Aerobloggen

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since we last heard from each other, and since then, we have completed our second rotation. We thought we would share our experiences and tell you a bit more about what we’ve been doing and how we’ve been. We hope you find it as exciting as we do!

Anna Lundberg

During my second rotation, I was part of the Pratt & Whitney team within the program organization. The main focus of the program is to work with customers and the engine programs that GKN is involved in. This rotation was a great learning experience in understanding how our business and contracts are structured and function in practice. The aviation industry is very different from other industries, and the business is incredibly complex. During the rotation, I spent some time shadowing the daily work, but I also had two main projects. One of these was to develop a digitalized scorecard used to summarize the program outcomes each month, such as the number of installed engines, flight hours, and other KPIs. Additionally, I worked on a project to map out the RRSP contract and its various components.

I am now in my third rotation at Material Solutions, where I am working on developing a quality plan for two projects focused on developing parts using additive manufacturing. I am excited to learn more about this part of the business!

David Attoff

Summer is approaching quickly, and it’s definitely time for an update on what has happened since then. Rotation 2 has been completed for a while now, and rotation 3 already feels like home. But what have I been doing during this time?

My second rotation was in a department called Strategy & Sustainability. It is a global function based at the Engines headquarters. It is a relatively small department of about 10 people who work on everything from supporting the Engines sites in their sustainability efforts, being knowledgeable about global sustainability guidelines, to strategy work and business development.

My main project was to support the work around the SBTi target for greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, I investigated how much our components emit during use, i.e., when they are flying. The project involved a lot of communication with all the Engines sites around the world and with the global sustainability team for GKN, based in the Netherlands. The rotation was very good in many ways and gave me a great overview of all the civil components and engine programs we are involved in.

As mentioned, I have now started my third rotation in a department called Systems & Accessories. It is an engineering department where I will delve into the subsystems of aircraft engines, such as fuel systems and hydraulics.

All the best!

David

Erik Juliusson

I also completed my second rotation since Easter! From January to April, I worked in the finance department, where my task was to analyze and create a visualization of the company’s cash flow. It was a fun project that I managed to drive very independently and involved a lot of data handling. A highlight for me was creating the visualization using Python, which gave me an opportunity to brush up on my limited programming skills.

What I primarily wanted to gain from my rotation in finance was a deeper understanding of the company’s financial situation and performance, as well as a better understanding of business economics in general. I definitely feel that I have achieved this!

I have now started my third rotation, where I will prepare a TPM event for a machine in our workshop, which includes reviewing maintenance data and talking to operators to understand the most common problems.

Best regards!

Hanna Gertsson

After the turn of the year, I took the next step in the trainee program and started my second rotation – this time in Global Procurement. Here, I gained a whole new insight into how we at GKN Aerospace work to ensure that our suppliers meet the high standards required by the aviation industry.

During my time in the department, I was involved in revising one of our central processes – a process that clarifies the requirements we place on our suppliers and how these requirements should be managed throughout the procurement chain. It was an exciting task where I got to combine technical understanding with process development and communication between different functions.

I also gained a deeper understanding of how we flow specifications through our internal systems and how we ensure that the right information reaches the right person at the right time – something that is crucial for us to deliver world-class products.

It has been an educational and developmental rotation where I worked closely with both strategic buyers and quality managers, and I have really gained an appreciation for how important a strong supplier network is for our success.

I have now already started my third rotation – a completely new environment with exciting challenges. But more about that after the summer…

Hannes Gustafsson

My second rotation took place within one of the company’s larger ongoing projects, specifically related to the area of industrial structure. The task involved developing a proposal for how material supply might look for some of our future process flows and included a lot of time in our workshops to understand current flows, identify bottlenecks, and the like. I also had the opportunity to explore new potential solutions related to automation to reduce manual handling and unnecessary lifting. The project was challenging but very educational and gave me a clearer picture of what it is like to lead projects related to operations. Now that I have completed my part, the project continues, and it will be very exciting to see what it results in.

I have now moved from Stallbacka, where our production takes place, to the headquarters just a short drive away to learn more about our program organization. I have started a project within the program organization’s Business Excellence team, where I will review existing processes within the entire program organization and map these in a way that promotes a common working method. A very good way to get an insight into our business and how we work around this. All the best!

Måns Larsen

So, rotation 2 is also completed! Or well… not quite.

During my second rotation from January to April, I led the development of a digital visualization tool for a workshop that had not yet received this. Specifically for this project, the engine technicians wanted the ability to plan in the tool, i.e., not just visualize. I am currently working with IT to develop a demo version of this. Therefore, I have not quite completed this rotation yet, but keep it in the background so that I can constantly help when needed and continue to function as a bridge between the developers and the workshop.

I have started my next rotation in Strategy & Sustainability. Here, I am involved in many different projects, such as circularity projects with external companies, data analysis in SQL, rocket science from a sustainability perspective, and various types of OEM analyses.

Many balls in the air, just as it should be!

Wishing all readers all the best!

In January, we completed our first rotations to jump onto the next. Below you can read a little about what each of us has done and what the second rotation entails!

Hannes Gustafsson

My first rotation has been in the purchasing department linked to our business area Material Solutions, which works on developing our competence in additive manufacturing. My primary task, which I have carried out in collaboration with Anna, has been to develop a homogeneous process for daily management for all purchasing departments. The work has involved a lot of networking and trying to boil down many different opinions into a balanced and useful tool that does not involve extra work but contributes something positive. In addition to this, I have also supported the global purchasing team for GKN Engines in starting to populate a tool that aims to gather and visualize current NPI initiatives with our suppliers. I have also done some small tasks and followed my colleagues’ various assignments to get a deeper understanding of what a day in purchasing can look like, which I have really appreciated. Now it is time for me to start my second rotation, which involves exploring current process flows for our high-volume products to compile a recommendation for future change work!

Måns Larsen

My first rotation has been completed in my home department AeroThermodynamics under Governmental Solutions, where I have worked on two different projects. The first has been working with data evaluation of rocket engine tests, specifically on the components in the engine that we manufacture here at Stallbacka. The second project I have been involved in is pre-processing a CAD model (3D) of a component, which I then meshed (grid) and performed CFD analysis (simulations) on.

An overall good rotation with some new things, but also a lot of practical application of what I learned during my studies.

In the coming months, you will find me out in one of our workshops where I will lead a digitization project of the planning boards, which I am incredibly excited about!

Hanna Gertsson

My home department became ME Shared Services, a department that offers support to other operations with expertise in welding, robotics, programming, method knowledge, and responsibility in Special Processes. During this exciting rotation, I gained a deeper understanding of how we ensure that our products meet both drawing specifications and customer requirements. I also gained insight into quality control processes and how we work to maintain high quality in our deliveries.

In one of the departments under ME Shared Services, my task has been to work with a system called Mevisio. I have focused on understanding the department’s specific needs and adapting the platform to optimize daily management. It has been important that the configuration supports continuous improvements and efficient planning of tasks over time for each employee.

It has been a fun and educational rotation where I have had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with many people within the department. Additionally, I have received valuable support from the IT department, which has helped set up and maintain the systems.

After the turn of the year, I started my second rotation, which is in Global Purchasing. More about what I am working on there will come in the next post. Take care!

David Attoff

My first rotation has been completed in my home department AeroThermodynamics within Governmental Solutions, where I worked on a project that involved many different departments. My contribution to the project was to evaluate a newly designed combustion chamber for a test engine. The evaluation was done using CFD, where a detailed combustion simulation was performed to analyze combustion efficiency, among other things.

An exciting project that had many ups and downs, but also many lessons that I take with me.

Now I am starting my second rotation in Strategy and Sustainability, where I will calculate CO2e emissions for our aircraft engine components when they are in operation.

Erik Juliusson

During my first rotation, I worked in the program/commercial department where I have been part of several different projects. One of the main projects was to upload bids (types of deals) into our system. This involved gathering business cases and various documents from the different programs, which was easier said than done, and then registering them in the system. This gave me a better understanding of how the business process works and what is required of the documentation. Another exciting project that landed on my desk was to create a forecasting model for Repair Solutions, which is the part of the company responsible for service and maintenance.

Now I have started my second rotation and am working in the finance department, where I mainly investigate how cash flows through the company. Very exciting!

Hello again!

How time flies. It will soon be a year since we, the graduates of 2021, started at GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan. For some, it was an experience of moving to a new city and for others, to move back home. An eventful year with mixed levels of restrictionsas a result of the pandemic.

Despite that, we have had a lot of fun thanks to the graduate program and we look forward to what next year has to offer. A few weeks ago, I started my third rotation at the Space Program and had the opportunity to participate in Universuem’s Space Day on June 19th. I managed our VR experience with the Ariane 6 rocket together with Marcus Broberg. During the day, astronaut Jessica Meir visited Universeum, a Swedish-American astronaut who spent 205 days in space. In the middle of her hectic schedule, she got the chance to try our VR experience.

Before the summer holiday, us graduates got together to summarize the year and discuss how we can increase our commitment at the workplace. The day ended with a round of mini-golf where the girls dominated. Better luck next time boys. 😉

Now the blog will go on a summer break and when we return it is time to welcome the new graduates. We also want to take the opportunity to thank the graduates of 2020 for their posts about the abroad rotations, it has really inspired us and we cannot wait until we get to go.

Have a good summer,

Moa

Hello everyone!

As you already know, me and the other 2020/2022 graduates are all abroad for our last placements, where I as well as Emma ended up in Bristol. Maybe you remember the news about Eunice hitting UK, the worst storm in decades? That’s when I arrived. Luckily the weather have just gotten better ever since and we’ve finally good some nice warmer summer weather, even if it looks like we’re getting a bit of rain now for Midsummer. But hey, what is Midsummer without rain anyways?

Since I arrived here in UK I’ve been working in Human Recourses where I am part of the global Talent and Engagement team. I am based at the Global Technology Centre here in Bristol and the rest of the team is spread across England. Luckily we’ve learnt a lot about remote working and digital meetings lately! The work in HR is totally new and very different from any other work I’ve ever done but I’m learning so much. Since I arrived my time have been divided into two major topics, events and Learning & Development. With Learning & Development my work have been heavily focused on the “behind the scenes” in our Learning Management Systems, Wilbur and LinkedIn Learning.

The first event I got involved in was Recognition of Learning, a ceremony at the Aerospace Museum in Bristol. Under the wings of the Concorde we recognised colleagues within our company for their achievements during the past two years and as part of this celebration the 2019/2021 global graduates also had their graduation. During the same week the 2021/2023 global graduates also had their first development week, which Moa has already told you about, which made it a quite intense week and start of my placement but so much fun and a lot of good memories made!

After this big event in March it was a quieter month in April before me, Emma, Jens and Marcus went to Paris early May and then adding in Robin for our third development week in US just a few weeks later. First thing first, Paris and the JEC World. JEC World is an international composite show where we as graduates helped out in the GKN Aerospace stand as well as walking around the show getting inspired from all the other exhibitors. We gathered new knowledge around composites and our products and I am truly grateful for this network experience!

After a week of recharge back home in Bristol my graduate cohort met up for our third and final development week at our Newington site in Connecticut. During the week we developed skills and knowledge around coaching, presentations and negotiations and between the sessions we got the pleasure to meet the US recruitment team and Engines Talent team, and also throw some axes! Before leaving US we also took the opportunity to visit Pratt & Whitney’s Customer Training Centre where we got to see our products assembled on to the engines. Then of course we ended our trip with a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in a sunny New York!

I can’t understand where time has gone. We’ve soon been here for two years which means that we’ll be graduating this autumn. I just want to take the opportunity to thank my cohort for everything, what a journey it’s been! But before ending the scheme and leaving UK I will end my placement with a last project, Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world’s biggest aerospace events! All the global graduates from both 2020/2022 and 2021/2023 are meeting up here in UK for this, so I bet you will hear more about it later on!

Have a great summer everyone!

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