Osram Sylvania

Brian Jones is busy, but that's the way he likes it. The mechanical engineering junior from Madison Central High School in Richmond, KY, is not only taking on the challenges of engineering studies, he's also gaining valuable work experience on an international scale.

Jones has worked four full-time semesters in Osram Sylvania's Winchester operation as part of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering cooperative education program. His five-year co-op plan will be complete when he graduates in spring '07 with his B.S. and over a year of work experience.

Osram Sylvania is the North American business of OSRAM GmbH of Germany, one of the world's largest lighting manufacturers and part of the Siemens family of companies. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of lighting products and precision materials and components for business and industry, consumers, for the automotive industry, and for the computer, aerospace and other major industries worldwide. It employs about 11,200 people in North America and is headquartered in Danvers, Mass. The Winchester plant produces the Capsylite ® family of halogen PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector) lamps. The capsule shape and coating of the lamps helps reflect radiated heat back on to the filament, meaning less energy is required to maintain the filament.

Jones is involved in research and development, and must write technical reports about the products he analyzes and tests. He helps determine how well a product will work on the line, which normally produces about 10 million lamps per year.

Doing business internationally means overcoming language and cultural barriers, so clear communication is vital.

"There's lots of interaction with the German owners," said Jim Oetken, manager of engineering research and development at the Winchester plant. German managers visit Winchester frequently, he said, and there are regular teleconferences. International negotiations are an important part of the company's business. In addition to English and German, the Chinese and Spanish languages are important to the company's business. Jones doesn't have to be fluent in other languages, but he does have to make sure his reports can be easily read and understood.

"You have to be organized," said staff engineer Jeff Buschmann. "You have to be able to find something after you've done it. And you have to write your report so that someone else can use it."

The work environment is fast-paced and challenging - terms such as "fluid," "flexible," "quick," and "adaptability" are used by Jones and his supervisors to describe the demands of an average day.

Jones' UK education has prepared him well, he said.

"I'm more focused after co-op," he said. "I raised my GPA, and I've become better at multi-tasking."

So how does a co-op student not only survive, but thrive and enjoy the experience?

"Relax," he says. "Go into it knowing you're there to learn. Be a sponge, and soak up everything."