Tim Leopold
BS ISE 2003
Honda of America Manufacturing
Marysville, OH

What responsibilities do you have in your position?
My job is to evaluate manufacturing problems and support the manufacturing departments when they aren't able to properly analyze their problems.

One example of this is in our paint department. Because Honda is always striving to produce the highest quality product, we need to make sure that all of our vehicles have no paint defects when they are delivered to our customers. The way that we do this is to inspect every unit that passes through our paint shop and repair the units that have fiber in the finish. The units that require some re-work are sent through our repair area while the rest of the good bodies are sent to a storage area. There are many variables that play into how large the storage area should be, so, because of the complexity of the system, I was asked to study and determine the appropriate size.

Describe a typical day.
My typical work day has a nice balance of engineering work done behind a computer, where I will study a particular problem, with frequent trips to the manufacturing floor to go to the actual spot to determine the actual problem.

The majority of the information that is required to adequately address a problem isn't readily available. Because this is usually the case, we need to setup methodologies for how to collect the data. This sometimes involves creating project teams in specific areas so we are able to draw on the expertise in that area or physically collecting the data every day. Even if there is a system in place to collect the data we always need to validate the information before we are able to use it in our study.

What's the coolest part of your job?
The best part of my engineering career is the ability to use my technical abilities creatively. Going through high school and college prepares you technically and gives you the skill sets and tools required to troubleshoot and solve problem, but after that it is our responsibility to know what technique to use and when to apply them.

Why did you choose Industrial and Systems Engineering as a major?
In high school I decided that I would like to give engineering a try. I didn't have any particular engineering discipline in mind but I wanted to take a closer look at all of them before I decided. After I took an Intro to Engineering Course, which went through all of the engineering backgrounds I decided that Industrial and Systems Engineering was the best fit for me because it provided the business aspect as well as the engineering background.

What are some of the most important skills and abilities needed for your job?
The most important skill needed for this job is a systematic problem solving approach. Having the correct problem solving approach—something that is repeatable—will allow you to break down even the most complex problem with limited knowledge of the equipment or process up front.

A willingness to learn new things and be open to suggestions from fellow associates will only help the solution to a problem be accepted. Communication is also one of the most valuable skills to have. Even the best idea in the world will not be accepted if you don't have the ability to convey the importance and urgency of the solution.

The only other thing that you will need, after you graduate college of course, would be the motivation to succeed. This is a character trait that will raise you above the rest of the group when schedules are tight and deadlines are rapidly approaching.

What advice do you have for people who want to enter this field?
My advice to all of you in your career decisions is to gain as much exposure as you can in the field you are interested in. Just like you wouldn't want to buy something you have never seen before, you also don't want to select an occupation based off of what you have read about in a book. Experiencing the job through a job shadow day or through talking with people that are currently doing the job is invaluable.

For Tim's full interview and a video about his job, visit http://mycooljob.org/wise/industrial_engineer.php