Mallinckrodt Baker

Chris Brown is a graduate of Harlan High School and is a Chemical Engineering student at UK . He finished his third and last co-op at Mallinckrodt Baker in Paris , KY in the summer of 2006.

The following is an excerpt from his last coop report:

Mallinckrodt Baker (MBI), a division of Tyco Healthcare, employs approximately 250 employees in Paris , KY. As a coop I had the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of technology and see development of the company over the last two years. That privileged opportunity came with tremendous responsibility. In no way has my experience at MBI been easy. The expectation of my position is that I am training to be a process engineer. My knowledge is required to extend to several disciplines including accounting, economics, quality, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and chemical engineering.

This summer I continued my coop with Mallinckrodt Baker for my third and final tour. A disappointing reality of a summer coop term is that it only lasts three months compared to almost five during normal semesters-I was not able to complete nearly as many projects. However, I was able to take ownership of a few projects, a common practice during the last term.

My large projects included continued research and development into a next-generation solution for use in microelectronics, redesign of our 5-gal filler, a greater role in a Six-Sigma project on Validation Process Improvements, work on a Six-Sigma project on Solvent Cleanout Advancements, and Master Control BPR (Batch Production Records) Migration, which I will explain in detail below. In addition to large projects, I had several smaller (but constant) tasks. The summation of my time with MBI has resulted in approximately 80 BPRs being revised, 20 new BPRs being written, and 30 new product costings. I also continued training into GMP, Six-Sigma, 5-S, and the International Standards Organization (ISO).

I had continued responsibility and leadership on projects, and was able to take a project as my own, the Master Control BPR (Batch Production Records) Migration:

Batch Production Records used to be written by hand or typed and copied for distribution throughout the plant. The problem with any hard-copy document system is security. BPR revisions are often lost and not included on the final document, which operators then use to make a product. It was decided that I should be the one to migrate all BPRs onto a system called Master Control. The system could be used to distribute revisions to documents electronically, allowing for more control and a centralized storage location. The process of moving documents to this more controlled system was quite extensive. The result however is a better system for distributing sensitive documents. As an added bonus, the project adds significant and continual savings to paper use. During my last year and a half with Mallinckrodt Baker, I have revised approximately 80 BPRs and written approximately 20 new documents alone. This means I have used over fifteen thousand sheets of paper in this short time on these documents. That type of cost is usually not deemed important by companies, but it is very real and very significant. The BPR migration project allowed for a much more secure and quality process.

Opportunities such as these offer a knowledge that a coop student cannot receive in the classroom; the experience has been invaluable to me. The projects I mentioned above and others required more responsibility and effort on my part than I have experienced previously.

At the beginning of my workday, there was little or no time to ease into the days. Throughout the day I followed priority in projects and tasks. Priority changes quickly in this position, so I have to be flexible in my work schedule. On any given day I may need to attend a meeting or conference call regarding a project and it is imperative that I have all information for the respective meeting. Although this may require research and preparation, there is not the luxury of spending time before the meeting to prepare. Instead, I found that I needed to prepare for situations before they arose.

I lastly turn my focus to the benefits of my coop experience in relation to life after college. Graduate school has begun to appeal to me. My experience at MBI falls directly in line with biological and microelectronic focuses in post-graduate education. If I continue my pursuit of a higher degree, I feel more confident in what to specialize. Furthermore, if I am interested in a position in this type of field after I graduate, there is the potential for employment from MBI in the future. The company already is familiar with my work ethic and personality, and I might be more likely to get a job than an equal candidate who does not have the first-hand experience.

MBI has also prepared me for other jobs in which I might be interested. My communication skills have developed greatly over the course of my coop. I was expected to order parts, work in small and large groups, and meet other people every day. This has propelled my confidence in speaking to others to accomplish an objective. That type of experience will help in interviews and any jobs for which I would apply.

Besides the opportunities the coop program offers after graduation, there is much financial incentive for inclusion into the program. The first tour offers $15.00/hr and is increased to $19/hr this last term, which always provided about $540 per (weekly) check.

My understanding of the occupational world has increased due to the coop program. Living expenses and income are much more real now that I have truly been on my own, and are greater than I had imagined they would be.

After completing my duration at MBI with the coop, I look forward to returning to school to continue my education. I hope to be able to contribute more than I have in the past, and understand how to approach problem solving in a way beneficial to completion of projects.

I highly recommend the program because it allowed me the opportunity to learn more about myself and expand my education beyond the classroom.