Laura Sanchez is a Quality Engineering Management student at Lambton College and is working for the Lambton Manufacturing Innovation Centre (LMIC).
With SONAMI and LMIC, Laura was able to work with small-and-medium businesses across Southern Ontario, helping them develop new products or optimize existing processes.
We asked Laura some questions to understand what she does at LMIC and how her work benefits companies in Ontario through SONAMI.
Why did you apply to work in Applied Research at your school?
Lambton College is doing incredible research projects, the school’s research center is one of the best in the province and has high-quality labs for different types of applied research projects. I also applied because I really enjoy lab work, it gives a better understanding of how things work. It is the best way to have a firsthand look at how different materials interact when trying to obtain a specific result.
What is the best thing about working hands-on in applied research?
The best thing about working in a hands-on applied research setting is witnessing first-hand how everything works. Seeing how small adjustments can alter the overall result of the research, and how changing certain parameters can help obtain better results. It has been a great learning experience. I feel as though I’ve been able to expand my skill set as a student engineer.
What is the most surprising thing you learnt while working with your industry partner?
The most surprising thing I learned while working with my industry partner was how companies are trying to use recycled materials in their products and how they are finding new methods for their products to have more enhanced properties in comparison to non-recycled materials.
In your opinion, how can your school’s applied research program best help industry partners grow their businesses?
Lambton College’s applied research program can help industry partners grow their businesses in several aspects, like designing prototypes, implementing polymers and biodegradable materials, and process optimization. The school offers a large variety of research programs that can help industry partners in advancing product development and other forms of research.
Would you recommend SONAMI for small and medium business entrepreneurs? Why?
I would recommend SONAMI for small and medium businesses because it’s an excellent way for these companies to develop new sustainable products and support their manufacturing needs. It helps small-and-medium business entrepreneurs develop a partnership with academic institutions that can help them optimize their processes or products with the assistance of highly qualified teams.
Anything else you want to share?
This has been a fantastic learning opportunity, every day, I have been able to experience a new skill. Each day I work brings something new, where I can experiment with dynamic ways of finding the desired results in the lab. I would recommend this program to any young student who wants a well-rounded academic experience.