I have now been with Cadbury for over a year and the new graduates have all started, so I thought I'd try and think what I've done in a year...
- 1 placement as a site process engineer (Marlbrook) - learning the pressures of a 24/7 factory and longer term projects (process design, costing and specifications).
- 3/4 of a placement as a development engineer (at Bournville, in Manufacturing Technical) - Including:
visiting factories to see how new products might be made (providing mass balances, heat balances, technical support, spotting potential issues)
learning over 500 acronyms, none of which I can ever recall when required
working with a universities and industrial partners on a waste reduction project
working with a local school on a design project
picking up tips and pointers for project management (good communication, clear timescales and assigned responsibilities- attention to detail is crucial!)
discovering that finance is still a black art!
Is it what I expected?- Yes and a whole lot more!
Best time: running a successful trial for process development, than I planned, organised and co-ordinated (with a little help!)
Worst time: sitting in an airport in Germany at 11pm on a Friday night after running a successful trial!
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