Paul F. Black - August 2003

Working at Boehringer Laboratories over the summer as an intern has given me many valuable experiences. As an intern I was involved in most aspects of product development, from creating a new idea to prototyping to testing and tuning. The projects that I worked with were very important to the company. One product was poised to just start clinical testing and a majority of my time was utilized to update the drawings and documentation for this device, fabricate consumables and create specifications for parts. Another project was less mature and I was given much freedom to pursue a path that I thought might solve a problem with the existing design.

Boehringer Labs is a fast-paced work environment that is instantly different than anything one can find in school. Many important projects are running simultaneously and one needed to remember the status of them and be able to jump from concentrating on one to concentrating on another. Organization is a must if one wishes to keep everything straight and not get bogged down.

The main project I was assigned was a device used to analyze clotting and bleeding risks in surgery patients. The importance of recording changes and controlling document revisions became apparent as many drawings needed to be updated with new information. Having someone familiar with the assembly of the machine to answer questions was a great resource and I realized how vital communication between engineers and machinists is to the status of a project. I also became familiar with testing methods for the device and the fabrication of consumables.

The opportunity to design a suction regulator starting with just the functional dimensions was another project I was assigned. I needed to make many design decisions, including choice of materials and general shape and size. If I needed assistance my supervisor and machinists were there to help. Even though the regulator did not perform as well as I hoped I still gained engineering skills by being involved in the design and construction processes.

Business communication is another essential skill for an engineer. Working at Boehringer provided many chances for me to practice and hone my communication abilities. I was involved in requesting quotes for parts, requesting sample materials, calling support personnel regarding their products and asking technical questions to engineers at other companies. If a consultant was meeting with my supervisor about a project to which I was assigned I would sit in and listen to the ideas being exchanged. Much outside assistance was available if I asked.

My summer experience at Boehringer Laboratories was a great learning opportunity. The process of engineering design and solving problems is essential to an engineer and I was given many opportunities to utilize my skills and to improve in areas where I was not as strong. Even though I was not in a class, the time spent at Boehringer Laboratories was a major part of my education as an engineer.