Bridging the Gap Between School and Industry
About the Co-op Experience
This summer, Westmill welcomed James Banks, a Mechanical Engineering student from the University of Victoria, as part of his engineering co-op. James developed an interest in the industry early on during a tour of his uncle’s sawmill, which has since grown into a passion for mechanical design.
Responsibilities
- Creating new parts models
- Drafting technical drawings
- Updating legacy designs using SolidWorks
Student Reflection
James shared how his co-op helped bridge the gap between school and industry:
“In our design class, we used SolidWorks a little bit, but now I feel way more confident in my abilities and look forward to using them in school and throughout my career.”
On working with the team:
“This was my first time working in mechanical design, so I had a lot of questions. The entire design team was super helpful and often took time to explain the reasoning behind their answers.”
His advice to future engineering co-op students:
“Practice CAD before your first co-op. The CAD experience in school isn’t enough. At Westmill, almost everything I worked on used SolidWorks, so I’m glad I familiarized myself with it beforehand.”
About Westmill
At Westmill, we believe in allowing future engineers to gain real-world experience and contribute meaningfully from day one. We support the next generation of innovators through co-op and practicum opportunities.