Ashley Broadwater
Hometown | Trafford, Pennsylvania
Major | Biomedical Engineering
Company | Cook Medical
Location | Bloomington, Indiana
Position | Manufacturing Engineering Co-op
Ashley Broadwater, biomedical engineering student at The University of Akron.
What are your general co-op duties?
I am responsible for developing the manufacturing process for new products entering the market. My work includes writing and updating technical documents, conducting necessary testing on tooling and equipment for manufacturing, implementing lean manufacturing strategies to enhance line flow, and determining operational ranges for process execution.
What surprises/unexpected outcomes have your experienced on co-op?
I was surprised by the level of detail involved in setting up a manufacturing line before a product launch. Devices are not just designed, tested and launched. Even the smallest details, such as how to separate conforming and nonconforming products, are carefully considered to ensure smooth manufacturing flow and exceed regulatory requirements.
What has been the coolest part of your co-op experience?
The coolest part of my co-op experience is the opportunity to collaborate with people in various positions across the company. I am not just working with co-ops or my team—I gather input from operators and collaborate with R&D, post-market engineers and sterilization engineers to develop the best processes for all branches of the company. This allows me to meet amazing people and learn about more engineering roles available to me.
How will your co-op influence your career?
I have really enjoyed my co-op on the pre-market manufacturing side of engineering. This has influenced me to seek another pre-market engineering position after graduation. My co-op experience has helped me discover my interests and passions, so I know what to look for when applying for full-time positions.
What have you learned as a co-op that you wouldn't have learned from your coursework?
In my coursework, I collaborate only with classmates working on the same projects and professors who assign the work. However, in my co-op, everyone is working on different assignments, so I have learned how to provide the right level of background when communicating with other branches of the company. This ensures they understand what I need without being overloaded with information.