Name: Benjamin Vernhes

Birthplace: Washington State

Student Classification (Junior, Senior, etc.): Senior

AAE Major/Minor Concentration: Design/Dynamics & Control

Name and location of company/organization where you are an intern: The Boeing Company, Renton WA

What are your job duties? As a 737 Factory Support Engineering (Liaison/MRB) Intern, I investigate manufacturing issues with the product definition data of the 737 and P-8. Under supervision, I coordinate with various departments to engineer safe solutions to unique non-conformances in a timely manner to facilitate production. In writing the repair dispositions, I remain mindful of not only the airplane but also of the customer’s in-service reparability and inspection. I also perform calculations to ensure the safety margins of my engineered solutions using knowledge in aerodynamics, materials (metals and composites), hydraulics, fatigue, stress, sealants, electrical systems, structural failure modes and so on.

Why did you want to do this internship? I wanted to go into Factory Support Engineering (Liaison/MRB) at Boeing because they support the entire final assembly of the 737 including wings, wing to body join, systems, payloads, doors, landing gear, wing box, and the P-8 final assembly line just to name a few. This provides a great opportunity to experience and learn diverse functions all in one location. They navigate through a variety of Product Definition Data (Drawings, Datasets, Bill of Materials, Process Specifications, Documentation, etc) that they use daily that defines how the 737 is built. Each day presents unique challenges as they are tasked to engineer solutions to repair urgent non-conformances that occur. 

What do you hope to gain from the experience? I hope to gain a greater understanding of the 737 product, strengthen my problem solving skills, grow as an engineering student, and increase my professional network within Boeing. I am surrounded by a diverse team of talented individuals, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to get to work with them.  

Have you done other internships as an AAE student? I have completed two prior internships as an AAE student. During the summer after my freshmen year (2014), as a rising AAE sophomore, I interned at Airbus in Toulouse, France. There, I assisted with final pre-flight tests that take place at the end of the A380 assembly line. Being a dual citizen between France and the United States, and being fluent in both languages greatly helped me effectuate the internship. Last summer (2015), after my sophomore year in AAE, I spent 12 weeks at Boeing as a Quality Engineering Intern for the 737 Program in Renton, WA. There I successfully completed a project to help improve on the current torque verification methods. Working with Factory Quality and Manufacturing I observed torque applications to learn current shop practices, researched industry alternatives, liaised with suppliers for onsite demonstrations of potential digital torque wrench solutions, coordinated with various departments, and provided a recommendation for long term torque verification improvement.

What are your ultimate career goals? To have the opportunity to someday influence the entire lifecycle of development of a next generation space and/or flight vehicle.