Antonio Albelda Ochoa 
Antonio is a Mechanical Engineering student currently on his Industrial Experience year. He shares his experience on placement at Swiss international rail vehicle production company, Stadler Rail, in Valencia.
The role
I am working as a Design Engineer in the Bogie Design Department, at the train and design manufacturing facility in Valencia, Spain.
Most of my workload has been learning the company’s quality standards and modifying or updating engineering drawings and their 3D models. Bogies are a type of wheel chassis used on trains. I am looking at improvements of bogies in assemblies of CityLink trains and locomotives - reviewing homologation (safety and technical) documents and motion studies to prevent overlap of pieces (collisions between static and moving parts of the bogie).
I took calculations during the fit of the bearings, break disc hubs and couplings to the axle and measured tolerance to mitigate stresses. I also updated and improved parts and drawings caused by newer or safer standards and unforeseen events.
New experiences
Quality of life has been my main discovery, as well as the affirmation of my vocation; discovering that what I desired is real, not easy, but fruitful when done with good intention.
I have enjoyed working with people like me with similar ideas - hardworking individuals that have high expectations not shown by many words but actions.
I have also loved living with my family abroad in a different climate with an active social life and a more intense schedule. Life has been full of new experiences such as skiing, hiking, camping, climbing, time at the beach with family, new friends, interesting seminars...
I am more motivated than ever to come back to Queen Mary and conquer the degree so I keep this dream and make it the reality.
My learnings and advice
Not being in a schedule of learning without a specific objective, but improving under the instruction of a tutor who wants to see me achieve my best has made work fulfilling - I am learning with an objective, continually improving and seeing where my work is directly contributing.
My advice to students starting a placement is:
- Don't get stuck if you're in doubt or waiting for an answer - have multiple work strands simultaneously if you can.
- Managing multi-tasking can be tough, while keeping quality standards and sticking to timelines - you will need to learn organisation and keep a personal schedule.
- You'll discover that to be useful in the work place, action is the solution.
- If you make a mistake, own it and apologise.
- Communication is the way to get rid of uncertainties - don't make assumptions.
My advice for students considering whether to do a placement is:
Doubt is the source of motion, so get ready to fly! I didn’t think I was ready, but I am so glad I decided to try work. If you want to find your right place or if you don’t know what you are best at - study, but work too.
Also: do the placement anywhere you can, but don't discount placements abroad.