Makino

On Friday, I visited Makino, the last of the four companies. This company was different in the sense that this company had bigger machines and had their products their machines instead of the other three companies. The trip started out with a talk by Mr Wong on Makino, what it does, specialises. After that, they brought us to the production plant, where we walked an area and things were explained along the way. After the plant, we went to where to junior engineers do basic training "so to speak" and after everything, we went back to listen to 4 senior engineers about several of the things and had a short Q & A session.After the session, we went out for light refreshment and a short interaction session.

From this session, what I learnt is that engineers have a very tough job as they deal with all the complicated machines everyday, either troubleshooting or fixing and creating. Engineers undergo hard training before they are actually working inside the production plant making the real stuff.

From this trip, I learnt a lot as frankly I had trouble findng information of Makino from their official website as it had been a bit complicated and too technical for my understanding in terms of the products and what they were advertising/ marketing etc.

Finally, what I feel is that Makino is a very important company as they provide a lot of services for people as deserve to be commended. Their devotion as emphasis in the R & D department is also very impressive as they place around 80-90 people in that department to think out of new ideas and products everyday. For all of this, I truly wish Makino success in the future and thank them for the opportunity that they gave me.

GSK

On the 17th of November, we visited GSK, also known as GlaxoSmithKline. GSK had been the company that I researched on and as such, I went there with enforced with the knowledge and the things that I wanted to learn. Upon reaching there, it was around 8.45 am in the morning. We entered one of their lecture rooms and listened to talk about the introduction of GSk, what GSK basically do and several of their products. After the lecture, we had the plant tour which involved going to the production plant in lab coats, from the fourth floor back to the first. After the plant, we had a light refreshment and then a last presentation on sustainability.

From this trip to GSK, what I learnt is that this pharmaceutical industry is not an easy one as one has to attend to a lot of things, and that GSK is a very important company to the society. GSK is one of the leading companies in terms of the respiratory with their creation of a device for the asthmatic so as to allow them to ease their attack and depending on the person, it might fully recover.

After the whole trip, thinking back about the presentation on sustainability, what methods that is important in ensuring sustainability is that  one must always be flexible and constantly keep up with the trend. In terms of flexibility, one must always change. For a company, this is in terms of updating and improving their products or business and their way of doing things. In addition, if the companies do not keep improving and their competitors would beat them one day therefore, they must at least catch up or be even better than others. So for GSK, what I suggest is that since they have been constantly improving their products with a lot of emphasis on R & D, they could venture out some more such as generalizing in other areas and perhaps put more emphasis in that new area. This will allow them to be able to do much more and better than others.

Overall from the trip to GSK, I really learnt a lot as there were  much that I didn't know from the internet and the experience is priceless. I also enjoyed myself as the plant tour had been an eye-opener with the explanation for each and every floor. I thank GSK for providing me with this opportunity and wish them all the best in the future.

Qioptiq

Two days ago, cluster B, including me visited Qioptiq. The trip started with a simple introduction by Mr Ronian Siew, a representative of the company. For Qioptiq, as I was not asked to do a pre-learning log for this company, I had done a little bit of reading beforehand so as to allow myself not to get so lost during the visit. After the introduction, Mr Siew talked a bit about himself and then as time had permitted, questions were asked we had an informal Q & A session. After that, we had the tour where we visited the plant. The plant had been interesting and I was really very impressed. After the tour, we went back to the room and then had a short presentation by Mr Siew about himself. We then ended off the session with a Q & A session and a very brief talk about a product that Mr Siew designed.

From this trip, I have learnt that all of this plants place a lot of emphasis on cleanliness and the standards are excellent and there are very little dust around. Also, safety is also very important as the workers all have safety precautions to follow. Everyone has to do their part to be safe therefore following all that is needed to follow. In addition, I was really impressed as the plant in Qioptiq is very big and there were many products and I really hadn't knew that just based on lens, there is so much to learn. This was really a great experience for me as it is something that I rarely get and I will appreciate it.

After listening to Mr Siew, if I am around 40 years of age, I think my life story will be one must grab the opportunity you have whether making a choice of your wife, your studies and even your job. Opportunities do not come easy and so take whatever you can get. However, the priority is that you like it. This like is very important as if you hate this job, and yet you take it. You will never achieve anything as you will always dislike this job. You will then never be happy and regret. Another thing is to never give up. Sometimes, you may face rejections but this is all part and parcel of life. Failure is the mother of success. Never give up and one day, you will achieve whatever that you want to achieve.

Post-Learning Journey Reflection-3M

Yesterday, on the 15th of November, I went for my first trip. It was to the 3M plant at woodlands. The trip started with 3 lectures about what is 3M all about, what they do, the company's vision and a bit of statistics. After the lecture, we then had the plant and lab tour.

From the trip at 3M what I have learnt is that 3M actually does a lot of things, things that not only revolves around the adhesive products or the things we use for homes but also even larger scale products. Before this trip, I used to think that they only make the hooks that can stick onto walls and put to place things. However, the lecturer had explained that 3M had 55 thousand products. I really couldn't believe it but as they went on to explain more and more of their products, it is really true that 3M does a lot.

In addition to the products, they also told us a bit about their new plant at Tuas where the machines were much bigger and at there, it makes breathing masks and window films. Other than this, the lecture also emphasized a lot of the welfare of the workers. The company also emphasizes a lot of safety precautions as every worker has a basic vest, boots and safety goggles which are required when entering the production area. In addition, other than these, 3M also gives their workers a lot of freedom. This is because each worker is given the flexibility to move around the company whether in the management of production areas. Asked when this affects efficiency, the reply is that everything is being taken care of and they choose to do it this way because this is to allow their workers to enjoy their work as if being forced to stay there even though he or she may be unhappy, it would affect his or her work and they might lose a talent in the end.

During the tours to the lab and plant, I realised that 3M was really different from what I had thought it would be. 3M was really clean and everything was very neat. The floors were almost dust free and the standards were very high. There were also many applications of their products being displayed. In the end, after all the trips, I really understood the significance and potential of this learning journey for everyone. This learning journey will definitely be able to stretch each and everyone and provide the exposure.

Back to 3M, after seeing so many different products, the two of my favourite products  are the security systems and 3m's post-it. The security systems is needed as nowadays in our world, there are many fake passports and many illegal immigrants using these passports to get into other countries. 3M then works with the police to try and catch and prevent any of these illegal immigrants to enter Singapore. This is very important as without all the equipment, Singapore could be in danger with the risk of terrorists entering with the fake passports and attacking Singapore.


I also like 3M's post-its because for me, I am quite a forgetful person and if there are anything, I have to rely on all this post-its to allow me to remember what I have to do. I have been using this post-its since young and I really have to thank 3M for manufacturing this product to allow more convenience.


In conclusion, I really enjoyed the time I had yesterday and would really like to thank 3M for giving me the opportunity to get his exposure and learn so much more.

After all the research, although both companies are in different industries, what I hope is  for both are generally the same. Basically, I would like to understand how the companies operate as textbooks and online resources are not as good as what we see in the outside. Also, other than learning, having fun is also very important or else it would be very dull. I hope this opportunity can be a very enriching and memorable one for me.

For GSK, before my research, my impression of it is just the information that I got from the briefing on the last day of school. To me, it was basically in the pharmaceutical industry. It felt very dull at first but after the research, my impression turned a 180 degrees, the products remained the same yet, everything was very interesting. The process of making the products although was tedious and everything was meticulous, it was a process to behold and so this are the impressions I got before and after the research.

For Makino, the first impression that I got from the company is that it is in the technology industry and that it all. However, after the research, what I got from Makino is that it not only is allowing technology to get even more advanced than what it really is, it also improves the lives of people. Makino creates new products consistently and it just gets better and better. I am really impressed after the research and so, this is the impression that I got before and after the research.

After the research that I have done, I was really wowed by GSK and the video below can show why. This video features the CEO of GSK, Andrew Witty. In the video, Andrew Witty outlines how GSK has adapted to the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry; how GSK performed during 2010, what is the outlook for 2011 and beyond; and how GSK is running the business responsibly and implementing the company's values.

This wowed me at the first thought of the pharmaceutical industry, one would just be shrugging and thinking how boring it is, yet with this video it showed how much work and effort GSK put in the make everything work. Also, what they do not only requires hard work but also all the time and effort and so it made me very impressed

Other than GSK, the other company, Makino, also wowed me. In an article found in their website, Makino recently offered the new PS-Series Vertical Machining Centers. The new PS-Series provides the productivity of a Makino horizontal machining center in a vertical platform. This wowed me as Makino has consistently been developing new things and making milestones in the technology industry yet they never looked like stopping. This is also why technology is able to keep getting better even though the current standard is already  of superb standards. I am truly wowed.

The link: http://www.makino.com/about/news/9-7-2011/Makino_Offers_the_New_PS-Series_Vertical_Machining_Centers/ 

With both of this I got from my research, I really can't wait to visit both GSK and Makino.

Pre-Learning Journey Reading and Reflection

The two companies that I have been assigned to are Makino and GSK.




So, starting with Makino, how do I see myself connected with what it does. At first, I hadn't even heard about this company before and so I had to do more research. On their official website, the thing that caught my eye first was this line of words, "Makino is where new thinking takes shape in machine tools, machining technologies, engineering services, processes, and applications." This line already told me a lot as people like us, just see the final product but the process in between is always just forgotten. However, the process is always as important as the result. Just like life, you must undergo the process to get the result, if you live life happily and to the fullest, you will reap the benefits in the end. This is just like what I do in the case that I think a lot before i make a decision. This is because thinking through will allow me to make a better decision.  Makino is just like the brains because they make news things everytime going from different directions so, being a teenager, we also use a lot of this technologies that all the brains come up with and therefore, this is how I see myself connected with what Makino does.

Next, for GSK. GSK stands for GlaxoSmithCline and is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. They are committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. GSK is connected with what I do in the sense that everyone gets ill, so when one gets ill, he will need medicine to recover. Where do the medicine come from? GSK may not manufacture the tablets however, they also are involved one way or another. Therefore, I see myself connected with what they do.

Hello

The trip to the MNCs are just a few days away and my excitement is growing. Before I start other posts for this learning log, I shall introduce myself first.

My name is Timothy Loe from class 2A3. I am 13 currently and will be turning 14 in a month's time. Many may just feel that they are just any other boy in Singapore but to me, everyone is different. I live on the motto "Nothing is impossible" as sometimes, although you may feel that you are stuck in a corner, there will always be a way out in life and you will very soon be able to see the light again. For example, just like in a test, if for that particular term, I failed to do well, I would tell myself to strive even harder and achieve better grades next term.

My favourite quotation is "What are words if you really don't mean them when you say them." This is because although everyone says things but some people say and just forget and ignore the rest of the things so what's is the point of saying it in the first place.

Currently, what I like to do would be to watch television programmes. I watch any kind of shows from catoons to documentaries and even dramas. My favourite television programme is called iCarly. iCarly is a comedy show involving teenagers and it is a great way for people to relax. For my favourite movie, I don't exactly have one but I watch mainly comedies and it is a good way to destress and have a good laugh.

In addition to all my hobbies, I want to also share some of my goals and aspirations. I aspire to be a doctor in the future. This is because I feel that doctors play a very important role in everybody's lives as they help the sick. Everyone will get sick one day and it is the doctors who are there to help and save the lives of the people. With this ambition, there are also concerns. One concern is that I am scared that with all the work, coping would be very tough and it may affect me. However, with the thought of being able to help others in the future, I am willing to work very hard.

Other than that, as Hwa Chong places a lot of emphasis on projects and has this project's competition every year, I would like to talk about one of my project entitled "Effect of pH on antioxidant capacity". This project got my group into the finals. At the start, I could barely understand how things were working and so I had to do a lot of research.However, after a while, it seemed quite easy. This project was done because it is said that alkaline water helps antioxidants function better to counter the free radicals in the body. We then moved on to experimenting using different types of antioxidants and also varying the pH as we went on. This project was one of my best ones as this project allowed me to expose myself more in terms of science and experimental research.

Lastly, I would like to say that the future for everyone, including me, is full of uncertainties but I look forward and will face everything in my path and conquer it eventually.