OAL News
Work experience in summer 2019
In support of World Youth Skills Day (a UN initiative) on 15 July 2019, we thought we’d hear from two school students who have spent time with us and how OAL helps to inspire the next generation into the world of engineering.
At OAL, you can usually find a school or university student somewhere around the business experiencing what it’s like to work for an SME engineering company. Whether it’s school visits to the NCFM to see our equipment in action or work experience students getting a taste for the working world, we love welcoming the next generation into our business and demonstrating the different areas of engineering that are on offer.
The facts
The UN has highlighted that 16 per cent of the global population is made up of young people aged 15 to 24 years and that they’re almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults so it’s vital that employers help them into the world of work. What’s more, Engineering UK predicted an annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians for core engineering roles in the UK over the next ten years, so we take our responsibility to encourage more students into the world of engineering very seriously! In support of World Youth Skills Day (a UN initiative) on 15 July 2019, we thought we’d hear from two school students who have spent time with us.
Why did we choose OAL?
Hadi Mohammadi: “I am currently studying maths, chemistry and history at A level, which means there are a wide variety of careers that I can pursue. Engineering is an industry that’s always in demand so there are lots of opportunities for anyone interested in STEM-based careers. I came to OAL for my work experience as the larger companies seemed to be less personal in their approach to tackling work experience placements. As I will be soon be applying for university, working with different departments at OAL has given me a wide range of knowledge including which branch of engineering I want to follow!”
Eve Osborne: “Originally, I had considered engineering as a career as I am currently studying for my GCSEs and am particularly interested in maths and science. However, I also enjoy art and being creative, which I have discovered can be important in certain types of engineering. I wanted to come to OAL for my work experience because of my interest in engineering but had not yet decided which branch would be best for me. OAL was great because the team allowed me to spend time with all the different departments within the company. This not only gave me an insight into what every day jobs of engineers are like but also about all the different departments that are necessary to run a successful business.”
What did we do?
“Throughout our time at OAL, we got to experience many different aspects of the business. We were able to spend some time at the NCFM (National Centre for Food Manufacturing) to see the Steam Infusion system demonstration and the APRIL Robot Chef in action, which was an amazing experience. In addition to this we spent some time with the APRIL Robotics team where we were able to control the robot to complete certain engaging tasks.
In the workshop we were shown how to wire panels and even spent some time wiring them ourselves. The design team showed us how they used CAD (Computer Aided Design) and allowed us to try to complete some technical drawings as well as showing us the simulations that they programmed. This gave us many new and important skills which will be helpful in our futures as engineers.
Over parts of our week with OAL we spent some time with the administration team where we were able to complete helpful tasks and shown how important every aspect of the company is.”
Would we recommend it?
“Overall, we found work experience at OAL to be extremely beneficial in every aspect as all the staff were willing to give their time and answer all our questions enthusiastically. As students, we found our time with OAL was not only really helpful in deciding our futures but also a motivating and exciting experience and would definitely recommend work experience at OAL to other students interested in any aspect of engineering.”
So if you think a career in engineering could be right for you but you want to test it out first, do get in touch. You could even begin your career at OAL!
Spotlight on a career as a Senior Robotics Design Engineer
Michal Such, 32, is a Senior Robotics Design Engineer working in APRIL Robotics at OAL. He lives in Peterborough with his wife Joanna.
Day in the life of…
Michal Such
Michal Such is a Senior Robotics Design Engineer working in APRIL Robotics at OAL. He lives in Peterborough with his wife Joanna.
My alarm goes off…
At 6:30 am – I get up straight away and prepare breakfast and lunch. I leave home with my wife at 7:50 am and drop her off in the centre where she works, then drive to OAL.
I’m responsible for…
Designing our robotic systems. Most of my time is spent designing mechanical components, which includes fatigue analysis using Finite Element Analysis. We do a lot of robotic simulation that allows me to minimise the risks associated with automation. I also perform different robot studies and ensure that the cycle time complies with customer requirements and efficiency goals.
I got the job…
Thanks to my degree and experience in Automation and Robotics as well as good knowledge of the food industry. I wanted to continue my adventure in mechanical engineering and to find a company which combines automation and robotics within the food industry. Once I discovered what OAL can offer – developing innovative market solutions that nobody has yet designed – I knew that this was a company I wanted to work for!
My typical day…
Kicks off with a stand-up meeting with the entire team to sum up our progress. After that I grab a cup of coffee and go through my task list and emails. From there I get straight into the most important job I have for the day, which could be anything from designing new components, prototyping, simulation, testing or just supporting my team members.
My most memorable moment…
Is seeing a part that I have designed going into prototyping and then into final production – it never gets old!
The worst part of my job is…
Detailing components. Detailing is an integral part of a design engineer’s job and is the least interesting!
The best part of my job is…
Working on challenging tasks like designing something new and difficult. The more challenging the job, the greater the satisfaction, of course only if it has been done right.
After work…
I pick up my wife from work, drive home, we cook dinner together and chill out either by watching a film, working out or just spending time together.
Sound intriguing? We’re growing, and always on the look-out for talented and ambitious people. If you’re interested in a career at OAL, get in touch today.
Spotlight on a career as a Technical Trainer
A day in the life of Faye Louch, our OAL Connected Technical Trainer. She has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of technical and quality control roles within the food industry.
Day in the life of…
Faye Louch
Faye Louch is OAL Connected’s Technical Trainer. She has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of technical and quality control roles within the food industry.
My alarm goes off…
At 6am, although I am usually already awake thinking about the day ahead. I get up and have breakfast, and when I am at home, I say morning to the hubby and dog. Before leaving for work, I hide some treats around the house for the dog and put the radio on for him before setting off for another busy day at work. I will also usually give my son a quick call to check in with him and how he is getting on at uni.
I’m responsible for…
The training and health check audits of our label and date code verification systems in the field. The systems work by scanning every pack and comparing it to the pre-entered job information on the master database to make sure that the right packaging, label and date code is on the right product to prevent product recalls and emergency product withdrawals. The system can be perceived as quite complex, so my job is to train the users to make the most of it and ensure that we provide them with maximum protection.
I got the job…
After my son went off to university and I decided to take stock of what I wanted to do. While considering my options, I saw the job at OAL and applied. As I’m not an engineer, I didn’t think I would get it. However, OAL really valued my 20 years’ experience in the food industry, working in various roles from operator and section manager on production, to QA manager in a factory and technical system quality manager. I think it also helped that I enjoy systems and understand customer codes of practice (COP)!
I have to admit to being a little nervous when I first started at OAL but everyone is so friendly; it’s like a big family! We all pitch in and help each other, which is one of the things I love about working here.
My typical day…
Involves helping our customers to understand the information they input to the supervisory area of our system and how this data is translated and appears on the touchscreen that operators use on the factory floor. This screen offers all of the information they need and links to printers and scanners so they no longer need to set up printers by manually inputting the dates – this is where things can go wrong!
The other part of my job is visiting all of our sites that have our system and carrying out a health audit. This is like a check up on the system to ensure that it’s still functioning correctly post-installation. I also check it against OAL and customer COPs to ensure the system is compliant. If a COP has changed, I highlight any parts of the system that are no longer compliant so that fixes can be developed to ensure that the system is the best it can be for our customers. I also challenge test the system and look for ways to improve it.
My most memorable moment…
Was when we had the pleasure of BRC (British Retail Consortium) representatives visiting our facility to take them through our label and date code verification systems. After reviewing BRC COP issue 8, we had the pleasure of hosting them at our facilities to discuss their recommendations in detail, as well as practical applications. This helps our customers when it comes to audits going forward as the BRC representatives will understand our systems and interpret the standard reasonably.
The worst part of my job is…
Trying to keep on top of my emails, especially when I’m out on-site all day!
The best part of my job is…
That every day is different. I love working with our customers and seeing a job through from set-up to going live. Also, I love it when the operators I work with in the factory are a little reticent about the our systems, yet when you go back six months or a year later, those same operators take pride in it and train others on it – this really make it all worthwhile and is a pleasure to see.
After work…
I like to relax by going walking and once or twice a week I also go Taekwondo. My son is part of the GB Taekwondo Squad, and although he is away at university, I still spend a lot of time taking him training and competitions or train stations! Due to his passion for the sport, I agreed to take part with him rather than just watching. This means that now, I too love the sport and have achieved the level of black belt. I also took the Sports England Level 2 coaching qualification so I’m a qualified coach too!
Like the sound of what Faye gets up to? We’re always on the look-out for great talent and have a number of vacancies. If you’re interested in a career with OAL, get in touch today.
Spotlight on a career as a Product Development Chef
A day in the life of Chris Brooks 52, our Product Development Chef. He has over 35 years’ experience as a chef and has spent over 20 years in product development. He lives in East Northamptonshire.
Day in the life of…
Chris Brooks
Chris Brooks is OAL’s Product Development Chef. He has over 35 years’ experience as a chef and has spent over 20 years in product development. He lives in East Northamptonshire.
My alarm goes off…
At 5.30. I get up, walk the dog, have some breakfast and leave the house at 7.15 ready for another busy day.
I can be at the office in Cambridgeshire or working with the University of Lincoln at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), part of their Holbeach Campus. I also do quite a bit of travelling to customer sites all around the globe (in February it was Australia!) to help them make the most of our Steam Infusion technology.
I’m responsible for…
Supporting our customers with anything they may need to enable Steam Infusion to improve their end products. This involves both remotely connecting with the customer as well as spending time with them face to face, either at our test centre or at their site. Whether it’s the new product development team, the technical department or operations, I’m here to help them understand the technology and demonstrate how they can innovate with our systems. I assist in the writing of recipes, pushing the boundaries of taste and giving customers the confidence to utilise the science behind Steam Infusion to produce unique customer solutions.
I got the job…
Thanks to my in-depth knowledge of the food industry having worked with many major retailers along with household brands such as Saxby Bros, Hartley’s and Whitworths to name a few. I’ve also worked on products for celebrity chefs, such as Antony Worrall Thompson, Delia Smith and Mary Berry – so I have a good grasp of what both manufacturers and consumers are looking for. A well-rounded understanding of mechanical engineering and my experience as an army chef possibly helped too.
My typical day…
No day is the same as I could be doing any number of things. Often I’m working onsite anywhere around the world supporting customers in their tests or helping them to optimise their recipes for the technology. But I also have to spend time at the office working on recipes and formulations. The best thing about my job is there is no typical day!
My most memorable moment…
Of my time at OAL was definitely when we first cooked a sauce on the APRIL Robotic Chef. It really is a sight to be seen, especially how it pours rather than pumps the end product!
The worst part of my job is…
Knowing there is so much more Steam Infusion can do and not having the time to push the boundaries more. Oh, and the washing up after customers have left but even that isn’t too bad!
The best part of my job is…
Working with customers to help resolve any problems, watching their faces when they first see Steam Infusion and how quickly it works. I get to work with some fantastic people and I never stop learning.
After work…
I spend most evenings playing taxi to my son, taking him to his many clubs. I am a basketball referee, which I have my son to thank for as I wanted to get involved after spending so much time watching him play! I also support my local branch of The Royal British Legion where I have been their Standard Bearer for over 10 years helping to support our veterans and serving armed forces.
Fancy getting involved with projects with Chris? We’re growing and want to hear from enthusiastic and ambitious people. If you’d like to join the team, get in touch today.
Work experience at OAL
We welcomed GSCE student Owen Gore to complete a work experience placement with us. He spent his time across several departments to get a feel for what the world of work is like. Here, he explains why he would recommend other students take advantage of a work experience placement with us!
At OAL, we believe it’s vital to inspire the next generation to consider a career in engineering. After all, Engineering UK has predicted that there will be an annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians to fill core engineering roles in the UK over the next ten years, so we all need to do everything we can to encourage young people to explore their options. That’s why we often have work experience students spend a week with us so they can get to know what real jobs in the engineering world are like, from mechanical and electrical to design and software!
In March 2019, we welcomed GSCE student Owen Gore, who is interested in pursuing a career in engineering. He spent his time across several departments, including our test centre at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), to get a feel for what the world of work is like. Here, he takes us through his experience and explains why he would recommend other students take advantage of a work experience placement with us!
“When arriving on my first day I was shown around all of the departments and introduced to the people who worked there. I felt very welcomed and ready to get started. Over the course of the week, I saw many of the processes that go into the projects that OAL deliver, from the early phases of design and concepts right through to the end result in the demonstration systems showcasing OAL’s robotics and Steam Infusion technologies working in a factory environment.
“I spent time with the technical design department where live projects really start to take shape and become the blueprint needed for the engineers who have to install OAL’s systems. I was able to use the software that OAL’s design engineers use and I was amazed at how you can picture the whole project just through an image on a screen.
“Mid-week, I was taken to the NCFM in Holbeach where I saw the Steam Infusion system and the APRIL Robotic Chef in action! It gave me a huge insight into what the company wanted to achieve and how they were changing the industry for the better.
“During my time in support, sales and marketing I realised how much work went on alongside the design and manufacturing of the product, whether that be the efforts selling the product to a large company or supporting the factories the company supplies to use the systems effectively.
“I would recommend other students consider OAL for their work experience placement. The team there is really eager to help you understand what a career in engineering looks like and answer any questions you might have. If you’re unsure what you want to do after school, it’s a great place to start to explore the working world.”