Bronco Spotlight: Abhishek Jani
Industrial Engineer V at EnerSys Delaware Inc.
EnerSys is a global company manufacturing industrial batteries (lead acid flooded, lithium-ion etc.). Thinking about batteries, we always contemplate about automotive car batteries, which are tiny. However, the batteries we manufacture here in Richmond, KY plant are very large and mainly for motive and reserve power applications (forklift truck batteries, telecommunication power back-up batteries etc.). My current role is Industrial Engineer working under the finance/accounting department. As an Industrial Engineer, I have a wide variety of projects I work on my day-to-day routine such as:
- Conduct time-motion and ergonomic studies on different manufacturing processes to make sure we capture accurate product cost (labor & overhead $value).
- Lead rapid improvement events and implement lean principals & continuous improvement techniques to ensure better quality, increased productivity and safety.
- Analyzing data to help supply chain and materials team react to the demand fluctuations.
- Learn new techniques in warehouse management during fiscal plant wide inventory.
- Analysis on YTD production data on top manufacturing SKU that is helpful for annual budgeting process.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
The most rewarding part about my job is that my projects revolve under several departments within the manufacturing plant; for example: engineering (layout optimization and new lean principal implementation), finance/accounting (update routings and cost, yearly budget) and supply chain (analyzing data for different key metrics).
On the other hand, the most challenging part of my job is adapt quickly on different types of changes that takes place in a manufacturing plant. As my technical expertise and area of work is versatile across different departments, it is hard to keep up with projects and its corresponding completion. In addition, our product line has materials like lead and acid, so sometimes it is difficult to implement solutions, which can work with this environment.
If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?
As an international student in the United States, the experience gained from on-campus job and internship is a critical element as well as a great stepping-stone before you land on your full-time job.
What advice do you have for students looking for their career after college?
I think for good steady professional career first you need 100% dedication towards your education to gain as much knowledge as you can, and second is the patience in building up work experience gradually.