Introducing Matthew Sprink — SCS Elevator’s Summer Intern!
This summer we had the pleasure of welcoming an intern to our team! Matthew Sprink is a senior at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, majoring in Operations and Supply Chain Management. We recently sat down with him to discuss his experience working with us — read on to learn more about Matthew and the work he did with us this summer!
Putting His Skills to the Test
Matthew’s ultimate goal is to work in the manufacturing industry when he graduates, so interning at SCS was a great way for him to see what it would be like to work in this field. He is interested in the process of how things are made and everything that goes into making each product. In his words, “A lot of people don’t realize the time, people, and tools that it takes to make something.” He enjoys the wide variety of responsibilities that come with a job in the manufacturing world, managing different projects and handling new tasks on a daily basis.
A favorite part of his internship was working on projects related to Continuous Improvement. He found it fulfilling to put the knowledge and skills he has learned in the classroom to work on the production floor, and enjoyed being a part of making changes at SCS and impacting our business with higher efficiency, cost savings, and process flow improvements.
Matthew found SCS’s staff to be helpful and receptive to any questions he had, and is appreciative of everything they did to help him learn this summer. One of the most valuable things he learned was how important it is to utilize each employee’s unique strengths, and to not be afraid to ask questions. He said “it is better to ask how to do something rather than do it wrong.”
Interning in a Pandemic: A Uniquely Fulfilling Experience
Starting his internship in the middle of a pandemic, Matthew’s experience was certainly different than that of past interns, but he made the most of it. In fact, because of the pandemic, he was able to take part in research and development for future products that may not have taken place in a typical year. This summer he was able to engage with our research on implementing different touchless technologies and antimicrobial alternatives for elevator products that will serve to create a safer elevator environment, both during the pandemic and beyond.
Advice for Future Interns
Matthew’s biggest piece of advice for future interns is this: be confident, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your ideas. He learned early on that if there was something he didn’t know, all he had to do was ask. All in all, he found that his internship was a great opportunity to be a leader, showcase his abilities, and strengthen his self-confidence. He highly recommends taking part in an internship if you have the opportunity: “the lessons and experience you gain…put you a step above the rest when it comes time to graduate and find your first job.”
Here at SCS we are proud to be a part of Matthew’s learning experience and that of our other interns over the years. If you or someone you know is looking to intern in the manufacturing industry, contact us to see if an internship at SCS Elevator Products could be the right fit!
