Communication is key for Zara Brown’s role as a Manufacturing Engineer at BLK BOX.
Read how she became a Manufacturing Engineer at BLK BOX
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
Throughout my career, I have worked within a range of disciplines. These have included a summer placement as a workshop operative, a placement year during university in a global company working within supply chain analytics, and then, post university, I worked within the additive manufacturing (3D printing) industry before starting with BLK BOX.
All of these experiences have been extremely worthwhile and have given me exposure to engineering in a variety of different settings.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I don’t think I would ever have said I had a favourite subject but apparently I never complained about Maths, so that must have been the one!
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
After school, I studied Mechanical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast.
How did you get into your area of work?
At university I was part of a leadership programme through the Engineering School, where companies came in and ran workshops about Lean manufacturing and problem-solving techniques in engineering environments, among other things. This introduction sparked an interest in this area of engineering.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
To be honest, if you asked me a few years ago what area of Engineering I wanted to work in, I probably couldn’t have told you. Working here has allowed me to find the area which I am interested in, in an industry which I am passionate about.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
For this position, a degree was required but no specific experience, although an understanding of what a manufacturing engineer does and some of the tasks that may be expected of them was extremely useful.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
To become a manufacturing engineer you’ll typically need a degree in engineering. It’s also possible to enter at a trainee level with an engineering HNC, HND or foundation degree. With experience and further qualifications, you’ll then be able to progress to more senior roles. It’s also possible to take an advanced manufacturing engineering apprenticeship. As part of the apprenticeship, you’ll complete a Level 4 NVQ in engineering leadership and will take a relevant HNC, HND or foundation degree, which could lead to progression to an honours degree in engineering technology.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
BLK BOX has a great culture and workplace relationships are really strong, so interpersonal skills are very important in my role. Over and above the engineering department, I work with a number of other departments in the company.
To make sure things happen as efficiently as possible, communication is key. Having a practical approach to the job is also important, being able to help out and know how processes and machines operate allows for a far better understanding of how to then improve or implement new processes. Most importantly you need to be willing to take on new challenges and learn on the job.
What does a typical day entail?
We recently moved to amazing new headquarters in Monkstown, so I have been involved in getting the manufacturing side of the Engineering department operating efficiently in the new location. I spend a lot of my time planning and implementing strategies to ensure manufacturing and assembly runs smoothly, for instance reducing waste, ensuring stock levels are managed, and making processes more efficient.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
BLK BOX is a world-leading company with a great brand, so overall I’m really proud to work for the business. The best thing about the job is probably seeing ideas being implemented and working effectively. The most challenging is probably prioritising tasks; at first glance everything seems like it’s the most important.
Why is what you do important?
The company is incredibly busy, working for companies and brands like Adidas, PureGym, Arsenal and Irish Rugby. We also manufacture gym equipment for consumers. Our manufacturing processes therefore need to be as efficient as possible to ensure we can continue to deliver for our customers.
My role involves introducing new processes or strategies and then monitoring and optimising these in order to produce the highest quality products efficiently while using the most cost-effective methods.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
I started working for the company towards the end of 2020, so I’ve only ever known BLK BOX with Covid considerations. We are extremely fortunate in that Covid-19 saw the popularity of home gyms skyrocket, meaning we’ve been running at full capacity since March last year. We have had to pivot, and a number of our departments have been working from home whilst remaining as efficient as possible. My team have remained onsite whilst ensuring we are in a safe environment and meeting all regulations.
What adjustments have you had to make?
The main thing for us all is making sure we follow the government guidelines to ensure BLK BOX is safe for everyone who needs to be there, ensuring we can continue to provide for all our clients. My role requires me to be on the shop floor for part of my time but I can also work from home when needed.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Be prepared to put in the effort, things don’t just happen overnight. Most importantly though, find something you love doing and then it won’t feel like work. It has taken me awhile to find what that was, however all my experiences up until now have helped prepare me for the role I’m in.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
Probably travelling the world – if I could get paid for it then that would be the dream! As far as another job is concerned, I’m not sure what I would do. I’m loving what I’m doing at the minute.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Ask questions and be interested in the people you meet; they can teach you a lot.
Describe your ideal day off.
Going for breakfast (and actually being able to sit in the cafe), then a hike in the Mournes with friends or family.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Be patient, looking for a job can be the most frustrating process. Perhaps seek some advice to make sure your CV includes all the key information you want an employer to know about you. If you get an interview for a role which you would love and you know you meet the criteria, put in the preparation. Go in knowing why you deserve it.
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