Rebekah Mccartney Email and Phone Number

Temporary Part-time contract work. End date: April 12, 2024

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Engineering Technology, I taught five or six Materials and Processes II course laboratories. This included preparing the lab each week for the various testing and process labs that we were completing each week. Each section consisted of 11-16 undergraduate students, and 3-4 separate laboratories that needed to be completed within the two hours of the section. I temporarily worked as a lab technician due to staffing issues within the Polytechnic. These responsibilities included preparing the lab each week. I was in charge of deciding what materials were required for each lab experiment, collecting the resources, organizing the lab, preparing the physical equipment within the laboratory, ensuring proper functionality and location, and arriving at the lab early to preheat each piece of equipment as necessary. At the end of the week, I would clean, reset, and return each piece of equipment to where it belongs and ensure proper storage.

During my time with FSI, I was placed in the role of both the Displays Engineering Intern position as well as the Mechanical Engineering Intern position. Because of this, I was able to complete a variety of tasks. The largest task I was a part of was creating a state-of-the-art Systems Integration Lab, replicating real-world simulators for testing and validation. I also completed multiple Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to enhance product efficiency and functionality, which demonstrated my attention to detail, supplier relationships, and problem solving skills. Finally, I invented a MATLAB program that automates projector settings, which significantly reduced human error and streamlined the collaboration process.

During my most recent internship with METECS my goal was to upgrade the current CNH Auto Test Environment to work with modular simulation components developed by METECS and other suppliers.In order to accomplish this goal I had to install the test environment with hardware and confirm proper use as-is. This included understanding the current code and architecture (Python/CANalyzer). Then, I created new test cases and suites to handle simulation-specific scenarios. This saved significant time of testing than previous iterations, since there had not been a way to create custom simulations without starting from scratch.

During my time with FSIP, I created an equipment list consisting of 500+ specifications to standardize tooling utilized in air ride final assembly. This included updating current drawings with revisions made to the tool, or modeling the tool and requesting a new drawing number for stamping. I updated each specification with accurate tooling needed to create an assembly. This streamlined the process and removed the need for relying on veteran operators to complete an assembly when there was missing, damaged, or unmarked tooling. I was also able to be involved in NPI for our automotive division, complete risk assessments, and complete a funds request.I assisted in changing construction of a seat spring sleeve which will result in a cost savings of $90k/yr once approved. I was in charge of creating the presentation for the pitch and I assisted in the data collection and analysis. I was concurrently working on an overall equipment effectiveness improvement project (OEE). There was an issue of safety and lack of efficiency in the seat springs department. The operators had to manually press two components together. If the operator did not have the strength to do it by hand, they would use a hammer to beat the two parts together. This was a significant safety concern. I designed an add-on for an existing arbor press so that it could be utilized to assemble the components. This solution resulted in significant improvement on speed, overall equipment effectiveness, safety, and operator satisfaction.My final project was earning my Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. The problem I solved was the issue of significant scrap in the seat springs department due to the logo being installed in the incorrect orientation. Since the sleeves were unable to be consumed once the logo was installed incorrectly and cured, it was an important problem to solve. To solve this, I utilized the DMAIC process. I created two new visual aids, and revised multiple specifications with clearer wording.

I was extremely happy that Caterpillar enabled their Summer 2020 Interns to complete their internships remotely instead of cancelling the program as I had witnessed many of my classmates losing their jobs for the summer. During my time with Caterpillar, I was responsible for reviewing and revising mechanical drawings to determine specification compliance. I was able to complete over 100 drawing reviews and was able to present my findings to my team. I reviewed branding specifications for all hydraulic parts of a vehicle and recommended changes as needed. Finally, I finished my internship with Caterpillar by recommending price changes for all seal kits based on current sales information. I was able to talk about my experience with Caterpillar in an exit presentation in front of my team and teams from other locations.

I was able to return to METECS again in the summer of 2020 to complete various tasks. My main task was to assist an engineer with creating a website to host a simulation framework so that various people and companies can utilize it with no issue. To do this I used JavaScript, and various JavaScript frameworks such as AngularJS, KnockoutJS, and Bootstrap.

During my internship term for METECS the summer of 2019, I characterized a damper on an exercise platform for NASA as a contractor at Johnson Space Center. I worked along side a team of engineers. We each had our own part of the project but we tagged up each week to talk about our progress and to make sure we are sticking to the project timeline. My section of the project included designing and building a test-rig using SolidWorks 2016 and a Prusa 3D printer that I had to fix and upgrade before I could print. I utilized the Prusa 3D Printer to create my test-rig as well as creating some Augmented Reality (AR) objects. I included one of these objects as a photo here: The NASA Logo. I then created an Arduino ADC and a MATLAB / Octave program for data visualization t go along with my test-rig. I gave a final internship presentation showing the results of the damper characteristics to a team of NASA engineers and our supplier Lockheed Martin.

During the summer of 2018 I had the opportunity to work on the Case International Harvester and New Holland’s Next Generation Vehicle architecture simulation project. I was in charge of creating and implementing the user interfaces into the simulation. I utilized Java, JavaFX, C++, and Python software development to complete this.

I found Tech Castings during my last semester of high school through Conexus Indiana. Conexus Indiana is a company that supports Indiana's logistics and manufacturing industry. They were seeking out students who are interested in STEM and matching them with companies in Indiana. I was accepted as an Junior Engineer intern for the summer of 2017 after I graduated and before beginning at Purdue University.During my internship I was able to work in a variety of areas including shipping and receiving, wax pattern assembly, nondestructive testing, and data analysis. Having this experience strengthened my love for STEM and manufacturing. It made me excited to try new things, push myself to find jobs I am interested in, and learn as much as I can from the people I meet along the way.

I worked on the line making food for customers, as well as working in the back to catch up on dishes and prepping food when necessary. A few nights a week I would be in charge of closing the store completely while my manager took care of cashing out the drawers. I issued refunds when needed, resolved customer complaints by guiding them to relevant information, greeted customers when entering or leaving the store, and maintained clean and tidy checkout and lobby seating areas.

I was happy to earn my first job at McDonald's as a Crew Member working primarily in the drive-through. I delivered prompt, friendly customer service as I took orders, handled payments, and delivered food to customers. During my time with McDonald's I always made sure I was learning everything I could. When we would be slow, and after I cleaned up my area, I would learn how to work in the kitchen assembling burgers and working the grill.