MSA Safety Inc

QC Tech

May - August 2024 • Cranberry Township, PA

What I liked

During the job, I had 2 main responsibilities, analyzing tanks of mixed refrigerants on one of two GCs (Gas Chromatographer) and Safe Launching packed units for quality assurance. I enjoyed that as I progressed through the job, there were more complicated mixes of refrigerants to analyze along with different varieties of units for Safe Launching. Every employee I interacted with was incredibly friendly and there was always an open line of communication if I had any questions. There was a lot to learn from this experience including how Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing all work together to form a cohesive unit.

What I wish was different

There was not much that I wish had been different. One thing I would say is that even though it is important to ensure the quality of the product being shipped out, Safe Launching units gets a little tedious, however it rarely got to that point where I had to do it for an entire shift. Another thing specific to me was that I worked the night shift (11PM - 7AM), and I had a hard time adjusting to it. Overall, not much to complain about in terms of the workload and job responsibilities.

Advice

Be open and friendly to establish connections with the people who work here. Everyone was friendly and quick to respond to questions and requests. Additionally, having an open line of communication between the main building and the testing lab is helpful to send and receive tanks, or to know when to come down to the main building for Safe Launch.

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Engineering Co-op

January 2022 • Cranberry Township, PA

What I liked

I liked everyone's dedication to their work and the passion workers had for the products that they made. Right away I could see that people cared about their work and wanted to make the final version the best it could be. Working in this kind of environment is inspiring and it makes me want to work just as hard as the other workers do. I also enjoy how I am working for a mission that really matters. The products that MSA make help to save lives and it feels good to know that I am helping make the world a safer place. The people at MSA are also very friendly and helpful. Overall, it is a great working atmosphere which is shown through the way people carry themselves and their work.

What I wish was different

I really enjoyed my first rotation in the detection branch and there is not much that I would change. However, if I had to change something I would have tried to better document my day to day activities and the projects that I worked on. As an engineer, it is very important to record completed work such as collected data or the procedures for testing that was done. Keeping record of this work allows you to stay organized and it gives yourself and other engineers the opportunity to compare it to the recordings of both future and past tests. Early in my rotation, I was not the best at documenting everything that I was doing because I had never had to record my work before. As time went on, I realized the importance of tracking completed work and I wish I would have realized this earlier in my rotation.

Advice

I would recommend others to get to know all of the co-workers in their area and ask questions often. I found that getting to know everyone was not only beneficial because it made the working environment comfortable, but it also made new projects available to me. People I introduced myself to would often invite me to work on small projects with them. I also realized that the workers are very intelligent and I sometimes did not understand subjects they were discussing. However, when I asked questions the engineers were willing to explain topics that I did not understand. This was very helpful because it allowed me to better comprehend concepts that were new to me. If I had not gotten to know these workers or asked clarifying questions, my working experience would have been more difficult and less enjoyable.

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Fall Protection Co-op

January 2021 • Cranberry Township, PA

What I liked

I absolutely loved the kind of work MSA does as well as the people they employed. It was an honor coming into work everyday knowing the products MSA produces will save someone's life. On top of that, every one at the company was approachable, kind, and always looking for moments to include co-ops into any interesting high level work.

What I wish was different

I would not change a thing about my experience at MSA. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would as well as building up my engineering toolbox full of tools, techniques and contacts for the future.

Advice

Do not be afraid to branch out and integrate with other disciplines and people in the company. It will be beneficial down the road when you have a full list of people ready and willing to help out or answer any questions about projects or processes.

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Software Engineering Intern

January 2019 • Cranberry Township, PA

What I liked

I liked this whole co-op. It gave me a real idea of how the workplace will be when I graduate and get a job.

What I wish was different

They could've helped the co-ops find housing. Sometimes they don't always have a specific task in mind for you so you float around helping others on your team.

Advice

Ask a lot of questions. Don't feel bad for asking then, it doesn't make you dumb to not know/understand something.

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Supplier Quality Intern

May - August 2018 • Cranberry Township, PA

What I liked

I loved that I was paired with an engineering mentor. He listened to my goals for the summer, and helped pave pathways that could accomplish my goals while benefitting the company. I was also given high levels of responsibility, and worked on serious projects that made a significant difference within the company.

What I wish was different

I would not want to change any aspects of my experience. Even the challengers I faced that were less than desirable taught me so much about my goals and aspirations for the future.

Advice

Don’t be afraid to expand outside of what you think you’re interested in. There’s so much to learn from this company and the people in it.

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Plant Operations

May 2017 • Murrysville, PA

What I liked

Everyday I was doing something different so It never got dull. I learned so much and the knowledge I gained helped me understand the concepts learned in class so much deeper. Plus everyone was so nice!