Sharing the world of Process Engineering with Young Talent

In the past weeks, we welcomed a total of 32 engaged Electromechanical Engineering students (3rd bachelor) from KU Leuven. They visited Terumo Europe to gain knowledge of how engineering concepts are taught and applied in our innovative medical device industry. This provided them with valuable insights about potential career paths and opportunities for the future.

Guided by the expertise of our Process Development Engineers, Hans Valkenaers and Geert Zephirin , the students delved into the intricate process of transforming concepts and ideas into tangible products and production processes, from customer ask to mass production. Hans focused on the theoretical aspect with an interesting presentation filled with real life examples. Geert made it even more tangible in the Process Lab by elaborating on production techniques and by showing them through testing equipment and set-ups. Their knowledge helped the students in getting a broader understanding of the complexities involved in every stage of the Product & Process Design.

"Though sometimes overlooked, the challenges engineers face pave the path for innovation and growth." - Hans offers a positive perspective on the often underestimated obstacles encountered by engineers, highlighting their role in driving progress.

Terumo’s engineering process follows a structured approach known as the Terumo Europe Engineering Flow. This involves several key stages, including screening, planning, defining & developing, designing & testing, industrialization, qualification and lastly the product launch. Each stage is meticulously planned and executed to ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency. It became apparent how impressed the students were with the duration and thoroughness of the flow, which highlights our commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of our products.

As part of the learning experience, the students were allowed to follow a tour through our production department. Several students shared their excitement at witnessing the buzz of activity in our production environment, underscoring the profound impact of experiencing real-world engineering processes firsthand.

When asked about future sessions, Geert expressed enthusiasm saying:

"Absolutely! We should keep investing in these kinds of collaborations. It is important to share our experience because we convey how great the job is. I think some people don't realize, especially in an engineering department and particularly in the process department, you learn something new every day. From exploring technologies to building global networks, the role encompasses various dimensions: technical expertise and cultural exchange…”

The initiative was kickstarted by a partnership between Terumo, KU Leuven and Agoria (the Belgian Industry Federation representing technology companies). Talent Acquisition took charge of the organization and facilitation of these learning days. Jarne Jans about his experience in spearheading this event, from warmly welcoming and guiding students to liaising with engineers and coordinating the planning:

"It’s all worth it when you see how captivated the students are with the story and knowledge that we share with them. Being able to show them how their studies are being put in practice  and what kind of career opportunities they can pursue is the best thing we can do for them for what is to come after they have graduated. At some point in the future they might become a driving force in the development and growth of Terumo, so this might really be the first step in creating a collaboration with the talent of tomorrow."

A special Thank you to Hans, Geert, Jarne & the Talent Acquisition team, KU Leuven , Sanja CHEN and Agoria for their contributions to this collaboration. We anticipate more collaborations like these and continue supporting and guiding young talents on their journey to success.