Wow — I can’t believe it is already done! After taking some time to settle back in from the trip, I now am reflecting (and reminiscing) everything that we did.
SUMMARY
This trip was nothing short of transformative. While in-country, we attended industrial engineering lectures on various topics, including ergonomics, lean production, and German business practices. We also had the opportunity to tour different manufacturing plants, such as BMW and Siemens. We even went to the BMW Munich dealership and BMW World, where we saw a bunch of different cars and motorcycles the company has to offer.
While in class, we were integrated with German students to complete several projects and exercises. For example, in one of our projects, we conducted research on different members of the car owners – both from the United States and Germany – to understand the underlying factors that influence where the car owner goes for their post-sale transactions (services or maintenance). This project was part of a larger competition through BMW, with the ultimate goal of helping the esteemed car manufacturing company increase its contact points with EV customers specifically at BMW shops. Each group was assigned a different generation of car-owners (Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z), and we presented our findings to a panel of professors. Our group, Gen X, fortunately was announced the winners from our professors, which was very exciting!
Another extremely fun class was the lean production simulation, where we did two different simulations on different days. One was designing a production line to create different types of motors using varying combinations of materials based on randomized purchase orders, and the other one was a production line to assemble 6 identical toy cars in under 6 minutes. In both simulations, the class was split into two groups to see which strategy would be more effective in creating the fastest production line with the least number of errors or workers. The pressure was on to outperform the other team; however, in both cases, my team won in creating the best production line, and we all learned so much throughout the process!
Outside of the classroom, we learned a lot about Bavaria’s rich culture through many trips and excursions. We attended an FC Bayern game, where we got to see how exciting European soccer games get (which is VERY!). We also attended a Bavarian cooking class on one of the last days of the trip, where we learned how to make all the amazing foods we were trying throughout the program. Over the weekend, we took the train to Salzburg, a city in Austria with a beautiful scenery, rich history, and a large fortress overlooking the city. It was interesting seeing how culturally similar the Alpine region was, including Bavaria (the southernmost state of Germany where Munich lies), Austria, northern Italy, and Switzerland.
Growth and takeaways
Academically, exposing myself to the field of industrial engineering complimented and expanded my academic profile tremendously. As a mechanical engineering major with a minor in electrical engineering, I also decided to pursue 2 certificates: one in Simulation in Design and one in Innovation, Product Design, and Entrepreneurship. Through Pitt’s Big Idea Center, I have completed even more certificates in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Learning both the United States and German business practices allowed me to better understand the logistics behind business and technology in a global context. I found that learning from a foreign perspective increased my understanding of these concepts, as the eclectic viewpoint elicited a level of complexity that only a globalized course could do.
Professionally, this program enhanced my aforementioned academic profile by opening more doors in the realm of innovation, business, and entrepreneurship, which are extremely applicable to my future goals. After graduation, I plan to attend law school and begin a career in Intellectual Property law, specifically concentrating in patents. In this field, I would be working at the intersection of engineering, technology, innovation, and law, which is why I value understanding a breadth of technical engineering disciplines as well as business or entrepreneurial concepts. Munich is known as an innovation hub, for it is the 4th largest technology hub in Europe, only beat by London, Paris, and Berlin. By increasing my technical Industrial Engineering knowledge, while studying German business practices and innovation, I had the opportunity to globalize my network and my degree in a city known for its technology and innovation. This made the program a very worthwhile experience for me as I prepare to enter the realm of Intellectual Property!
Personally, I also learned so much about myself and my role in the world around me. As a little girl from a small town, I always wished to travel the world and expand my view of life, and I am so glad that Munich was my first stop out of the country. We all learned a lot from being away, ranging from something as little as budgeting money properly to managing being 4,000 miles away from our families and homes. I learned the importance of embracing culture, even if it is not your own. It was very interesting meeting a variety of people from Germany, as well as other parts of the world, and seeing how their experiences are similar or different than my own. I gained a greater appreciation of life through exchanging stories, learning about the history and culture of Germany, and interacting with everything around us. And better yet, I was able to meet individuals along the way who I consider not only colleagues, but also lifelong friends, and I would not trade that experience for anything.
I would again like to thank the University of Pittsburgh and the HM Hochschule München University of Applied Science for partnering together to create such an invaluable opportunity for its students. I would also like to thank the Swanson School of Engineering’s Global Experience Office and the Frederick Honors College, especially the generous Ms. Friedel, for assisting me greatly in financially supporting this opportunity. Lastly, I would like to thank my family, God, and my friends (both at home and in Germany!) for their unwavering love and support as I extended out of my comfort zone and embraced a new opportunity in foreign territory… both literally and figuratively.
I am greatly saddened that this unforgettable program has come to a conclusion; however, I find closure in the hope of returning very soon. Auf wiedersehen Munich … until next time!
