Eliot J. Long
High Steel
This summer, I interned at High Steel Structures, a steel bridge fabricator based in Lancaster, Pa. I worked in High Steel’s estimating department, which is responsible for estimating the amount of time, labor and material needed to fabricate a bridge; these estimates are then used by our sales team to bid on projects. The estimating department taught me as much as they could about what goes into this process.
As an intern, I was tasked with completing time studies on two fabrication machines. I analyzed these time studies to determine the accuracy of our estimates compared to the actual rate of production. I searched for inefficiencies in our current processes and provided updated data for our estimating programs, some of which was based on old information.
High Steel excelled at providing me with various ways to learn and become involved. My internship started with a 2-week course that taught me the basics of bridge construction and how to analyze blueprints. During some Friday afternoons I learned to stick weld, which I found I really enjoy. I was also a tour guide for Bridge Mania, a summer program for elementary schoolers hosted with High Steel.
Words can’t express how grateful I am to AIST and High Steel for helping give me this opportunity; I’ve felt more welcomed at High Steel than I have anywhere else. I’ve improved personally, as a student, and as a future engineer, and I know that my internship will be a lasting, critical influence in years to come. I’ve met incredible people whom I don’t think I could find anywhere other than at High Steel. Overall, High Steel has made me feel much more confident in my future career as an engineer. I sincerely thank every person who has helped make this possible.