Report on industrial attachment with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology

• Main Author: Wong, Kathy Pooi Wen
• Other Authors: Yeo Joo Chuan
• Format: Industrial Attachment (IA)
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/65246
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The main focus of these 20 weeks of Industrial Attachment (IA) at SIMTech was on three main projects, namely design and development of portable colorimeter for microfluidics applications, design and development of cell incubator for microfluidics application and the implementation of quality system to the attached programme according to ISO 13485 requirements. These three projects were at different phases respectively in these 20 weeks of involvement. In Project Colorimeter, various chemical tests, troubleshooting tests were carried out in preparation of a prototype. Chemical tests were conducted to establish a correlation between the voltage output and the concentration of the solutions. These chemical tests were repeated at every different phase of the project to ensure consistency. Similarly, troubleshooting tests were conducted at every progressive stage of the electrical aspect. After the building of the prototype, the prototype was then exhibited at the Lab-on-a-Chip conference which is a platform to introduce the portable Colorimeter to the public. Before the closure of the project, tests were carried out to ensure the feasibility of the potential progression of the Colorimeter. In Project Cell Incubator, the involvement period was at its conceptual and testing stage. This project involved multiple tests in search of the most suitable parts in building the Cell Incubator. When the necessary parts were assembled together, heating tests were conducted on the test stage with the use of mammalian cells to test the feasibility of the heater to incubate mammalian cells. The involvement period in this project was up till the testing phase, if the heater is able to incubate the mammalian cell further improvisation would be done on the design of the cell incubator. In the long run, a humidifier and a CO2 source might also be integrated into the incubator in order to provide better stimulating conditions for the cell culture. Project ISO 13485 is an ongoing project. Extensive literature review had to be done in order to have a better understanding of the international requirements expected before further improvements could be made to the quality manual and the existing forms. Reviewing of the forms were done to better cater to the project leaders. These forms were being reviewed and suggestions were given to the in-charge on how to further improvise forms to make them more effective. These 20 weeks of IA provided an opportunity to experience various nature of work which was a platform in learning various sets of skills which is necessary in the working arena. Many precious lessons were learnt throughout the 20 weeks of IA. These lessons include having an effective communication amongst team members, being versatile, and always keeping an open and inquisitive mind to learn. The lessons learnt in would be useful as a life skill and applicable regardless of the field of work in the future.