AIST Steel Intern Scholarship
Madilyn A. Flandermeyer
I had the pleasure of working with the global metallurgical quality (GMQ) team at The Timken Co., North Canton, Ohio, USA, for my summer 2023 co-op. This was my fourth rotation with the company and second summer with the GMQ team, allowing me to build on my knowledge and continue project work. The Timken Co. produces a wide range of bearings serving many markets including automotive, wind and industrial. My focus this summer was approving new steel suppliers. I also worked on several other improvement projects, allowing me to practice my project management skills and learn more about supplier/customer interactions. All my experiences with Timken have given me the opportunity to expand my materials engineering knowledge and gain an appreciation for cross-functional teams.
Through my steel supplier approval project, I learned about the internal processes required to advance with a new supplier and gained hands on experience with the testing methods. My knowledge of steel cleanness and the impact it has on bearing performance was greatly expanded. I could apply what I learned from literature in the lab working with ultrasonic testing. While working on the approval of several new suppliers, I worked with the sourcing, quality and research and development teams. I had the opportunity to shadow in both the ultrasonic testing and SEM labs, gaining a better understanding of materials characterization techniques.
On a separate project, I worked closely with one of our manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and a steel supplier to improve quality conditions. This allowed me to travel to both facilities to get firsthand accounts of the issues and begin problem solving with other engineering teams. As an engineer, it’s crucial to practice objective problem solving and always consider the big picture. In this project I conducted a read across at Timken’s global facilities to make informed decisions at the North Carolina facility. I also utilized the lab’s testing capabilities to investigate and characterize results. This project showed me the importance of working closely with suppliers to gain the desired quality of Timken’s products.
I would like to express my gratitude to AIST and The Timken Co. for giving me the opportunity to gain experience in the materials engineering field and find my passion for a career in steel. My project mentors gave me a lasting sense of professionalism and the tools I needed to succeed in my time at Timken. I’m proud to have worked at an encouraging and ethical company.