Nick Throlson completed a manufacturing engineering co-op with TRAiL KiNG Industries. During his internship, he worked on several projects including designing modular tool boards, labeling shelving for load capacity safety, and creating a setup booklet to standardize a workstation. He also helped develop mistake-proofing mechanisms and improved a quality tracking spreadsheet. Through these experiences, Nick gained real-world manufacturing experience and lessons like prioritizing multiple projects and designing for manufacturability. He suggested the company provide more orientation on their products and processes to better prepare future interns.

1. TRAiL KiNG Industries
Nick Throlson
Exit Presentation – Manufacturing Engineering Co-Op

2. Overview
 About Me
 Goals
 Projects
 Lessons Learned
 Internship Improvement Suggestions

3. About Me
 Hometown
New Rockford, ND
 School
North Dakota State University
 Major
Industrial Engineering and Management
 Involvement
IIE – Institute of Industrial Engineers
STLF – Students Today Leaders Forever
 Interests
Basketball, golfing, outdoors, Green Bay Packers

4. Goals
 Gain real world experience as an engineer
 Gain real world experience in a manufacturing setting
 Be able to apply classroom concepts to the workplace
 Take workplace concepts back to the classroom
 Improve project management
 Make sure this is what I want to do

5. Projects
 Delivery
 Tool boards
 Safety
 Shelving Load Capacities
 Training Room Stairs
 Quality
 Poka Yoke
 F-Row Station 2 Setup Booklet
 Quality Spreadsheet

6. Toolboards
 Designed a modular toolboard with ability to add different bolt on attachments.
 Adjustable to each individual station without much re-design.
 Ability to easily organize tools on board.
 Designed a computer stand attachment.
 Increased much needed floor space and reduced clutter.
 Reduced wall space used by 5 feet in each station.
 Went from (2)-8ft toolboards to (1)-11ft toolboard per station.

7. Shelving Load Capacities
 Safety issue determined that shelving in facility was improperly labeled
 All shelving/racks need a label with load capacity
 Had a list of over 200 shelves and homemade racks
 Identified need for more standard racks/shelves
 Showed me how something simple can become complex
 Properly labeled shelves throughout the facility

8. Training Room Stairs
 Simple project, yet lots of thought process
 First time dealing with OSHA
 Didn’t realize how many regulations there actually were
 Stairs bolt together to make easier to move

9. Poka Yoke
 Poka Yoke - [poka yoke] is a Japanese term that means "mistake-proofing".
 Mechanism that helps an equipment operator avoid (yokeru) mistakes (poka).
 APB Suspension Table
 Suspension
 Fifth Wheel
 Suspensions were being built with 5th Wheel Frame
5th Wheel
Suspension

10. F-Row Station 2 Setup
 Created a “Standard Work” booklet
 Shows 7 different set ups for BD/SSD trailers
 Reduces setup time
 Labeled parts
 Directions on where they go
 Storage Instructions

11. Quality Spreadsheet
 Modified spreadsheet that tracks Defect Correction Reports throughout shop
 Spreadsheet shows…
 Defects per department (Weld, Paint, Prep, Final)
 Defects per trailer
 Defects per station in each department
 Produces a chart that is used on production boards
 Chart shows a visual of errors being committed by station

12. What I’ve Learned
 Know what your customer wants
 Always have a final design review
 Make connections with operators to get better help when it’s needed
 Design for Manufacturability
 The need for prioritizing and managing multiple projects

13. Co-Op Improvement Suggestions
 Introduce Interns to the Intern Standard Work
 Provide more knowledge of trailers that Trail King builds
 Good idea for everyone in orientation
 Better relate to company
 Show us how to use Infor for better material selection
 Material in stock
 Pricing

14. Thank You!
 First of all, thank you to all of Trail King for the experience and
helping me along the way.
 Kray Olson
 Alan Cartwright
 Wyatt Kram
 Jared Graetz
 Jaron Hughes
 Matt Anderson
 Damon Kelly
 Russel Newman
 Neil Burkhart