Makino Inc.

Applications Engineer

May - August 2024 • Mason, OH

What I liked

Working in the applications department at Makino Mason was a fantastic experience. There was a perfect balance between hands on and CAD work to be done on the projects. The engineers that I worked with were extremely knowledgeable about the machines and procedures to execute. The workplace itself is also great. The integration bay, which is where the machines are tested and ran, is connected to the main office building for easy access to people and resources when you need it fast. Overall I loved my co-op experience and would recommend to any student who wants to jump in to real life application engineering.

What I wish was different

There is not much more that I would ask for from the company when it comes to providing for their co-ops. HR is fantastic and understands your needs well. The team leaders in the applications department are brilliant yet patient. And it did not hurt that I had great co-ops to work with as well.

Advice

One piece of advice I would give is to realize that the work you are doing is important. If you are doing a training turnkey or measuring tools for customers, thousands and thousands of dollars are on the line at all times. Not to mention you have the opportunity to operate close to million dollar machines all because the industry wants you to learn and Makino will help you with that. Be prepared and vigilant at all times and you will be good!

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Project Coordinator Co-op

May - August 2024 • Mason, OH

What I liked

During my co-op term with the aftermarket solutions group, I greatly enjoyed collaborating with the team and expanding my knowledge about CNC machines and their customization options. My primary responsibilities involved coordinating projects for the life cycle services and retrofit options groups. This included scheduling preventative maintenance jobs and providing onsite support for applications engineering. Additionally, I contributed to the continuous improvement of documentation and the development of training resources for the aftermarket group. Overall, I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Makino, gaining insight into the various facets of the business and how they integrate to complete projects.

What I wish was different

One thing I wished had been different during my co-op with Makino’s aftermarket solutions group was having more hands-on experience. I expected to gain more practical skills and technical knowledge, but my role offered fewer opportunities for direct interaction with the CNC machines. I particularly wanted to visit customer sites to see machine maintenance in action. Given my engineering background, I was keen to work more closely with the equipment. Overall, I would have valued more involvement in the hands-on aspects of the job.

Advice

One piece of advice I would offer for this role is to embrace asking questions without hesitation. Project coordination often involves navigating various challenges, and knowing when to escalate issues is crucial. I also recommend familiarizing yourself with the entire business and collaborating with all parts of the aftermarket team. Effective documentation relies on asking the right questions to ensure accuracy and completeness. Overall, strong communication is crucial in this role, so I recommend prioritizing it from the start of your term.

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Accounting Co-op

May - August 2023 • Mason, OH

What I liked

- Working on a wide variety of accounting jobs and helping with day-to-day accounting and month-close work. - The friendly employees who were encouraging and willing to help and push me to do more. - Feeling like a real employee and not an intern. - There was a great company environment where the higher management seemed to really care about employees' opinions and worked hard to make the company a good environment to work in.

What I wish was different

- More face-to-face time with other employees. - A more active and helpful manager, because I would like to have a manager who comes up to me every now and then to see how I am doing and if I need a heavier or lighter workload. My manager did not acknowledge my existence, which made me feel like more of an inconvenience than a person there to help and learn. - Many days most employees were working from home, which is nice occasionally, but I did not really enjoy the lack of days where every employee in a specific department was at work together.

Advice

Starting a job in a corporate environment can be daunting, but try to push yourself to build relationships with not just other interns but with the full-time employees and management. Don't be scared to ask for help or reach out to just talk. One major thing that I learned was that you should not underestimate your abilities and always be willing to do more and learn because that is why you are there.

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