Corissa Wiebe, Production Engineer

Myths about engineering

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"In high school I didn't really know what an engineer was. I thought an engineer was someone that was stuck in front of a computer all day designing stuff. I didn't realize that they actually did deal with people.

"Probably 50 percent of my job is just dealing with people and the other 50 percent is going back to the computer and analyzing the data."

Where I work

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I work for Acrylon Plastics. They have two plants, one in Winkler and one in Winnipeg. We specialize in a wide range of products, from automotive to agriculture. We even make playground equipment.

We specialize in vacuum-forming and rotomolding plastic parts. In the Winkler plant we do vacuum-forming and rotomolding and in our Winnipeg plant we just do the rotomolding.

In our Winkler plant there are about 65 people and in our Winnipeg plant, approximately 50 people."

Many tasks

I've worked here for about four and a half years and for two co-op terms before that. I coordinate a lot of projects. For example I'll coordinate building expansions. Or when we have to buy a new machine, I source out the machine and organize all the contractors.

A major part of my work is streamlining production lines to make them more efficient. I work on "Lean" ideas, which means keeping the plant clean and organized and standardizing everything to cut out any of the waste.

Streamline process

When I'm trying to streamline a production line, I work with the workers for a day or two before I go back to my office come up with a few different solutions. I present them to the workers and we work on it together. Once we've decided what we're going to change, I go back and redo the critical path or the report.

Next I present the solution to everyone that would do that job. Usually I just work with one shift initially. Once we've tried it and it works well, then I present the findings of the report to management.

Improve workplace

Part of my job is making the work easier on the workers, to make their workplace more ergonomic. We had one line where people were always bending down and we thought, ‘Why don't we lift up the tables, lift up the product so the people don't have to bend down? They will save time and be more comfortable and enjoy their work more.'

Production people will often come to me, and say ‘Corissa, I need this tool. It'll make it more efficient or my hand will be more comfortable.' I go and investigate it and if it is a valid improvement then we will purchase it.

Multiple skills

I'm using people skills and oral communication all the time. I also do a lot of reading and researching, writing, working with documents. I use math and science daily to figure out plant efficiencies.

I have to be creative when I'm problem solving. For example, we may be dealing with a production line that is making 80 items a day and we need to make160 a day. I have to figure out how we make the160. I look at what we need to implement, who we need to train, and do we need bring more people in or do we need to take people out of the line.

Time off for fun

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I enjoy travelling a lot. My husband and I try to go on trips whenever we can. I enjoy camping and swimming and curling, downhill skiing.

I've started getting into some scrapbooking so I enjoy that too. I scrapbook our trips, taking photos and putting it with paper and stickers so it looks nice. It's in a nice book and you do some journaling in there too. It's nice for people, to present your pictures. It looks better than a photo album."

Early science

I grew up in Winkler with my parents and one brother. For fun we would travel quite a bit and we always went to science museums. No matter what trip we went on, whichever city, we always had to stop in at a science museum.

That probably helped get me interested in science.

Travel fan

I love to travel and I would like to do more of it.

We have always stayed in North America. I've been to the east coast in the States in the New York and Boston area a couple times, and I've been to California a couple times. We've flown once and the rest of the trips we've driven. We have also gone through the mountains in Canada.

In Canada I'd like to go to the Maritimes because I have never been there. I'd also like to go to Alaska.

Parents self-employed

My dad went to university although he didn't finish his degree. He and my mother are both entrepreneurs. Right now my dad owns a real estate business.

Both my parents are always taking courses and seminars and upgrading their skills. My mom's done a lot of studies in accounting.

Like four seasons

I plan on staying in Manitoba because I have family and friends here and I enjoy my job.

I also just like the prairies. I like the climate changes in Manitoba. I like the fact that the seasons are very different. When you get tired of summer, the winter comes and there are all the different activities I enjoy doing outdoors. Then we're back to summer again which means we can go camping and swimming.

Busy day

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

We always have a production meeting, 9:30 to 10:00. There we have our operations manager, our scheduler, purchasing, quality, mold shop foreman. We discuss any issues that we had from the day before or any issues we might be having during the week. If everything's running smoothly we'll express that too.

From 10:00 to 4:30 I work on my engineering projects. That can range from analyzing production and office inefficiencies, implementing lean ideas, preparing and presenting cost analysis, budgets and feasibility studies, designing equipment.

Plant hours

Half the Winkler plant is open 6/24 and the other half is open just the five days. Our Winnipeg plant is open 5/24 so there's usually someone here during the week.

We have a plant shut down two weeks in summer and a week at Christmas. Summer's probably our slowest time of the year so it's nice that we have the two weeks then.

After hours work

I usually try to take weekends off because I think your brain needs a rest. If I need to, I'll start earlier in the morning maybe at 6:00 or I will stay and work evenings sometimes. I usually don't come back in the evenings after I've gone home.

More often, I'll email my work home. I'll work from home if I have to compile a report on the findings, or get a presentation ready or, if I'm looking at a plant layout, I'll look at that.

Work in team

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Whatever I'm trying to streamline, we'll work together as a team to streamline it. I'll often do the research or the initial solution, but it works because there is a team.

"I work with the different departments. For example, when I was trying to streamline quality and estimating then I worked with the estimating department and the quality department. When I had a project on dealing with inventory then I worked a lot with sales and with our controller."

Good stress

My job is fast paced and I like that. I like the challenge of my work and the fact that every day is different.

I do feel some stress from my work but I think that some stress is good. I don't think I'd want a job where there was no stress. I would probably be bored. I think I manage my stress by putting it in perspective. When I am stressed, I also realize that this career was my choice and it is my choice to continue doing it.

Playful work

I like the fact that I get to play at my job. For the kind of problem solving I do, there's often no right or wrong or answer. Every project is different, especially when it comes to a streamlining project, to making a line run more efficiently or to making a worker's job easier.

There are so many different ways to look at possible solutions, like getting different tools, or rearranging the work cell or the line or the floor plan. I get to play around with these different options in AutoCAD, trying all these things to see what will best fit.

Heavy responsibility

I am the only industrial engineer in this company so the company relies on my solutions to save them money. I am responsible for helping them get the job done, to make the product the best way.

When a new product comes in, it's up to me to figure out how are we going to assemble it in the most efficient, the least expensive and the safest way.

Switched programs

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I probably always knew I was going to university. That was just something that you did after high school. I did change paths though. I was thinking I wanted to be a pharmacist and I took my first year of university and then I worked in a pharmacy and that wasn't me.

The pharmacy I worked in that summer moved to a different location and I was more interested in talking to the engineers that were involved in that project than in the pharmacy. That next year, I went into engineering."

Started in university

I wasn't that interested in trades or technology until I got to university. I enjoyed the math and science types of courses at university and that's probably what got me interested. I also knew a lot of engineering students at the University of Manitoba so I spoke to them about it.

I liked the variety of career options you have with an engineering degree. The possibilities were almost endless. Even at a job like mine, every day is different, which is great.

Co-op program

Going through the co-op program was very beneficial for me. I think that's probably what got me my job here.

The first co-op term I worked for the City of Winkler and my last two co-op terms I worked here at Acrylon Plastics. My first project here was to work on a rotomolding machine. It was for a certain product that we were making at the time. The demolding time was probably about 70 minutes and by the time I was done we were done to 18 minutes. They were surprised at that, and at how I didn't spend a lot of money doing it.

Greatest accomplishment

I think my greatest accomplishment so far is getting my Professional Engineering designation at age 27.

It usually takes at least five years of university and four years of working after that to get your designation. I graduated from high school at 17 so I was able to get a head start that way. I did my university in five years even though I switched programs after the first year. Since my first year was in science, I was able to use it with my engineering degree.

Some friends that I graduated with have two or three years yet to go.

School volunteer

I've been a judge at some science fairs at elementary schools. As part of the APEGM (Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitona), I've also coordinated and been the judge at some spaghetti bridge competitions.

Students build a bridge out of spaghetti and see how much weight can be supported off it before it breaks. The bridge that can support the most weight wins.

This kind of program is great, because during the competition we also introduce the students to the different fields of engineering.

Outlook good

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I think there's a huge market for plastic parts so I think for Acrylon the future looks very bright.

"I think the outlook for Industrial Engineering is very good. The manufacturing sector is starting to realize the benefits of it and I think just the way our economy is going now we have no choice but to turn lean. In that way I think the outlook is very good."

Advice for students

If students are interested in this field, I would say go for it and follow your interests. It will be well worth it.

To get into engineering, it is very important to take the maths and sciences at high school, especially physics and chemistry. I would also advise taking a high school drafting course. I didn't take one, and I now wish I had. I took that in university.

I also joined Toastmasters and I think that helped me with public speaking and my confidence in my job.

Goals

My career goal was to get my engineering designation. Now that I've got it, I'm not sure what my next goal is. In five years, I hope to still be enjoying what I'm doing what I am doing today and to have a family.

I would like to make a difference in the world. I've always been interested maybe in a short-term mission trip somehow that I could use my engineering background. I might want to do a month or two-week assignment working in a disaster zone to help people get back on their feet.

Future learning

I'd like to take more courses on Lean Accounting and Lean Manufacturing. I've also always been interested in civil engineering so I might take one or two courses in structural engineering.

I have thought about getting my MBA. In Industrial Engineering, I actually do take quite a few management related courses.

Qualities needed

I think you definitely have to be very focussed and detail oriented to do this kind of work. You also have to be a problem solver.

I'm a very focused person. I'm a perfectionist in some ways and a problem solver and those qualities have definitely helped me. You also have to be outgoing because you will be dealing with people all the time.

Those personality qualities are the big ones for this job.

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official title for Corissa's occupation is "Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers" and its NOC* code is 2141.

Manitoba Job Futures

Manitoba Labour Market Information - Who Hires

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

High School

Useful high school subjects:*

- Math
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Drafting
- Blueprint reading
- Computer related-courses

*Source: Job Futures.ca

Red River Technical Vocational Area
RRTVA is a "Virtual" regional technical school with five locations with one to four vocational programs. Students earn from four to twelve credits toward graduation as well as advanced placement in college and apprenticeship programs that are extensions of the courses they take for high school credit.

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to 4 free courses.

After high school 

University of Manitoba

Faculty of Engineering

University of Winnipeg/University of Minnesota Institute of Technology

Dual degree Program in Science and Engineering (PDF)

Skills

Useful Experience/Skills*

- Team project work
- Proposal writing
- Presenting
- Committee work on industry ethics
- Computer skills

Source: Job Futures.ca

There is not yet an Essential Skills* profile for this occupation.

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance to this occupation, go to Essential Skills.

Professional resources

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba
Serves and protects the public interest by governing and advancing the practice of engineering and geoscience through registration, professional practice monitoring, and disciplinary process.

Consulting Engineers of Manitoba
Promotes high standards in the consulting engineering profession and good relations among Manitoba consulting firms and individual consulting engineers.

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) - Manitoba Division
Canada¹s leading business network and senior business association has established alliances with universities, colleges and training organizations throughout Canada to ensure the availability of adequately skilled labour.

Related careers

Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers) (NOC 2147)

Engineering Managers (NOC 0211)

Mechanical Engineers (NOC 2132)

Metallurgical and Materials Engineers (NOC 2142)

Organizational Analysts (NOC 1122)