Manufacturing Systems Engineering graduate at Glaxo Smith Kline

 One of  the  first participants  to  join  the MSc at  the University of Hertfordshire  is Neil Afford who works  for Glaxo Smith Kline at  the company’s  research and development site  in Ware, were he  is an Equipment Engineer  in  the Device Technology Group.   Neil was previously a part-time student at  the university and was awarded his BEng degree  in Manufacturing Systems Engineering with  first class honours in 2005.  Neil will develop his experience in plastic mould design  to  incorporate  component  stress  analysis  and  other  developing  technologies  through  the  programme.   This will  enable Neil  to  evaluate  in more  detail  the requirements  of  product moulding  in  relation  to  the  structural  design  of  the company’s pharmaceutical products.

The nature of Neil’s current role lends itself to a work-based learning approach as  regular  attendance  at  lectures  would  be  difficult.    By selecting  various aspects of each of  the projects he  is currently  involved with he hopes  to  fulfil the requirements of the MSc Professional Engineering modules.  His aim is to further his career development and competences in order to eventually obtain Chartered  Engineer  status  through  the  Institution  of  Engineering  and  Technology.