The final week of my internship at Lindab was a little stressful, but the work was same as the weeks before. I did a little more stuff myself, but still needed support with adjusting the machine’s. Their was no difference then the weeks before. In the end of our Tuesday project we found out that somebody has made a mistake with the filter. After checking with the managers it was decided we had to do it all over. That was stressful because of the long weekend upcoming and the other projects that had to be done this week. In the end we managed and went of for a long weekend.

The conclusion of my Internship.

I learned a lot about non welding products. because our students always only want to study weld (the rest is boring), is welding always our first solution. But at Lindab I have seen that other methods are also successful. Methods as rivets (pop niitit) and press seam (hakasauma) cheap and very strong in use. Also the of silicone kit to make the product air tight is a very effective, cheap and useful way of making a good product.

On the last day I had a conversation with the floor managers. He was really satisfied about my work and input during my internship. He told that I can come back if I want. Don’t know if that’s because I was working for free or because I did a good job. A other manager explained me already before that the work situation is becoming better with more work. But that still old employees are sitting home waiting to come back. But the future is that they have places for our students and I think that’s important. Lindab is a big and important company for Jao. This because also other departments of Jao are using Lindab as internship place.

Don’t want to make this conclusion to long. So the final copmmant about this Internship is I LIKED IT A LOT =d

Next week Pikval (vaajakoski)

The first 2 days of the week I have been doing almost everything punching holes, cutting, bending, drilling, etc. where ever I was needed I went and did my best. Of course with lots of fun with my colleagues and this work (men) humor I miss a little at Jao.

The last few days I have been working with the only female of the assemble team. That was different but also nice. So we where just doing our job and have small talk (different then with only men =d) in between. The products we where less fun. Not because of the work, but because of the size and weight of the product. We didn’t weigh the product because sometimes it’s better not to know. The size was something of 3 by 2,1 meters and 30cm thick. This was really a backbreaking job but someone has got to do it. The last day I don’t know why but it was just one of those days, nothing went well. Luckily we are working in teams and is there always someone for backup.

During the week I have been looking around and seen many potentials for Jao. I beleave that schools and companies can work much better together. For example the company Lindab is using stainless steel (rosteri) (also other plate materials) and of course they have leftovers that they trow away. These plates are about 400×500 mm and perfect for Jao. Stainless steel is really expensive for school. So if school could buy that for the same scrap price they get we would be able to teach more stainless steel in our program. I think this is important because the cheap stuff will be made in China, but the important products will stay in Europe. This means higher quality material and our students need to be ready for that. I have been talking with the floor manager about this. Unfortunately this is not possible because it becomes to expansive for the company.

First someone has to separate the plates
then contacting the school
Making a bill
Checking the bill
Etc
Of course I understand the company position and it is a lot of work, and I haven’t talked about after that. But my point was that if our students are learning this welding already in school, then they don’t need to study this in the company anymore, what would save the companies also a lot of money.

Next week already the last week at Lindab. So 1 more time full power at work because I would like to have good feedback from the company.

Ciao.

First about the company.

Lindab is a company that’s making ventilation systems for industrial companies. The sizes of their products are from about 0,5 meters till up to 3 meters (as far is I have seen). You can see it as a box from thin plate with filters in it. The products i have been working on this week are used as silencers in the system. This to create a nicer work invirment without the ventilation motor sounds true through the hole company.

Lindab has the rule (marked with signs) that it’s forbidden to take any pictures. I think that’s a pity for me, but of course I respect the companies rules. So you all have to do it with my English text =)

First week at the workfloor.

The first day I got of course a tour around the company with safety and medical instructions. But after the tour it was straight to work. Nice I like that. I started at the assembly line of the company. This means assembling the filters into a frame work, so that the costumer can install the complet box later where needed. For me it was putting components at the place with pop rivets (pop niitit) and thread rivets (Kierre niitit). What was fine by me. This way I could learn the company and my colleague’s. And yes I liked I right away the jokes and the work language.

It Brings bag the old mamories I have from my own time in the factories in Holland. That’s also the reson why I’m doing this internship. I want to learn more about the Finnish work life and culture. Because you need to understand what kind of work life is going on in the companies before you can teach it to your students.

The first two days passed by and THEN IT came. I had to take of plastic bags of some products and put new and better bags back on them. This was outside with lot of wind and rain at the temperature of 3 degrees. Even with the companies clothing it was still really cold. But it was important because a costumer was coming check the products and what doesn’t kills you makes you stronger. My colleague’s where also telling me all the time that soon I had to start counting all the screws and rivets. I thought this is of course a joke because I am new in the company, some thing to laugh about the rest of time in the company. But no it was the truth and the next 2 days everybody was counting (inventory) everything in the hole company.

On Friday afternoon one of the floor managers asked me how I liked my first week. ”Was it nice” he asked? I had to laugh a little and asked him do you know anybody that likes to work in cold rainy and windy weather and do the companies inventory? We both smiled and laughed a little. I told him I really like the company and looking forward to next week that is coming.