MSAT Process Engineering Industrial Placement Review

I supported the day-to-day manufacture for a GSK product at their primary manufacturing site in Montrose, Scotland. I led root-cause analysis and continuous improvements through their entire lifecycle. The role was varied and constantly evolving throughout the manufacturing campaign. Throughout the year I spent half the time in the office and half on plant with the operators.

By the end of the year I was the sole aligned process engineer to the product and could lead improvements independently through to implementation. I was responsible for all software changes relating to the final stage of the product including ensuring the quality and EHS impacts were assessed. I led a commissioning plan across multiple disciplines and delivered several major plant modifications along with a software overhaul for the process. I was always supported by the wider production building team and manager but they were excellent at giving you more responsibility and development opportunities as you progressed.

I developed many personal skills outside of engineering such as stakeholder management and effective communication based on peoples individual motivations and drivers. These people skills allowed me to pitch first for site ideas and get senior buy-in. I have developed my technical process engineering skills significantly across the year applying the fundamentals in the real world has given me a much better grounding and understanding of the application of process engineering.

Throughout the year I was supported very well by my manager, the process engineering team and wider production building team. I always had someone to turn to and ask questions and they were very good at giving me work to stretch me once I had succeeded in my current work. This was a great development opportunity that pushed me to grow across the year.

The company culture was great and I felt at home on site straight away. Everyone was so inclusive and welcoming at all seniority levels and departments. The social opportunities outside of work in Montrose were initially limited however as a placement cohort we organised many evening activities to great success which provided a great bonding experience. The site had a great diversity culture and strove to highlight and celebrate all employees. Charity is a large part of the Montrose culture and as such we raised over £1200 for Save the Children and Mind as a placement cohort throughout our year.

Overall I had a fantastic experience and it really opened my eyes to the application of process engineering in the pharmaceutical industry. The placement developed my technical, professional and personal skills which will give me an advantage going forward with my masters and graduate job opportunities. The placement far exceeded my expectations for the year and was the best year of my university degree yet.

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