Industrial Attachment At Western Sydney University - Hands-On Experience For Engineering Students

Describe the Reading and interpretation of engineering drawings.

Overview of Western Sydney University and the Industrial Attachment Program

Western Sydney University is a public chartered university that offers engineering courses with relevant training. To realize the Master’s Degree necessity at Western Sydney University, engineering students are required to proceed on industrial attachment for a minimum of twelve weeks field. The industrial attachment provides exposure to the engineering students to hands-on experience and provide the student an opportunity to put into practice the skills learnt in the university.

The purpose of an industrial attachment at Western Sydney University is to expose the engineering student to hands-on experience and provide the student an opportunity to put into practice the skills learnt in the university. The university attaches great importance to the practical training and it accounts towards the award of the Master’s degree. Additionally, it serves as a linkage between the students and various relevant industries who consume services and/or products offered.

Hexima International, Construction Ltd. is an International company. The company was established in Australia in 2008 as guiding project directors and engineers. This company partakes pronounced understanding in infrastructure growth, construction works, civil engineering and electrical mechanical atmosphere not only in these but also in railway, bridge, and solar project. For any most important expansion, this corporation offers an extensive and excellence variety of expertise to evaluate the projects. Hexima International, Construction Ltd. has a joint venture with Build works Building Pty Ltd, K.J. McCracken Pty Ltd, Dynatron Building Services, M.D.G Builder, Technik Haus Planners and MLEI Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd (Adelaide based Company).

Aptitudes of this business are Project Construction and development. The range of the project is well-defined by execution and implementation of engineering practices and as per client requirements and preferences, they formulate a budget. To assess the diverse processes of construction of infrastructure by carrying out technical and ecological studies and to recommend the superlative design to the customer. When there is an ambiguous condition they offer framework and methodology for rational decision making.

The managing director of Hexima International, Construction Ltd. is known as Mr. Wachira, He holds a bachelor degree and Masters of Administration too from NSW. In addition, Mr. Wachira tracked MASCE. (USA) Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow associate of The Institution of Engineers, Australia over 30 years of knowledge in Structural Design and High-ranking Project Director. Mr. Wachira has productively achieved the finishing point of developments both in Australia and Internationally including Dubai, India and Nortth Korea.

The industrial attachment commenced on  of October 2017 at Hexima International, Construction Ltd in Thindigua construction site. The project is purposed to construct residential apartments. The University attachment letter and insurance cover were given to the director for documentation. Since the site had started I was assigned a small task as well keep learning from other activities by asking questions or simply observations. I was presented with the company’s Rules and regulations and code of practice. I was presented with Hexima’s International, Construction Ltd occupational Health and safety plans to familiarize myself. I was also given logins credentials to the company’s website to go through the completed projects and upcoming projects.

Hexima International, Construction Ltd. - Company Background

Tasks were assigned at Thindigua construction site in Sydney. The tasks involved supervision of the tendering of the upcoming projects, construction works, learning and taking part in the site meetings.

In order to work easily and enhance working flow, the following protocol was observed.

A site engineer offers guidance in the scheduling, co-ordination and regulation of technical features of building projects. A site engineer's starring role is critical to a building project: they partake an amount of accountabilities comprising solving technical issues, offering advice, formulating reports, reviewing design and overseeing construction progress

A Project Manager is a specialized in the field of Management. Project managers have the accountability of the scheduling, obtaining resources and implementation of a project, in any field of engineering.

A site agent is a representative of the service provider in a construction site. He/ She supervises the overall construction works. The site agent carries the survey works, read out and interprets the engineering drawings and gives instructions to the foreman.

A foreman is a skilled supervisor responsible working with site engineer, the contractor, the project manager and the client. The main task is to employ skilled workers for definite work and the laborers. The foreman focuses in overall management of all activities on site for timely project completion.

The group encompasses of masons, carpenters, steel fixers and daily laborers and are out sourced by foreman and work under strict instructions.

Areas explored during the attachment

Engineering drawings are graphical lingos applied by engineers and other mechanical personnel linked with the engineering line of work. The tenacity of engineering drawing is to send in detail the concepts and data required for the construction. Engineering drawings available in the Thindigua construction site includes; Structural drawings, plumbing drawings and Electrical installation drawings. The site engineer provided assistance in reading and interpretation of the engineering drawings. This task was carried out during the construction of the columns, beams and slabs. The drawings aided in steel fixing, a critical stage during construction of a structure.

Hexima International, Construction Ltd regularly bids for projects. Although I was not familiar to tendering, the project manager procured keen attention in administering out necessary backing to comprehend conception of e-tendering. There after I actively took part in tendering process of the upcoming project alongside other senior members of the company. Later then, I prepared questionnaire regarding design, time delivery and scope of work. Moreover, I attended the meeting with prominent companies where the council briefed about the tendering process and things to be included while lodging tendering. The main point raises at tendering is that the company has to validate three other alternative bridge designs along with respective assessment report.

Excavation is the paramount phase of construction. It denotes to the practice of getting rid of soil or rock from its original location, typically in preparation for construction foundations, basements, and underground utility lines and for grading of the ground surface. Excavated material required for backfill and the grading fill is stockpiled on the site for subsequent use. The unwanted soil was removed from the construction site.

Roles and Responsibilities at the Construction Site

Excavation works were carried out by the laborers under the supervision of the site agent. The depth of the foundation was determined by the engineer in the site after the inspection of the type of soil. The depth of the underground tank was 3350mm.

Concrete formwork is a subordinate building, cast-off as a mould for a structure. Fresh concrete is caused to flow into the mould to let it set in the required shape and size. The formwork erection is detached when the concrete, strengthens and gains satisfactory métier. In Thindigua construction site, formworks were laid by use of both steel sheets and timber sheets. The size of the formwork depended on the size of the structural elements such as beams, columns and slabs. Formworks were erected using plumb bob, try square and spirit levels for accuracy.

Concrete is a uniform mixture of cement, sand, ballast and water at a constant rate. Fresh concrete is malleable and is able to be moulded easily into whichever shape. Concrete utilized in forming structural components was class 25 (Ratio 1:2:4) 1 bag of cement, 2bags of sand and 4 bags of ballast and coarse aggregate. The mix was prepared using a concrete mixer and transported using cranes, steel basins and wheelbarrows.

Concrete is considerable weaker in tension than in compression. Its ductile strength is roughly 10% of its compressive métier. This means that concrete is usually cast-off in unification with steel strengthening that offers the tensile strength in concrete member. The flawless amalgamation between steel and concrete is owing to the thermal increase of both materials being the same.

The steel bars used in construction of in the construction site were round high yield steel main bars of Y16 while Y8 for links for the slab work.

Masonry are works that are executed by laying building material units such as stone, brick and mortar as the binding material. Supervision of laying masonry was done to ensure that the mortar was in the required ratio and the wall was at the required level. Distribution wires were placed at alternate courses to ensure even distribution of stresses in the wall.

During the entire period of the internship, I attended site meeting and was involved insite inspection exercises. The site meeting were meant to update the client on the progress of the project, review of the timelines and project evaluations. The site inspection exercises were carried to ensure that the project was being undertaken as per the stipulated requirements as per the Engineering drawings. These practices equipped me with communication and interrelation skills of the field work.

In addition, I Took part in preliminary design and drafting on Auto CAD of the upcoming Dam construction project. In order, to outshine on this expertise I applied utmost of the understanding from recovery route design of structures learnt during my third year of the undergraduate study.  

Benefits to Students. The industrial attachment seek to offer students a practical translation of the theory they have been taught. It has also got individual benefit of liaising the university to the industries, hence brightening the employment chances of the students in the university. Through this attachment, I have generated a good interpersonal relationship through my interaction with my supervisors and colleagues. This has assisted me to interact confidently with people irrespective of the position. Industrial program has offered many advantages in relation to real time situation. At the end of internship, I progressed a lot and was able to apply learnt subject into practical scenario. Though it was difficult to work under pressure. My supervisor held me to tackle things in an appropriate and gave the best solutions. Nonetheless, improved great ability towards conveying and communicating things in a way ac knowledgeable by the client. There by, reviewed the communications skills that I learned from unit Professional practice and communication

Areas Explored During the Attachment

Experience Through my attachment, I have gained some new experiences in the construction industry. I have also learnt construction workers are struggling their daily tasks which has aided me to improve on my social life through interaction with construction workers either working under pressure with or without.

Working in the company exposed me to various learning environment or conditions. It has thereby inculcated in me sympathy for the poor and above all the will to acquire myself from improving my practical knowledge.

Network with professionals in your field, for references and future job opportunities. It’s all about who you know. As a student intern, you are surrounded by professionals in the industry that you are seeking access to. It’s more than just about getting a grade, earning credit, or making money. This gave me an opportunity to learn from everyone around me, ask questions, and impress them with my eagerness.

• Drastic Weather changes disturbing the objectives of the day
• Shortage of knowledge in some portion of work at the site.
• Unsatisfactory answers for questions from construction workers
• Insufficient safety preconditions hence prone to hazards.
• Working under high conditions pressure.  

Conclusion and Recommendations

Conclusion

The industrial attachment was successful despite the challenges faced. Theoretical skills learnt in class were practiced in the construction site. Vast experience was successfully gained during the attachment period. Skills such as setting out, reading and interpretation of drawings, general tendering and supervision were acquired during the period. I was able to acquire high level of confidence to deal with problems that arise in a building construction.

Generally, the industrial internship was of assistance to me in understanding all engineering expertise pertinent to civil engineering. In addition, it boosted the aptitude of intellectual and managing. On the other hand, internship helped to advance great experience in surveying and Civil works. 

References

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