The Faculty of Engineering

Trainee Engineering Technician Programme:An (Ex) Trainee’s Perspective Mark Jones

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

2

Structure• The Training Programme

• Departmental Experience:• Chemical and Biological Engineering

• Civil Engineering

• Electronic and Electrical Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Departmental Secondment

• Progression of ‘The Programme’

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

3

The Training Programme

• Two year duration• Focus on key skill areas IT,

Electronics, Mechanical and Laboratory.

• Work in departments throughout the Faculty and beyond

• Opportunity to attend training courses

• Projects to complete as a group of trainees

• Progress monitored through ‘PebblePad’.

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

4

Departmental Experience:CBE• IT - Diagnosing faults with PCs

and replacement of hardware• Electronics - Construction of a

variety of heater control boxes for research projects

• Mechanical - Use of a variety of machine tools

• Laboratory - Setup and use of several analytical instruments including GC, Bomb Calorimeter, TGA, CHN Elemental Analyzer and AAS

• Working in teaching labs

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

5

Departmental Experience:CBE

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

6

Departmental Experience:CSE• IT - Installation and

implementation of LogMeIn software.

• Electronics - Development and implementation of LabView programs interfaced with physical circuits

• Laboratory - Use of HPLC, GC, GC-MS, IC, ICP-MS instruments

• Field work• Covering for absent members of

staff

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

7

Departmental Experience:CSE

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

8

Departmental Experience:EEE• IT - Installing specialist

research software i.e. Bede RADS.

• Setting up dual boot PC systems for specialist research applications

• Electronics - PAT testing and addition of items to the Departmental asset register

• Laboratory – Work in North Campus clean room

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

9

Departmental Experience:EEE

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

10

Departmental Experience:MechEng• Mechanical - Construction of

an extremely wide variety of parts and rigs for research and final year project applications

• Construction of test samples for tensile testing and friction based tests

• Use of Milling Machines, Lathes, Surface Grinder Bandsaws, linishers and various aspects of CNC manufacture as well as hand tools

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

11

Departmental Experience:MechEng

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

12

SecondmentCBE• Mondays and Tuesdays spent

in Chemical and Biological Engineering

• Laboratory Technician role• Involved in teaching,

supervision and research assistance

• Work on analytical instrumentation both for undergraduate and MSc courses

• Monitoring Risk Assessment and COSHH documentation

21/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

13

The Future (as I see it)• Integration:

• Formalised system of progress into a department

• Collaboration between Faculties

• Sharing best practice between Universities

• Women in Engineering

• Mentoring by programme alumni

• ‘Hubs’ created for intensive focused skill training

To DiscoverAndUnderstand.