In today’s highly competitive education sector, having a degree is no longer enough; individuals must also develop their technical abilities. As a result, internships have become vital for candidates to set themselves apart from their peers. To address this, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing and Automation (CoEMA), Institution Innovation Council (IIC), and OPJU Innovation Centre, has arranged a one-month industrial internship program (certificate course) at OP Jindal University. The program was conducted from May 1st, 2023, to May 31st, 2023.
The primary objective of this internship was to impart practical knowledge to students through a hands-on, experiential learning approach. The center currently prioritizes training and research initiatives that aim to meet the increasing requirements of India’s engineering and manufacturing industries.
Dr. Siddharth S. Chakrabarti, Director-Centre for Industry-Academia Collaboration & Head- Mechanical Engineering Department, extended a warm welcome to the esteemed guests and participants during the inauguration of the internship. Notably, the participants hailed from prestigious institutes across Chhattisgarh. Emphasizing the significance of internships, Dr. Chakrabarti encouraged the participants to actively engage in the program with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Dr. R. D. Patidar, the Vice-Chancellor, inaugurated the internship program and urged the students to make the most of the advanced manufacturing facilities available at OP Jindal University Raigarh. He also emphasized the importance of staying updated with the latest developments in the manufacturing industry and encouraged students to leverage them effectively.
The internship commenced with an introductory session on welding technologies. Students received comprehensive instruction on different welding processes, positions and gained insights into the factors influencing welding quality for both metals and non-metals. Prior to engaging in actual welding, students had the opportunity to practice on a Virtual Welding Simulator. Through the simulator, they were able to perform SMAW, MMAW, and GTAW welding techniques in various workpiece positions. The participants were exposed to NDT tests, CNC machines Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction, Universal testing machines, and other advanced facilities available at OPJU. They had the chance to witness the operation of laser engraver, 3D printers, PCB engravers, and other advanced machines of the OPJU innovation center. In particular, laser cutting, a remarkable innovation, utilizes a concentrated beam of light to accurately cut and engrave diverse materials, thereby transforming manufacturing and design processes.
They got benefited from talks made by experts from TESLA, USA, Welingkar Institute of Management, Tata Steel Jamshedpur which covered various topics such as the application of Design of Experiments (DoE) in manufacturing and machine learning, the investigation of structure, employment, and growth within the Indian manufacturing industry. The inhouse sessions were conducted by Dr. Umesh Vishwakarma, Dr. Mahesh Bhiwapurkar, Prof Jitesh Singh, Prof Dharmendra Saini, Mr. Prashant Padhi, and other faculty members of the Department. The participants got the opportunity to visit several industries, including Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) Raigarh, Jindal Power Limited, Tamnar, Nalwa Steel and Power Limited, and Structural Steel Division. Along with it, an adventure trip was also conducted for the participants to provide the students with hands-on experience in fieldwork and practical knowledge regarding canal routing, water diversion through dams, and water distribution to the local community and the JPL plant for cooling purposes. During the trip, the students would also become acquainted with catchment areas, hydraulic gates, water levels, wing walls, and body walls, thereby gaining valuable insights into these aspects of water management.
During the final week of the internship, a specialized workshop was conducted in collaboration with Fronius India Pvt. Ltd. This workshop focused on providing students with a comprehensive understanding of robotic welding, and the sessions were delivered by Mr. V Kamath, Managing Director, Fronius India Private Limited and his team.
Upon the completion of the program, Dr. Umesh Vishwakarma, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Coordinator of the internship, expressed his gratitude towards all the guests, students, and faculty members for their cooperation and enthusiastic engagement throughout the duration of the program.
One month very good