PKSC 4300: Converting for Flexible Packaging

Reflection

In PKSC 4300, otherwise known as Converting for Flexible Packaging, this course tackles the film and flexible packaging section of the packaging industry. Specifically, in this course we studied the materials, methods, process, and equipment used in converting web materials for flexible packaging. On top of the lecture, we also had flexibles packaging lab that provided us with hands-on experience with operating small-scale converting equipment. This class was especially beneficial to me as when I took this course, I had just finished my Co-Op where I was working at a converting plant and saw all of the techniques and equipment discussed in the lecture firsthand during my internship. I greatly enjoyed this course because I had an industry perspective of the flexible packaging industry and this class taught me a great deal of the "why" certain things are done the way they are. Like Dr. Darby's 4160 class, this class meant a lot to me especially because I quite enjoy the flexible side of the packaging industry and upon graduating, hope to achieve a position in that very segment of the industry.

The artifact attached is one of several memorandum style lab reports we wrote over the duration of the semester. I quite enjoyed the memorandum style of lab reports because prior to this class I had just finished my internship, so I was quite accustomed to writing memorandums and appreciated getting to practice my memo writing skills once again. It was also exciting to see lab testing equipment that I never had seen or the opportunity to work with before. Unfortunately, the lab experience for this course was cut short as COVID-19 precautions forced students to be fully online following our spring break.