained a lot of team management skills that are important in my future career. My skills in the managing of the team can be associated with the fact that in the organization we were working as a team. I could coordinate with other employees in the organization with the aim of achieving common goals. In the organization, I learned the need for workforce diversity management in the process of developing a successful team. The workforce diversity entails managing the differences existing among the team members. I realized the benefits of making sure that the members of a team can recognize and appreciate the differences existing among themselves. Recognizing the differences helps in making sure that the team members can be in a position to work together for a common objective despite the differences (Kumar, 20). It is usually the role of the team leader to ensure the members can create a healthy working environment for each other. Team members are usually from different cultural grounds hence need to make sure that they can work in harmony despite the cultural differences. Besides, I learned the benefits of leadership in the process of managing teams. Team leaders need to make sure that they employ the leadership styles that can guarantee motivation to the team members. Motivating the team members is crucial in ensuring that they are committed to achieving the set goals. For instance, the team leader can come up with programs geared towards making sure that the team members are motivated. The programs can include incentives, healthy working environment, supportive management and flexible working schedule. Failing to make sure that the team members have the necessary motivations can result in demotivation hence reducing the productivity of the team members. Project management skills As a professional engineer, I developed the necessary project management skills where I ensured I can manage a project to achieve the set targets. I learned the need for making sure the level of communication is improved in the process of enhancing the communication among the team members. Through proper communication, the team members can be able to share information necessary for achieving the set goals in the organization. Communication is crucial in improving the interaction of the team members with the top management hence enhancing the relations existing between the top management and the members of the team. Team management skills entail making sure that the project tasks are performed within the right time and in the right way. I acquired the skills necessary for aligning the project tasks with the desired results of the project. Managing the resources well is critical in the process of making sure that the planned goals of the company are achievable. It is through the proper management of the available resources that a project can be made successful. I realized the need to make sure that resources are properly managed, and the necessary strategies are taken while considering the available resources for implementing the strategies. Time management skills I gained some knowledge in the management of time as I was exposed to various areas that need one to be conscious of time. Time management in the production process of critical as it determines the output. Besides, in the mixing section, I realized the need for accuracy in timing process. Failing to ensure proper timing can result in a bad quality as a wrong mixture can be obtained. I could make sure that I get the right mixture through using the right timing in mixing the content. Besides, time management skills determine the productivity of the employees. The employees who are poor in managing time are likely to be less productive as thy might spent a lot of time doing useless things. I learned that the organizations that wish to improve their performance need to realize the need for making sure that they manage time in the right way. I gained enough skills in the management of time that can be useful to my career as a professional engineer. Workplace and Safety In my training, I was exposed to various issues concerning the safety and health of the employees in the production area. I realized the need for coming up with the necessary policies for formulating the necessary strategies that can improve the safety of the workers. During the training, I was responsible for making sure that I write a report concerning the safety of the production area. I was expected to ensure that the necessary procedures were followed in the process of making sure there was safety in the operations. Conclusion I consider the skills I acquired during the training to be crucial in improving my employability. I have developed the necessary skills that can be of help in making sure that I am a successful engineer in the future. Besides, I have acquired relevant skills in the industry that can make me competitive in the industry. During the training I not only acquired the technical and personal skills relevant to my profession but I also developed some skills that can be of great help in managing a manufacturing plant. I will ensure that I apply the skills I acquired through training and the experiences I gained during the interactions with other professionals to make sure that I am competitive in the industry. Work cited Kumar, Sanjeev, and J. Kent Hsiao. "Engineers learn “soft skills the hard way”: Planting a seed of leadership in engineering classes." Leadership and Management in Engineering 7.1 (2007): 18-23. Read More