Auto Engineer

A manufacturing engineer defines the process and designs the equipment needed to create a product, like a car. For example, our plants have conveyors that move our cars from one place to the next as they’re being assembled. A manufacturing engineer would design that conveyor. They need to know how much weight it’s going to carry, how fast it needs to go, and whether there are obstacles it needs to avoid.

Not all of the machinery that engineers think up works as planned in the assembly line. In that case, we have to refine our designs. Once, I helped build a tool for our team to use in the plant. It was made to lift a car battery, load it under the hood within 50 seconds, and not damage anything in the process. But when we tried out the tool, it was awkward to use. It would sometimes drop the battery or bump into other parts of the car. We kept improving the design until it worked correctly and was easy for employees to use.

The assembly plant is fast-paced and exciting. There’s always something happening. In one of our plants, we have more than 1,000 robots helping us build cars and trucks. They can pick up and place parts, weld things together, and even apply paint. They help us build products safely and efficiently.

Our plants also have equipment that tests the vehicles at different points during the manufacturing process. That’s to make sure everything is working the way it should before cars roll out onto the road.

As an executive, it’s my responsibility to set a team vision and goals, and then help my employees accomplish them. In manufacturing, efficiency is extremely important. Think of it as doing things the best and safest way possible with the least amount of time and resources. For instance, building more higher-quality cars at a faster rate is a good thing from an efficiency perspective. We focus a lot on eliminating waste and making things better, which reduces costs for the company—and for our customers.

Yes, electric vehicles are becoming a big focus for companies like GM. They help people get around, just like gasoline-powered cars, but without as many negative effects on our environment. We’re also working on autonomous electric vehicles. They’re basically computer-driven cars that can be programmed to drive you from one location to another. They have technology that can sense a vehicle’s surroundings and make decisions, like when to brake for a red light. This helps get people to their locations safely. It’s pretty exciting.

Engineers have an opportunity to change the world. For me, it started with an interest in math and science and a desire to learn more about both. Since then, engineering has provided me with opportunities to do so many different things and to travel the globe. That can happen to you too if you dream big and pursue your passion.