Angela Lee Student Biostatistician BSc (Hons) Mathematics and statistics

1. Angela Lee Student Biostatistician BSc (Hons) Mathematics and statistics What is Covance Inc. ? Covance is one of the world’s largest drug development company and it works alongside pharmaceutical and biotech companies by providing services helping to bring effective and safe medicines to the market sooner. There are many sites around the world. Pay, Holidays and Perks £14,400 per year gross plus bonus 25 days paid holiday and public holidays Flexi Time Free drinks available Dress down Fridays Social Events Covance has many social events such as Christmas meals, secret Santa and many events from the sports and social club such as the annual quiz night where teams from all different departments compete to win the trophy or other various prizes (chocolates, wine or money) from other side quizzes held on that night. • Main Job as a Student Biostatistician • During this job role the main tasks that you are required to do are : • Analyse data using computer software (sometimes over 1000 observations worth of data!) • Create randomisation schedules for clinical trials. Randomisations schedules are lists of treatment allocations that have been randomly generated in SAS. • Organise the department’s Christmas meal and secret Santa (all students do this!) • Problems Faced and Achievements • The biggest problems I faced at this placement was to understand some of the complex coding used in creating graphs but it is easy to ask for help to understand the coding. • I have achieved many skills whilst at Covance for example gaining more confidence with myself to make certain decisions which will be vital in the future. I have also learnt many other technical and transferable skills as listed below. • Technical skills • Learn how to use SAS V8 and V9.2 • Programming skills to create graphs, tables and listings • Compile computerised datasets to calculate statistics • Background knowledge on various aspects of clinical trials and the analysis of it. E.g. Bayesian statistics. • Transferable skills • Communication skills • Meetings • Emails • Phone • Face to Face • Time keeping by meeting deadlines • A professional attitude towards work • Presentation skills • Organisational skills • Social skills Living at Leeds There are many affordable places to live in and around Leeds and there are many transportation links so its easy to get to Leeds town centre by bus or train. I lived at Cross Gates just outside of Leeds and a train season ticket for a month cost about £40. Living in Leeds gave me new experiences whilst making new friends at my rented accommodation for the year and helped me to develop my independence. Fears and Advice A fear I had when I first started was how to work in a completely new environment and how to be professional towards other employees around the office but with time I got used to this and made things a lot easier. My advice for all students would be that getting a placement will be the best decision that you make as you earned money to pay off debts, meet new people and obtain valuable experience that will help in your final year at university!

2. Name: Roseanne Short Course: Mathematics Placement at: Nissan Sunderland Job title: Parts Controller Duration: June 2010 – July 2011 Salary: £12,000 per annum Holidays: 26 days per annum including 2 week Summer Shutdown and Christmas break Benefits: Early finish on Fridays, discounted events tickets and Nissan Select scheme. Nissan Sunderland NMUK has been producing cars since 1986 and is the largest car plant in the UK. It is also the most productive car plant in Europe, with a record volume for Financial Year 2010 of 448,110 vehicles being manufactured. The plant currently builds 4 vehicles across 2 production lines, and employs over 5000 people. Job Role I work in the Trim section of parts control, production control. I manage 6 suppliers to NMUK who supply parts such as the “Nissan” emblems, engine brackets & covers, fuel and water hoses and labels and tapes. In the last year I have managed over 30 millions pounds worth of stock. It is my job to manage the parts from concept right up until the part is fitted to a vehicle at the line. I am involved with the development of new parts, design changes, inventory management, as well as resolving quality and delivery concerns. Experience on Placement Over the last year I have gained so much knowledge of the automotive industry and the workings of a global business. In the period from June 2010 – July 2011 both NMUK and Nissan globally have experienced many challenges; Micra phase out, new model launch of Juke, parts supply concerns due to Japan Earthquake and tsunami, as well as impossible logistics scenarios caused by the extreme weather conditions in the winter. I have thoroughly enjoyed overcoming these challenges as part of the Production Control team. I feel it has been invaluable experience for future employment in the business sector and would recommend Nissan for students interested in this field. Taking a year out of Uni to work in Industry has definitely benefitted my overall learning. Although my placement has not directly worked in a maths based field, my knowledge of business and industry has grown as well as my confidence within a professional working environment. I have been able to build my CV and will be able to draw on my experiences at Nissan in future employment, whether at Nissan or otherwise.

3. Katelyn Dunbar Mathematics SUNDERLAND Manufactures Qashqai, Qashqai +2, Note & Juke 5000 direct and indirect staff Friendly office environment Regular social events Range of discount and special offers Car park - easy access from A1 and A19 Bus service from Sunderland & Newcastle Production Control: Parts Consolidation Centre Manage supply and design change for parts consolidated at NMUK and shipped to other Nissan manufacturing plants Cost reduction opportunities PCC saves customers logistics costs, and increase quality of parts through repack and quality checks Communicate with a large supplier and customer base, across the globe SKILLS Management Organisation Communication Analytical Team Work MY ROLE Manage Iran project Supply parts for Qashqai manufacture Investigate claims Send sea and air freight shipments Closing Iran Project Recover costs through stock movement Negotiate supplier obsolescence claims Suggest revisions to cooperation agreement Monthly Finance Reports Present PCC’s costs and profit for the month to Japan Assist in business plan formation Work experience with real operational objectives and responsibility £12,818 per annum Monday –Thursday 07.55-16.40 Friday 07.55-14.25 26 days paid holiday which includes Christmas & Summer shutdowns

5. Jodie Hargreaves Mathematics With Business Management (BSc HONS) Nissan Production Control – In House Planning June 2010 - September 2011 Nissan (NMUK) : Profile Nissan is a Japanese company that was founded in 1933. It sells cars globally and has a luxury car-range named Infiniti. In 1999 Nissan entered an alliance with Renault France to help to maintain both companies profitable position within the vehicle market. NMUK is Nissan’s UK production plant and offices which is located in Washington, Sunderland. The plant was built in 1984 and employs approximately 4,500 direct staff. NMUK is the most productive car plant in Europe and makes more ‘cars per man’ than any other factory. NMUK currently produce four models of cars: Note; Juke; Qashqai and Qashqai +2. Production is across two separate lines – Line 1 works 24 hours Monday – Saturday and Line 2 work 16 hours per day Monday – Friday (plus occasional Saturday overtime). The total vehicles made at NMUK per year is approx 500,000! Nissan have recently released the first mass-produced 100% electric vehicle. NMUK have had confirmation that the Nissan Leaf will be produced at the Sunderland plant along with the battery for the vehicle – which will be made in the all new battery plant. Placement Profile Name: Jodie Hargreaves Course: Mathematics with Business Management Employer: Nissan NMUK Location: Sunderland Getting to work: Approx 30 minute drive from Newcastle Job Title: In-House Parts Control Pay: £12,818 p/a Placement Dates: 07/06/11 – 09/09/11 Holiday Arrangements: 9 Days entitlement + 2 week factory shutdown in July/August + 7 days for the Christmas period. Working Hours: Mon – Thurs 7.55 – 16.40 Fri 7.55 – 14.25 Some weekends also worked Perks: Discount and car lease available once a permanent employee. Discount on many other large brands/companies as well as local businesses. What is Production Control and In–House? • In-House • Creates the ‘Build Schedule’ for the ‘sub-lines’ • Manages In-House suppliers such as Nissan Japan, Nissan Cantabria and Renault • Manages individual shops i.e. Press, Body, Axle and Unit • Orders and forecasts supply and of Powertrain Parts – Engines and Gearboxes • Production Control • Creates the ‘Build Schedule’ for production • Controls parts supply and manages inventory levels for production at NMUK • Manages logistics – both inbound and outbound • Also looks at cost and packaging options for acquiring new parts • In-House : My Duties • Manage the supply and inventory levels of the Powertrain parts from both Europe and Japan. • Decide what quantities need ordering for each part number whilst considering available space at the plant and full–truck ordering. • Model the supply and requirements of parts using an excel spreadsheet and gantt charts (annotated diagram to the right). • Skills learned and qualities gained • Effective communication skills – Especially with those whose first language is not English • Further developed my ability to communicate using diagrams and excel spreadsheets • Time management skills – There have been many occasions when I have had multiple tasks to complete to a deadline • Working in a professional environment and applying aspects of my course to a ‘Real-World’ situation • Self confidence and self motivation has grown • I also feel that I now have a better idea as to what employer’s look for during the recruitment process • Valuable experience in a global company that I can add to my graduate CV • Liaise with the suppliers to discuss any parts shortages or overdue orders that we are expecting and then find a way to overcome the problem (Urgent transport / Air Freight). • If there is a risk of stopping the production line it is my responsibility to do everything within my power to prevent this. Part of a gantt chart: Shows part number and description, demand, orders and current stock. The key point in Production Control is that the production line should NEVER stop– Every time that it does it costs Nissan over £6000 per minute!!