Inteva Products

Materials Engineering Intern

May 2024 • Vandalia, OH

What I liked

As a materials engineering intern, most of my projects consisted of designing and executing trials in order to test the performance of adhesives, plastics, and skins laminated under different conditions. My favorite part about the internship was Inteva’s aim to make sure each student gets the most out of their experience. I worked with a great team of people who were always there to help when needed, but also guided and encouraged me to take charge of my own work. I was also given ample opportunity to learn more about the company and industry outside of my position, such as training sessions and visits to manufacturing plants and expos.

What I wish was different

I sometimes felt disconnected from the rest of the company, as I did not interact with other teams as much. I was given assignments by my boss, who did most of the communicating with the other teams. I knew my assignments were contributing to bigger projects, but I often did not know which project I was contributing to or the context of why I needed to gather the data that I did. I never felt my work was unimportant or irrelevant, but I did feel somewhat isolated from the bigger picture.

Advice

One piece of advice I would give anybody who works for Inteva in the future is to take full advantage of every opportunity there is to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if they don’t pertain to your role. Say yes to every training session or travel opportunity to gain as much experience as you can during your work term. The point of an internship is to prepare you for a career after school, so make sure you are getting as much as you can out of this experience.

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Quality Engineering Intern

May - August 2024 • Vandalia, OH

What I liked

During my time at Inteva Products, I was primarily tasked with creating a library of control plan templates for the company to use for future projects. I was also to assist the quality team in other miscellaneous tasks. I enjoyed having the support of my supervisor and the many opportunities to connect with other employees at the company. Another aspect I enjoyed was being able to travel to other company locations including headquarters as well as one of the manufacturing plants. Without prior knowledge of the inner workings of an automotive supplier, I am glad I got to take an inside look and experience what Inteva does in this industry from a quality engineering standpoint.

What I wish was different

One thing I wish had been different was how much time I spent at my desk compared to time doing hands-on things. I wish I had the opportunity to help build more parts and grow my design skills with hands-on tasks while working here. As someone who enjoys interacting with things in their physical form, I believe I would have greatly benefitted from more chances to engage in this type of work during my time here. If I were to return, I would want to move to another group such as the materials group so that I could spend more time in the lab.

Advice

My advice is to approach the job with an open mind, even if it isn’t exactly what you are looking for. There’s a wealth of knowledge and valuable experience to gain. Be willing to try new things, even if they feel overwhelming at first. If you’re unsure about something, don’t hesitate to ask. The engineers are eager to support interns’ success, so asking questions benefits both you and the company. The experience you gain during this internship is directly related to the effort you put into learning.

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Lead Manufacturing Engineering Student

May 2022 • Vandalia, OH

What I liked

I loved the mix of hands-on and computer oriented work. It was always nice when I'd get to work in the lab after being in the office most of the day. I learned how to use a lot of tools and machinery, and I built plenty of parts and other items. The team I worked with was great, and fully supported my co-op experience. It was also nice being able to travel every now and then to our suppliers.

What I wish was different

Like most co-ops/internships, it was common to have a decent amount of downtime every now and then. The company policy allows full time employees to work from home a certain amount of days per week, but the students must be in the office every day. This meant that there were days where I was essentially in the office alone. I also wish the company hosted some sort of event for the co-ops/interns to get to know their managers/co-workers a bit better.

Advice

My advice would be to ask a lot of questions whenever you're unsure about something, or don't know what people are talking about. Ask to try things that you're interested in, and try and help as many people in different areas of the company as you can. If you like a mix of hands-on and desk work, this is a great place for you to learn and develop your skills as an engineer. The other engineers you'll work with fully support the company's co-op program and want to help you as much as possible, so do your best to learn as much from them as you can.

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Advanced Quality Engineering Co-op

May - December 2021 • Vandalia, OH

What I liked

I really enjoyed the environment I worked in. Coming from UD, the community atmosphere was apparent on the first day. I really felt comfortable adapting to a new environment. Management is awesome and only want the best for you. I also enjoyed the responsibility I was given as a co-op. I felt no different than a full time employee.

What I wish was different

I wish I would've had more time to learn. The automotive industry is dense with information and I felt like a co-op only allowed me to dip my toe in the water.

Advice

I would go into it with an open mind, especially if you have not worked in this industry. There are different types of engineering that are very specific to manufacturing and its important to get an understanding of each.

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Sales Intern

May - August 2021 • Troy, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed the projects I worked on, the lunches with executives, and the manufacturing plant tour.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had more of a chance to network with the other interns.

Advice

I would advise future interns in this type of role to review basic Excel functions before starting this role, as it was used heavily throughout the summer.

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Business Strategy Intern

January - June 2017 • Troy, MI

What I liked

Felt like an important part of the team. Independent role that produced work that was used in major company decisions. Very nice, helpful, and personable team to work with.

What I wish was different

More structured work towards the end. Many times left with nothing to do and the knowledge that there wasn’t much I could do if I asked for more work.