- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Company: DENSO
- Graduation Year: 2023
- E-mail: cmoody8@vols.utk.edu
Profile
I started my co-op experience with four terms as a Parts Production Engineering Co-op at Denso Manufacturing Tennessee in Maryville, Tennessee. While there I worked in Parts Die Casting with projects in safety improvements, reducing wear on consumable machine components, and new product approval. My most recent experience has been a summer internship with Oshkosh Defense in Jefferson City, Tennessee which has turned into part time work during the school year. At Oshkosh I have assisted with reconfiguring production lines for an emergency part production run, worked to correct a safety issue caused by heat distortion in a weldment, and generally assisted the production floor with quality issues.
I chose to co-op because I believed that I would be a more valuable candidate for full time positions after graduation if I already had experience in a real work environment. After completing my co-op at DENSO I chose to do a summer internship with Oshkosh the following year to continue to gain experience without taking more time away from school.
While the classroom environment is irreplaceable in an engineering education, there is also no replacement for real world experience working on manufacturing equipment and learning how to navigate a corporate environment. The most useful thing I have learned in my co-op and internship experience is how to ask the right questions to understand a process that I have not seen before.
My co-op and internship experience also provided excellent chances to learn and practice professional integrity. There were several times where I made mistakes that had real negative consequences to my projects, but I learned firsthand that presenting the problem and working with your team and management to find a solution is the correct course of action.
I would recommend a co-op or internship to any student who can. It is by far the most useful professional tool available to engineering undergraduate students. I firmly believe the experience gained will pay dividends for every participating student as they begin their careers after graduation.
Outside of school and work I am a die-hard Formula One fan. I love the spectacle and engineering problem solving in the sport. I enjoy sim-racing with whatever free time I can manage. I also have a knack for cooking and like making creative, interesting food.
