Passion for Engineering is a must to Achieve Success in the field

Right from her school days, Anshika Rathee had a keen interest in repairing gadgets at home. “I used to check out how a mechanical device, gadget or appliance worked. That got me interested in engineering,” says Rathee, who is now a mechanical engineer with the Maruti Centre for Excellence (MACE), a division of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), Gurgaon.

It was her ‘drive for logic and efforts to implement her learnings’ that helped Rathee succeed in a competitive discipline like mechanical engineering. “Engineering education exposes you to the industry. I learnt how parts/components are manufactured and assembled. You get a bigger platform and can even go in for management or start your own business. No other field gives you so many choices,” says this alumna of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, who is a BTech in mechanical and automation engineering.

“Life in an engineering college was a treat. There were challenges, too. Engineering colleges in our country have a very rigorous curriculum. For students fresh out of school, there is a lot of pressure with so many exams, because of the semester system. So, in a period of four to five months, students have to write theory exams thrice and appear for practical examinations too. I did a lot of projects as well, and represented my college in national-level events. I was involved with the SAE IGIT Collegiate Club and promoted and encouraged my college mates to participate in the various competitions organized by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). I represented my college in 2011 and 2012 twice in the national event, SAE NIS Efficyle, and set up teams of eight students for both the years. Efficycle is a hybrid vehicle which promotes ecofriendly concepts. I was the only girl racing, riding my Efficyle competing with the rest of the boys in the endurance run,” she says.

It required only enthusiasm and perseverance for a team of eight girls to build a vehicle, going to the auto markets in Mayapuri, Chawri Bazaar, Jhandewalan to source parts. “We designed and made the vehicle ourselves. I was the only girl racing, riding my Efficyle competing with the rest of the boys in the endurance run. College gave me a good learning environment and also gave me the opportunity to explore and get hands on experience of many engineering practices,” adds Rathee.

College provided many extra curriculum opportunities as well. Rathee got a chance to groom herself in public speaking with debates, and much more.

Manufacturing or mechanical engineering is a branch which gives one exposure to production of components, items etc. “I opted for mechanical and automation engineering because of the physics I had studied. There was scope to learn more about many mechanical processes we use in daily life and in industry. Moreover, I wanted to get exposed to the automobile industry. It served as a perfect package for me. I wanted to find out how engineering comes into play in automobiles,” says Rathee, who finds it a lively and dynamic field.

Working with MACE since July 2013, Rathee looks after quality and cultural upgradation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers of MSIL. “We mentor and consult our suppliers with the Maruti Production System and take up projects related to improving productivity, operating equipment efficiency, and more in their companies,” she says.

At Maruti, they also have a function of vendor system audit, training and development. “I go for regular shop floor visits at various suppliers of MSIL and study their processes in detail. The learning and exposure one gets is incomparable. It is a rare opportunity to get such a wide exposure to so many processes, organisations, systems and culture of many organisations just at the start of my career,” she adds. The young engineer also holds training sessions for vendors, to help them out in the tough areas.

Talking about some challenges she faces, Rathee says: “Physical stamina is required at the shop floor, one gets a lot of practical exposure that’s necessary for learning, and upgradation. It takes you to the core of engineering practices.”

Source: Hindustantimes.com