Industrial Experience Report: MEng Program at Western Sydney Uni

This industrial experience report documents a student's internship at Hexima International Construction Ltd., undertaken to fulfill the requirements for a Master of Engineering degree at Western Sydney University. The report outlines the company's background, objectives, and organizational structure, detailing its involvement in infrastructure development and civil engineering projects. The student's internship experience is thoroughly described, including tasks such as reading engineering drawings, participating in tendering processes, overseeing excavations, managing concrete and steelworks, and supervising masonry. The report also highlights the benefits gained during the attachment, such as practical experience, moral education, and professional networking, and concludes with recommendations for future improvements. The student actively participated in site meetings, inspections, and preliminary design work using AutoCAD, enhancing their communication and technical skills.

Industrial Experience Report
Submitted for partial fulfilment for the degree of
Master of Engineering
School of Computing Engineering & Mathematics
Western Sydney University
24/February, 2018
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First, I send my appreciation to Hexima International, Construction Ltd. Board for offering me
an opportunity to undertake my industrial attachment from its sites under construction.
Secondly, I send appreciations to the director of the company Mr. Wachira who took his time to
welcome and assign me pertinent tasks. He was a mentor for consultations with relevant
information regarding structural works and construction management.
Thirdly, I take this opportunity to thank my family for the financial and moral support they
accorded me during the attachment period.
Finally my sincere gratitude goes to Almighty for granting me good health throughout the period
of the industrial attachment.
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ABSTRACT
The attachment report contains four chapters. The first chapter elaborates the details of the
company: background including its objectives and its hierarchy structure. This chapter describes
the organization of the company and the role in civil engineering works. The second chapter is
the most hunted chapter which explains my overall internship familiarity in the last successive
weeks. The third chapter explains the benefits of the field attachment and lastly the conclusion
and recommendation chapter.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...................................................................................................2
ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................3
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................4
LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................6
1.0Background of field attachment..............................................................................................7
1.1Objectives of the field attachment..........................................................................................7
1.2Background of the organization..............................................................................................7
1.3Structure of the organization...................................................................................................8
CHAPTER TWO: INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE..............................................................9
2.1 Reporting date........................................................................................................................9
2.2 Section of the company worked.............................................................................................9
2.3 Flow in the section.................................................................................................................9
2.31 Site Engineer........................................................................................................................9
2.34 Foreman.............................................................................................................................10
2.35 Masons and labourers.........................................................................................................10
2.41 Reading and interpretation of engineering drawings......................................................10
2.42 Setting out..........................................................................................................................10
2.43 Excavations........................................................................................................................10
2.44 Concrete form work and concrete works...........................................................................11
....................................................................................................................................................11
Figure 2.18.1: concrete form work........................................................................................11
2.45 Steel fixing.........................................................................................................................11
Figure 2.19.1: slab, beams and columns reinforcement steel bars........................................12
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2.46 Masonry work....................................................................................................................12
CHAPTER THREE: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES..................................................13
3.1 BENEFITS TO STUDENTS
...........................................................................................................................................13
3.11 Experience
...........................................................................................................................................13
3.12 Moral education.
...........................................................................................................................................13
3.13 Network with professionals in your field, for references and future job opportunities.
...........................................................................................................................................13
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..............................15
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.18.1: concrete form work....................................................................................12
Figure 2.19.1: slab, beams and columns reinforcement steel bars...................................13
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of field attachment
Western Sydney University is a public chartered university that offers engineering courses with
relevant training. To realize the Master’s Degree necessity at Western Sydney University,
engineering students are required to proceed on industrial attachment for a minimum of twelve
weeks field. The industrial attachment provides exposure to the engineering students to hands-on
experience and provide the student an opportunity to put into practice the skills learnt in the
university.
1.1 Objectives of the field attachment
The purpose of an industrial attachment at Western Sydney University is to expose the
engineering student to hands-on experience and provide the student an opportunity to put into
practice the skills learnt in the university. The university attaches great importance to the
practical training and it accounts towards the award of the Master’s degree. Additionally, it
serves as a linkage between the students and various relevant industries who consume services
and/or products offered.
1.2 Background of the organization
Hexima International, Construction Ltd. is an International company. The company was
established in Australia in 2008 as guiding project directors and engineers. This company
partakes pronounced understanding in infrastructure growth, construction works, civil
engineering and electrical mechanical atmosphere not only in these but also in railway, bridge,
and solar project. For any most important expansion, this corporation offers an extensive and
excellence variety of expertise to evaluate the projects. Hexima International, Construction Ltd.
has a joint venture with Build works Building Pty Ltd, K.J. McCracken Pty Ltd, Dynatron
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Building Services, M.D.G Builder, Technik Haus Planners and MLEI Consulting Engineers Pty
Ltd (Adelaide based Company).
Aptitudes of this business are Project Construction and development. The range of the project is
well-defined by execution and implementation of engineering practices and as per client
requirements and preferences, they formulate a budget. To assess the diverse processes of
construction of infrastructure by carrying out technical and ecological studies and to recommend
the superlative design to the customer. When there is an ambiguous condition they offer
framework and methodology for rational decision making.
The managing director of Hexima International, Construction Ltd. is known as Mr. Wachira, He
holds a bachelor degree and Masters of Administration too from NSW. In addition, Mr. Wachira
tracked MASCE. (USA) Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow associate of The Institution
of Engineers, Australia over 30 years of knowledge in Structural Design and High-ranking
Project Director. Mr. Wachira has productively achieved the finishing point of developments
both in Australia and Internationally including Dubai, India and Nortth Korea.
1.3 Structure of the organization
Managing Director
Site engineer
Contractor
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Site agent
Foreman
Masons
Labourers

CHAPTER TWO: INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
2.1 Reporting date
The industrial attachment commenced on 31st of October 2017 at Hexima International,
Construction Ltd in Thindigua construction site. The project is purposed to construct residential
apartments. The University attachment letter and insurance cover were given to the director for
documentation. Since the site had started I was assigned a small task as well keep learning from
other activities by asking questions or simply observations. I was presented with the company’s
Rules and regulations and code of practice. I was presented with Hexima’s International,
Construction Ltd occupational Health and safety plans to familiarize myself. I was also given
logins credentials to the company’s website to go through the completed projects and upcoming
projects.
2.2 Section of the company worked
Tasks were assigned at Thindigua construction site in Sydney. The tasks involved supervision of
the tendering of the upcoming projects, construction works, learning and taking part in the site
meetings.
2.3 Flow in the section
In order to work easily and enhance working flow, the following protocol was observed.
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2.31 Site Engineer
A site engineer offers guidance in the scheduling, co-ordination and regulation of technical
features of building projects. A site engineer's starring role is critical to a building project: they
partake an amount of accountabilities comprising solving technical issues, offering advice,
formulating reports, reviewing design and overseeing construction progress
2.32 Project Manager
A Project Manager is a specialized in the field of Management. Project managers have the
accountability of the scheduling, obtaining resources and implementation of a project, in any
field of engineering.
2.33 Site agent
A site agent is a representative of the service provider in a construction site. He/ She supervises
the overall construction works. The site agent carries the survey works, read out and interprets
the engineering drawings and gives instructions to the foreman.
2.34 Foreman
A foreman is a skilled supervisor responsible working with site engineer, the contractor, the
project manager and the client. The main task is to employ skilled workers for definite work and
the laborers. The foreman focuses in overall management of all activities on site for timely
project completion.
2.35 Masons and laborers.
The group encompasses of masons, carpenters, steel fixers and daily laborers and are out sourced
by foreman and work under strict instructions.
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2.40 Areas explored during the attachment
2.41 Reading and interpretation of engineering drawings.
Engineering drawings are graphical lingos applied by engineers and other mechanical personnel
linked with the engineering line of work. The tenacity of engineering drawing is to send in detail
the concepts and data required for the construction. Engineering drawings available in the
Thindigua construction site includes; Structural drawings, plumbing drawings and Electrical
installation drawings. The site engineer provided assistance in reading and interpretation of the
engineering drawings. This task was carried out during the construction of the columns, beams
and slabs. The drawings aided in steel fixing, a critical stage during construction of a structure.
2.42 General Tendering
Hexima International, Construction Ltd regularly bids for projects. Although I was not familiar
to tendering, the project manager procured keen attention in administering out necessary backing
to comprehend conception of e-tendering. There after I actively took part in tendering process of
the upcoming project alongside other senior members of the company. Later then, I prepared
questionnaire regarding design, time delivery and scope of work. Moreover, I attended the
meeting with prominent companies where the council briefed about the tendering process and
things to be included while lodging tendering. The main point raises at tendering is that the
company has to validate three other alternative bridge designs along with respective assessment
report.
2.43 Excavations
Excavation is the paramount phase of construction. It denotes to the practice of getting rid of soil
or rock from its original location, typically in preparation for construction foundations,
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