Yesterday was the first of the many company visits scheduled for our time in South Korea. Eaton is a power management company with facilities all over the globe. During the first-year engineering conference, I attended an electrical and computer engineering panel where there was an Eaton representative who spoke about his role with the company. He was responsible for building relationship with clients by attending various outings with them such as Pirates games so that they would do business with Eaton. Simultaneously, he would often go into the field do maintenance and repairs for Eaton technologies. Because I’d thought the duality of this role was truly compelling, I was excited to learn more about what Eaton does and potential opportunities it may provide for electrical engineers. Visiting the company’s facilities in Korea also provided a unique cultural context.
Upon arrival at Eaton Korea, we spoke with two professionals who emphasized the companies work in the automotive industry. For example, we learned how Eaton develops devices to balance the torque between the front two tires on vehicles to prevent sliding on roads. We also learned how Eaton had begun to implement sustainable strategies such as the implementation of solar panels to mitigate contributions to global warming.
Following our conversation, we went on a walking tour of the Eaton plant. We were provided safety shoes, googles and coats in preparation to view their machinery up close. Smart systems were integrated at the plant in various ways. For example, Eaton implemented a robotic arm to automate tasks previously completed by a human operator. This is significant because the automation enables for quicker completion of tasks and eliminates tedious or repetitive work for human-beings. Similarly, smart systems were also evident in the forklifts used at the plant. The machine would detect objects, including people, within different radii of it indicated by a blue light. In turn, it would create a loud beeping noise to alert the operator of potential dangers. By automating the detection of possible hazards in the workplace, Eaton mitigates the chance of human error and therefore improves workplace safety. Therefore, our time spent at Eaton was a truly valuable experience because it allowed us to view smart systems in a real-world context.
After visiting Eaton, we had a brief break to shop in Hyundai Mall – one of the largest and most luxurious in Korea – before attending a Korean Baseball League (KBL) game. Although I’ve attended many baseball games with my family back in the United States, none of them compare to the KBL. Fans stood for almost the entire duration of the game. There was nonstop roaring and dancing as cheerleaders led the crowd. The atmosphere was much more youthful and vibrant than what I’ve seen in America. Ultimately, it was fascinating to see how lively Korean baseball is and how the same sport can differ so drastically between two different cultures. What a great way to end the night!