Designing products – as part of your training?
Daniel reports on exciting experiences at DCG
Hi, I'm Daniel, 17 years old and currently in my second year of training as a technical product designer specializing in machine and plant construction. I'd like to give you a little insight into my experiences so far during my training and tell you what I've learned and experienced.
The start of my training was exciting because I was involved in exciting projects right from the start. One of my first tasks was to work with our designers to draw rooms and IT safes and their elements, create parts lists and articles in our ERP system, and occasionally write sales texts. These activities helped me to better understand our products and the requirements for such complex systems.
Working accurately and precisely in CAD, where I create both 3D and 2D drawings on the PC, is particularly important here. In CAD, every detail is modeled digitally. The ability to create different views, sections, and exploded views not only helps with visualization, but also with technical communication with the team, other departments, and suppliers. This knowledge is also very important in the further course of my training, as it enables a smooth transition from planning to production.
I found the practical work at the customer's site particularly exciting. I was allowed to help with the maintenance and replacement of extinguishing systems in one of our IT safes – a challenge that gave me important insights into the practical implementation of fire protection measures and their significance for IT security.
During the three-month practical training period at the end of my first year of apprenticeship, I was able to gain valuable practical experience. In production, I had the opportunity to assemble side walls and ceiling elements for a relatively large room-in-room system for a customer in Brazil. I was able to refer to my previously created drawings and thus go through the entire process from planning to production.
My other tasks include documenting a wide variety of products. This includes the air conditioning of the IT safe, for which I was able to record technical details and describe its functionality. I also created and updated assembly instructions for IT safes, granite, and quartzite rooms, which are a great help to fitters and technicians.
A particular highlight of my training so far has been creating a product portfolio. This allowed me to summarize my knowledge of the various products and their areas of application. In addition, I worked with our master electrician to draw up wiring diagrams for many of our customers' IT safes as well as for our granite room. This work showed me how important it is to understand electrical circuits and the role they play in the planning and implementation of technical projects.
Two months ago, we also held a Future Day for trainees, where we presented our profession to interested students. I had the opportunity to show them my workplace and give them a short tour of the production facility. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead in my training and to further expanding my knowledge and skills and participating in many more projects.
Yours, Daniel
Titelbild: © amnaj / #214821455 / stock.adobe.com (Standardlizenz)
