STEMSTEM

WORK PLACEMENTWORK PLACEMENT

11STST June to 4 June to 4thth June 2009 June 2009

Copeland, CookstownCopeland, Cookstown

Judith Mallon- Maths TeacherJudith Mallon- Maths Teacher

St Joseph’s College, CoalislandSt Joseph’s College, Coalisland

The CompanyThe Company

Copeland Ltd is part of an American company Copeland Ltd is part of an American company called Emerson Climate Technologies.called Emerson Climate Technologies.

Emerson are the worlds’ leading provider of:Emerson are the worlds’ leading provider of:

– HeatingHeating– VentilationVentilation– Air Conditioning Air Conditioning – RefrigerationRefrigeration– Oil and GasOil and Gas

Copeland started production in 1997. Copeland started production in 1997.

They make compressors which are They make compressors which are used in refrigeration, air conditioning used in refrigeration, air conditioning and, more recently, heat pumps.and, more recently, heat pumps.

At present they make up to 1500 At present they make up to 1500 compressors per day. They started off compressors per day. They started off with 100 per day!with 100 per day!

The reason for their success in The reason for their success in this market is the use of Scrolls this market is the use of Scrolls inside their compressors.inside their compressors.

Most other companies use Most other companies use pistonspistons

These Scrolls and their These Scrolls and their production are top secret!production are top secret!

They are made behind “the wall”They are made behind “the wall”

Some employees never get Some employees never get behind the wall and those who behind the wall and those who work there have to sign a work there have to sign a confidentiality agreement. confidentiality agreement.

I was lucky enough to get a tour I was lucky enough to get a tour behind the wall!behind the wall!

Here is a picture of “the wall”. I Here is a picture of “the wall”. I wasn’t allowed to take any wasn’t allowed to take any pictures behind it.pictures behind it.

In my placement, I shadowed In my placement, I shadowed employees on their day-to-day duties. I employees on their day-to-day duties. I discovered how they used Maths in discovered how they used Maths in their job and where using and applying their job and where using and applying Maths in the workplace can be linked Maths in the workplace can be linked to my Schemes of Work.to my Schemes of Work.

I worked with Engineers, Production I worked with Engineers, Production Supervisors, Business Improvement Supervisors, Business Improvement Facilitators, IT Technicians, Quality Facilitators, IT Technicians, Quality Managers and Human Resource Managers and Human Resource Managers.Managers.

I met lots of interesting people. I met lots of interesting people. One employee, Eugene Corr, is One employee, Eugene Corr, is a past pupil of St Joseph’s a past pupil of St Joseph’s College. He has worked in College. He has worked in Copeland Ltd for 11 years.Copeland Ltd for 11 years.

Eugene completed a HND, Eugene completed a HND, Degree and is now in his final Degree and is now in his final few weeks of completing a few weeks of completing a Masters Degree from The Masters Degree from The University of Ulster, University of Ulster, Jordanstown.Jordanstown.

Copeland Ltd offered him this Copeland Ltd offered him this opportunity to continue his opportunity to continue his professional development due professional development due to his enthusiasm and hard- to his enthusiasm and hard- work.work.

He did all this alongside his full-He did all this alongside his full-time employment.time employment.

Here is a picture of Eugene.Here is a picture of Eugene.

Another employee is Tom Another employee is Tom MMccQuaid. Tom is a Business Quaid. Tom is a Business Improvement Facilitator.Improvement Facilitator.

This means he facilitates This means he facilitates and oversees business and oversees business improvement initiatives.improvement initiatives.

His job resembles a His job resembles a teacher’s job. He is always teacher’s job. He is always trying to find ways to make trying to find ways to make improvements and minimise improvements and minimise errors through group work errors through group work and problem solving. and problem solving.

He certainly gave me some He certainly gave me some ideas that I can bring back ideas that I can bring back to the classroom and to the classroom and implement in my teaching.implement in my teaching.

Here is a picture of Tom.Here is a picture of Tom.

To do this work effectively everyone needs To do this work effectively everyone needs a basic a basic understanding of Maths.understanding of Maths.

For example:For example: The employees on the shop floor need to be able to The employees on the shop floor need to be able to

mentally add and subtract positive and mentally add and subtract positive and negative decimal numbers.negative decimal numbers.

Target-setting and reporting back are done through Target-setting and reporting back are done through bar bar charts, scatter graphs, box plots, mean charts, scatter graphs, box plots, mean and standard deviation.and standard deviation.

Measurements used include Measurements used include volume, conversion volume, conversion between metric and imperial units and between metric and imperial units and trigonometry.trigonometry.

Problem solvingProblem solving is another key aspect that features is another key aspect that features strongly in the day to day running of the company.strongly in the day to day running of the company.

In terms of softer skills and qualities, In terms of softer skills and qualities, an employee needs to be a team an employee needs to be a team player. Every department is linked and player. Every department is linked and someone is always relying on someone someone is always relying on someone else to get the job done successfully.else to get the job done successfully.

Co-operation, communication, Co-operation, communication, enthusiasm and adaptability feature enthusiasm and adaptability feature strongly alongside punctuality, strongly alongside punctuality, attendance and willingness to take attendance and willingness to take and give direction.and give direction.

I intend to encourage my pupils to I intend to encourage my pupils to achieve these skills and qualities by achieve these skills and qualities by incorporating them into my lesson incorporating them into my lesson plans and classroom activities.plans and classroom activities.

I plan to introduce a more practical I plan to introduce a more practical aspect to some of my lessons e.g aspect to some of my lessons e.g finding volumes of boxes.finding volumes of boxes.

Group work is another method I mean Group work is another method I mean to use more of and is highly relevant to use more of and is highly relevant to the Maths curriculum. I have seen to the Maths curriculum. I have seen its benefits in terms of employability its benefits in terms of employability through this placement.through this placement.

Everyone wears the same uniform right to the Everyone wears the same uniform right to the plant manager. This seems to give all plant manager. This seems to give all employees a sense of equality and importance.employees a sense of equality and importance.

Although the type of work was very different to Although the type of work was very different to what I do each day, I also found a lot of what I do each day, I also found a lot of similarities between the running of this similarities between the running of this company and that of my school. company and that of my school.

Everyone works together to maximise Everyone works together to maximise production, minimise waste and hence achieve production, minimise waste and hence achieve the best possible results, just like a school.the best possible results, just like a school.

The ages of the workforce ranged from 18 to The ages of the workforce ranged from 18 to approximately 50, although there were a approximately 50, although there were a few employees over 50.few employees over 50.

There are around 200 employees made up There are around 200 employees made up of approximately 70% males and 30% of approximately 70% males and 30% females.females.

I did notice that the Engineers and I did notice that the Engineers and Production Supervisors were primarily male.Production Supervisors were primarily male.

Here are a few pictures of people at work, Here are a few pictures of people at work, including myself. including myself.

Compressors ready to be shipped

Packaging

Catherine and Monica in Final Assembly

Part of the manufacturing line

Lisa and Ashleigh in Human Resources

Barry and Myself in Helium Operation The top secret

“Scroll”

More compressors ready to be collected

and shipped

Although I had a brilliant placement, I Although I had a brilliant placement, I love my job as a teacher so I wouldn’t love my job as a teacher so I wouldn’t change permanently to what I did all change permanently to what I did all week. week.

However it gave me an invaluable However it gave me an invaluable insight into the working environment insight into the working environment and the employability skills that we, as and the employability skills that we, as teachers, need to convey to our pupils.teachers, need to convey to our pupils.

I plan to stress to my pupils the I plan to stress to my pupils the importance of Maths in every aspect of importance of Maths in every aspect of the working day and show them how it the working day and show them how it is relevant to their future employment.is relevant to their future employment.

I cannot emphasise enough how I cannot emphasise enough how showing enthusiasm for your job can showing enthusiasm for your job can result in great rewards and result in great rewards and opportunities such as further education opportunities such as further education and development thus leading to and development thus leading to promotion and hence a pay rise!promotion and hence a pay rise!